Effect of l-carnitine supplementation on liver fat content and cardiometabolic indices in overweight/obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder among reproductive-age women, and is associated with cardiovascular diseases as well as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The recent evidence suggested the beneficial effects of l-carnitine in women with PCOS.

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of l-carnitine supplementation on liver fat content and cardiometabolic outcomes in overweight/obese women with PCOS.

Methods: The present study was designed as a 12-week double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial. Sixty-two overweight/obese women with PCOS were assigned into the treatment (received 1000 mg/d l-carnitine capsule) and the control (received placebo capsule) groups. The outcomes included lipid accumulation product (LAP), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), atherogenic coefficient (AC) and Castelli II indices.

Results: At the end of the trial, there was no significant difference between the treatment and the control groups in terms of LAP (-1.1 vs. -4.0; P = 0.45), AIP (0.0 vs. -0.09; P = 0.14), AC (-0.2 vs. -0.8; P = 0.06) and Castelli II index (-0.2 vs. -0.6; P = 0.07) after controlling the mean change of waist circumference.

Conclusion: l-carnitine supplementation for 12 weeks has no beneficial effect on liver fat content and cardiometabolic outcomes in overweight or obese women with PCOS.

Trial registration: Registered on 30 December 2019 at Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT20191016045131N1.