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 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | Nil known |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | Nil known |
| Protocol serial number | IR.SBMU.RETECH.REC.1397.432 |
| Sponsor | Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences |
| Funder | investigator initiated and funded |
- 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
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
Scientific
Cardiovascular research center
Shahid Modarres Hospital
Saadat Abad Boulevard
District 2
Tehran
Tehran
1998734383
Iran
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-3147-6103 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +98 9351481771 |
| amirebadinejad@sbmu.ac.ir |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Interventional single-center randomized controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | The effect of L-carnitine on neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocytes ratio in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting |
| Study objectives | Regarding 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) studied | Cardiac surgery |
| Intervention | Participants 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 type | Supplement |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Measured by CBC differential blood test pre-operatively and daily for three days post-surgery: |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
Pre-operatively and daily for three days post-surgery: |
| Completion date | 19/03/2020 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 90 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. 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 criteria | 1. 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 enrolment | 07/12/2019 |
| Date of final enrolment | 20/02/2020 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Iran
Study participating centre
Tehran
+98 1998734383
Iran
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
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
