The effect of L-carnitine on Expanded Disability Status Scale EDSS score and Quality of life of MS patients

Abstract

The effects of L-carnitine supplementation on fatigue have been evaluated in various studies, and considering that L-carnitine had a positive effect on fatigue in these patients and fatigue is considered one of the components of quality of life, and in the review of past studies, that directly evaluate the effect of L-carnitine supplementation on the quality of life of patients with MS have been limited, so the current study aims to evaluate the effect of L-carnitine supplementation on the quality of life of patients with MS; Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effects of L-carnitine supplementation on the scale of extensive disability and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted as a clinical trial on multiple sclerosis patients with an EDSS score less than 3.5. People were randomly divided into two L-carnitine groups and control group. After entering the studied patients, the demographic information as well as the quality of life of the patients based on the SF-36 score and the disability status of the patients based on the EDSS score were evaluated by the researcher using a standard checklist. Patients in the intervention group received L-carnitine at a dose of one gram twice a day, and the control group received a placebo at the same dose. After receiving their drugs for two months, the patients of the two groups were re-evaluated by the researcher using a checklist. Results: SF36 data all had normal distribution. Intergroup comparisons indicated that there was no statistically significant change between the two groups (P˂0.05); In other words, L-carnitine supplementation does not change the quality of life of patients with MS.