Does the supplement L-carnitine have an effect on cell recovery after coronary artery bypass grafting?

ISRCTN ISRCTN85010331
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN85010331
Secondary identifying numbers IR.SBMU.RETECH.REC.1397.432
Submission date
06/11/2019
Registration date
26/11/2019
Last edited
27/04/2020
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Circulatory System
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aim
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery is one of the most common cardiac surgeries worldwide. Patients undergoing surgery because of the possibility of advanced atherosclerosis, mild systemic inflammation, and other comorbidities are always classified in high-risk groups. For this reason, predictive markers are essential for risk assessment. The Absolute Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Absolute Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) have been a topic of great interest in recent years in the field of heart disease and its low cost and availability properly noted.
L-carnitine is mainly made in the liver and kidney. L-carnitine is a key component of the transport of activated fatty acids through the mitochondrial membrane and has been shown in recent studies to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. It is mainly (approximately 98%) found in muscle tissue. The amount in the heart muscle is more than three times that of the striated muscle. In some heart diseases, L-carnitine deficiency has been observed. Studies have also evaluated the efficacy of L-carnitine supplementation orally or intravenously before, during, and after CABG.
In this study, we will investigate the effect of pre-operative L-carnitine supplementation on Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR).

Who can participate?
Adults undergoing elective CABG

What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of three groups.
Those in the first group receive 2gr L-carnitine 12 hours before surgery.
The second group will receive 5gr L-carnitine 12 hours before surgery.
The third group will receive a placebo.
All groups will have standard CABG surgery.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Those in the L-carnitine group might benefit from its anti-inflammatory effect.

Where is the study run from?
Cardiovascular research center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Shahid Modarres Hospital, Tehran, (Iran)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
November 2019 to March 2020

Who is funding the study?
Deputy of Research of Shahid Beheshti School of Medicine

Who is the main contact?
Dr. Amir Ebadinejad
amirebadinejad@sbmu.ac.ir

Contact information

Dr Amir Ebadinejad
Scientific

Cardiovascular research center
Shahid Modarres Hospital
Saadat Abad Boulevard
District 2
Tehran
Tehran
1998734383
Iran

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-3147-6103
Phone +98 9351481771
Email amirebadinejad@sbmu.ac.ir

Study information

Study designInterventional single-center randomized controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleThe effect of L-carnitine on neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocytes ratio in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting
Study objectivesRegarding L-carnitine effect as an anti-inflammatory agent, administration of this supplement before coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) can impact neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocytes ratio
Ethics approval(s)Approved 04/10/2018, Ethics committee of Shahid Beheshti Medical University (Arabi Ave., Tehran, 193954719, Iran; +9822439951; mpd@sbmu.ac.ir ), ref: IR.SBMU.RETECH.REC.1397.60
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedCardiac surgery
InterventionParticipants undergoing CABG are divided into three groups which receive a dose of supplement/placebo 12 hours before surgery:
1. Administration of 2 gr l-carnitine
2. Administration of 5 gr l-carnitine
3. Administration of placebo

Complete blood count (CBC) differential blood tests will be performed to analyse neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocytes ratio before the surgery and each of 3 postoperative days.
Intervention typeSupplement
Primary outcome measureMeasured by CBC differential blood test pre-operatively and daily for three days post-surgery:
1. Neutrophil-Lymphocyte ratio
2. Platelet-Lymphocytes ratio
Secondary outcome measuresPre-operatively and daily for three days post-surgery:
1. Echocardiographic indexes measured using ECG
2. The changes of mean platelet volume measured by CBC differential blood test
3. The changes of red cell distribution width measured by CBC differential blood test
Overall study start date23/11/2019
Completion date19/03/2020

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants90
Key inclusion criteria1. Patients undergoing elective on-pump CABG for the first time
2. Adult aged 18 - 80 years
3. No history of NSAIDs and or corticosteroids use for four weeks before the operation
4. No history of inflammatory disorder for six months before the operation
Key exclusion criteria1. Renal failure or creatinine level >1.5 mg/d
2. Hepatic failure
3. Inability to swallow oral medications
4. Contraindication to L-carnitine therapy
5. Emergent CABG
6. Use of L-carnitine within 4 weeks before the start of the study
7. Major surgery less than 28 days before the start of treatment
8. Recent history of any cancer
9. Prior radiotherapy or chemotherapy less than 4 weeks prior
10. Moderate to severe left ventricular dysfunction (EF<40)
11. Re-operation
Date of first enrolment07/12/2019
Date of final enrolment20/02/2020

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Iran

Study participating centre

Shahid Modarres Hospital
Saadat Abad
Tehran
+98 1998734383
Iran

Sponsor information

Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
University/education

Deputy of Research of School of Medicine
7th Floor
Bldg No.2
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
Arabi Ave
Velenjak
Tehran
1985717443
Iran

Phone +98 2123871
Email info@sbmu.ac.ir
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/034m2b326

Funders

Funder type

Other

investigator initiated and funded

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date20/10/2020
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a high-impact peer-reviewed journal.
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Editorial Notes

27/04/2020: The intention to publish date has been changed from 19/03/2021 to 20/10/2020.
26/11/2019: Trial’s existence confirmed by Ethics committee of Shahid Beheshti Medical University