L-Carnitine significantly improves both physical and mental fatigue in the elderly

The elderly frequently suffer from chronic fatigue. It hurts their daily life and treatment often results in a sense of failure and frustration. Patients diagnosed with fatigue are often disappointed when advised to merely, ?get more rest?.

In this study 80 elderly subjects were supplemented with L-Carnitine at a dosage of 4 grams per day for 180days, or they received inactive look-alike placebo pills. The level of their physical and mental fatigue was evaluated by various scientific scales, scores, and indexes used by researchers to verify results.

L-Carnitine very helpful for cancer patients with fatigue and poor sleep

A deficiency of Carnitine contributes to fatigue in cancer patients. Researchers from Beth Israel Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Children?s Hospital at Montefiore, all in New York conducted a Phase I/II trial in cancer patients assessing their level of fatigue, level of depressed mood, and quality of sleep. They also checked for Carnitine deficiency. 76% of the patients tested were deficient in Carnitine; a nutrient needed for energy production.

The patients were then given L-Carnitine in dosages ranging from 250mg to 3,000mg a day split into two equal doses. L-Carnitine did not cause side effects and had no toxicity. With all patients given L-Carnitine there was a significant decrease in fatigue, improvement in depressed mood and a better quality of sleep, with those receiving the higher doses having the greatest improvement. This significant study is published in the December 2006 issue of the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.