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- Title
L-Carnitine-supplementation in advanced pancreatic cancer (CARPAN)--a randomized multicentre trial.
- Authors
Kraft, Matthias; Kraft, Kathleen; G„rtner, Simone; Mayerle, Julia; Simon, Peter; Weber, Eckhard; Schtte, Kerstin; Stieler, Jens; Koula-Jenik, Heide; Holzhauer, Peter; Gr”ber, Uwe; Engel, Georg; Mller, Cornelia; You-Shan Feng; Aghdassi, Ali; Nitsche, Claudia; Malfertheiner, Peter; Patrzyk, Maciej; ThKohlmann, Thomas; Lerch, Markus M.
- Abstract
Background: Cachexia, a >10% loss of body-weight, is one factor determining the poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer. Deficiency of L-Carnitine has been proposed to cause cancer cachexia. Findings: We screened 152 and enrolled 72 patients suffering from advanced pancreatic cancer in a prospective, multi-centre, placebo-controlled, randomized and double-blinded trial to receive oral L-Carnitine (4 g) or placebo for 12 weeks. At entry patients reported a mean weight loss of 12 ± 2,5 (SEM) kg. During treatment body-mass-index increased by 3,4 ± 1,4% under L-Carnitine and decreased (-1,5 ± 1,4%) in controls (p<0,05). Moreover, nutritional status (body cell mass, body fat) and quality-of-life parameters improved under L-Carnitine. There was a trend towards an increased overall survival in the L-Carnitine group (median 519 ± 50 d versus 399 ± 43 d, not significant) and towards a reduced hospital-stay (36 ± 4d versus 41 ± 9d,n.s.). Conclusion: While these data are preliminary and need confirmation they indicate that patients with pancreatic cancer may have a clinically relevant benefit from the inexpensive and well tolerated oral supplementation of L-Carnitine.
- Subjects
CARNITINE; VITAMIN B complex; PANCREATIC cancer; WEIGHT loss; BODY weight
- Publication
Nutrition Journal, 2012, Vol 11, p52
- ISSN
1475-2891
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1186/1475-2891-11-52