Effects of Carnitine Administration on Carotid Intima‑media Thickness and Inﬂammatory Factors in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Randomized, Double‑blind, Placebo‑controlled Trial

International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-780210620190707Effects of Carnitine Administration on Carotid Intima‑media Thickness and Inﬂammatory Factors in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Randomized, Double‑blind, Placebo‑controlled Trial21012101ENDepartment of Radiology, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, KashanDepartment of Radiology, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, KashanDepartment of Radiology, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, KashanDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, KashanDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Health, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, KashanDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, KashanResearch Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, KashanResearch Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan20190707Background: This study was performed to evaluate the effects of carnitine administration on carotid intima‑media thickness (CIMT) and inﬂammatory markers in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: This randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled trial was conducted among 60 women diagnosed with PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria, aged 18–40 years. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups to intake either 250 mg/day carnitine (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) for 12 weeks. High‑resolution carotid ultrasonography was conducted at baseline and after the 12‑week intervention. Results: After the 12‑week intervention, compared with the placebo, carnitine supplementation resulted in a signifcant decrease in maximum levels of the left CIMT (-0.01 ± 0.02 vs. +0.002 mm ± 0.006 mm, P = 0.001), mean levels of the left CIMT (-0.01 ± 0.02 vs. +0.001 mm ± 0.01 mm, P = 0.001), maximum levels of the right CIMT (-0.01 ± 0.02 vs. +0.006 mm ± 0.01 mm, P < 0.001), and mean levels of the right CIMT (-0.01 ± 0.02 vs. +0.002 mm ± 0.01 mm, P = 0.001). Change in plasma nitric oxide (NO) (+2.4 ± 3.6 vs. +0.2 ± 2.3 μmol/L, P = 0.007) was signifcantly different between the supplemented patients and placebo group. We did not see any signifcant effect in serum high sensitivity C‑reactive protein (hs‑CRP) following the supplementation of carnitine compared with the placebo. Conclusions: Overall, carnitine administration for 12 weeks to participants with PCOS had benefcial effects on CIMT and plasma NO, but did not affect serum hs‑CRP levels. Keywords: Carnitine, carotid intima‑media thickness, inﬂammation, polycystic ovary syndromehttp://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/2101http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/2101/717717898