Written by Jessica Patella, ND. Of the participating women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, those who took 250 mg of carnitine daily significantly reduced weight, BMI and waist and hip measurements while significantly improving measures of glucose metabolism.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) affects an estimated 5-10% of women ages 18-44 1. This equates to about one in every 10-15 women having PCOS 1. Women are at a higher risk of developing PCOS if they have a mother or sister with PCOS or are obese 1. A recent trial found that supplementing with carnitine can improve weight and blood glucose control in women with PCOS 2.
PCOS is characterized by obesity and impaired insulin and glucose control 2. In order to be diagnosed with PCOS, participants had to have at least two of the following:
- Greater than 35 days between menstrual cycles,
- Anovulation (not ovulating),
- At least 8 hemorrhagic (very heavy menses) episodes per year,
- Hirsutism (male pattern hair growth facial hair, chest hair, etc.),
- Signs of excess androgens (total testosterone greater than 1.7 nmol/l) or
- Polycystic ovaries 2.
Sixty women diagnosed with PCOS that were randomized to receive either a placebo group (n=30) or the carnitine group (250mg/day; n=30) for 12-weeks 2. Based on treatment guidelines, all participants were on metformin for treatment of their PCOS 2.
After 12 weeks of supplementation, the following significant reductions were observed in the carnitine group compared to placebo:
- Weight (-2.7 +/- 1.5 vs 0.1 +/- 1.8 kg, P<0.001)
- BMI (-1.1 +/- 0.6 vs 0.1 +/0 0.7 kg/m2, P<0.001)
- Waist circumference (-2.0 +/- 1.3 vs -0.3 +/- 2.- cm, P<0.001)
- Hip circumference (-2.5 +/- 1.5 vs -0.3 +/- 1.8 cm, P<0.001)
- Fasting glucose (-0.38 +/- 0.36 vs 0.11 +/- 0.97nmol/L, P=0.01)
- Insulin levels (-14.39 +/- 25.80 vs 3.01 +/- 37.25 pmol/L, P=0.04)
- Insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (-0.61 +/- 1.03 vs 0.11 +/- 1.43, P=0.04)
- DHEAS (-3.64 +/- 7.00 vs -0.59 +/- 3.20 micromol/l, P=0.03)
There were no significant changes in cholesterol levels and free testosterone compared to placebo.
In conclusion, 12 weeks of carnitine supplementation significantly improved weight measurements, insulin and glucose regulation compared to placebo. This was the first study of its kind to analyze the effect of carnitine on PCOS. Future research should include more participants to confirm the results.
Jessica Patella, ND, is a naturopathic physician specializing in nutrition and homeopathic medicine and offers a holistic approach to health. She earned her ND from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ, and is a member of the North Carolina Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Visit her website at www.awarenesswellness.com.
Source: Samimi et al 2016. Oral carnitine supplementation reduces body weight and insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Clinical Endocrinology (2016) 84, 851-857.
© 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Posted March 28, 2017.
References:
- (NIH) NIoH. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): Condition Information. 2017; Overview of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Available at: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/PCOS/conditioninfo/Pages/default.aspx. Accessed March 22, 2017, 2017.
- Samimi M, Jamilian M, Afshar Ebrahimi F, Rahimi M, Tajbakhsh B, Asemi Z. Oral carnitine supplementation reduces body weight and insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial. Clinical endocrinology. 2016.
