Logo Medical Science Monitor

Call: +1.631.470.9640
Mon - Fri 10:00 am - 02:00 pm EST

Contact Us

Logo Medical Science Monitor Logo Medical Science Monitor Logo Medical Science Monitor

01 June 2011

A prospective double-blind, randomized clinical trial of levocarnitine to treat autism spectrum disorders

David A. GeierABCDEFG, Janet K. KernABCDEFG, Georgia DavisBE, Paul G. KingBE, James B. AdamsAG, John L. YoungBE, Mark R. GeierABCDEFG

DOI: 10.12659/MSM.881792

Med Sci Monit 2011; 17(6): PI15-23

Abstract

Background: L-carnitine was proposed as a potential treatment for patients diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder to improve mitochondrial dysfunction, but no prior randomized controlled trials have been conducted.
Material/Methods: Thirty subjects diagnosed with an ASD were randomly assigned to receive a standardized regimen (50 mg L-carnitine/kg bodyweight/day) of liquid L-carnitine (n=19) or placebo (n=11) for 3-months. Measures included changes in professionally completed Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), hand muscle testing, and modified clinical global impression (CGI) forms; parent completed Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC), treatment adherence measurement (TAM), frequency and intensity of side effect rating (FISER)/global rating of side effect burden (GRSEB)/patient report of incidence of side effects (PRISE) forms; and lab testing.
Results: Significant improvements were observed in CARS (–2.03, 95% CI=–3.7 to –0.31), CGI (–0.69, 95% CI=–1.1 to –0.06), and ATEC scores. Significant correlations between changes in serum free-carnitine levels and positive clinical changes were observed for hand muscle strength (R2=0.23, P=0.046), cognitive scores (R2=0.27, P=0.019), and CARS scores (R2=0.20, P=0.047). Study subjects were protocol-compliant (average adherence was >85%) and generally well-tolerated the L-carnitine therapy given.
Conclusions: L-carnitine therapy (50 mg/kilogram-bodyweight/day) administered for 3-months significantly improved several clinical measurements of ASD severity, but subsequent studies are recommended.

Keywords: Double-Blind Method, Cohort Studies, Cognition - physiology, Child, Preschool, Child Development Disorders, Pervasive - physiopathology, Child, Carnitine - therapeutic use, Placebos

Add Comment 0 Comments

Editorial

01 April 2025 : Editorial  

Editorial: Rapid Testing for the Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus is Urgently Required as Infections in Poultry and Dairy Cows are on the Rise, and so is Transmission to Humans

Dinah V. Parums

DOI: 10.12659/MSM.949109

Med Sci Monit 2025; 31:e949109

0:00

In Press

Clinical Research  

Longitudinal Evaluation of Metabolic Benefits of Inactivated COVID-19 Vaccination in Diabetic Patients in T...

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.947450  

0:00

Clinical Research  

Impact of Voltage Level on Hospitalization and Mortality in Electrical Injury Cases: A Retrospective Analys...

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.947675  

Clinical Research  

Comparative Study of Plantar Load and Foot Posture Characteristics in Male Elite Squash Players and Non-Ath...

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.947828  

Clinical Research  

Dental Students’ Opinions on Use of Artificial Intelligence: A Survey Study

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.947658  

Most Viewed Current Articles

17 Jan 2024 : Review article   8,071,874

Vaccination Guidelines for Pregnant Women: Addressing COVID-19 and the Omicron Variant

DOI :10.12659/MSM.942799

Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e942799

0:00

16 May 2023 : Clinical Research   702,992

Electrophysiological Testing for an Auditory Processing Disorder and Reading Performance in 54 School Stude...

DOI :10.12659/MSM.940387

Med Sci Monit 2023; 29:e940387

0:00

01 Mar 2024 : Editorial   30,169

Editorial: First Regulatory Approvals for CRISPR-Cas9 Therapeutic Gene Editing for Sickle Cell Disease and ...

DOI :10.12659/MSM.944204

Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e944204

0:00

28 Jan 2024 : Review article   24,060

A Review of IgA Vasculitis (Henoch-Schönlein Purpura) Past, Present, and Future

DOI :10.12659/MSM.943912

Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e943912

0:00

Your Privacy

We use cookies to ensure the functionality of our website, to personalize content and advertising, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. If you allow us to do so, we also inform our social media, advertising and analysis partners about your use of our website, You can decise for yourself which categories you you want to deny or allow. Please note that based on your settings not all functionalities of the site are available. View our privacy policy.

Medical Science Monitor eISSN: 1643-3750
Medical Science Monitor eISSN: 1643-3750