Effects of carnitine administration on carotid intima-media thickness and inflammatory factors in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background: This study was performed to evaluate the effects of carnitine administration on carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and inflammatory markers in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted among 60 women diagnosed with PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria, aged 18–40 years. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups to intake either 250 mg/day carnitine (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) for 12 weeks. High-resolution carotid ultrasonography was conducted at baseline and after the 12-week intervention. Results: After the 12-week intervention, compared with the placebo, carnitine supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in maximum levels of the left CIMT (−0.01 ± 0.02 vs. +0.002 mm ± 0.006 mm, P = 0.001), mean levels of the left CIMT (−0.01 ± 0.02 vs. +0.001 mm ± 0.01 mm, P = 0.001), maximum levels of the right CIMT (−0.01 ± 0.02 vs. +0.006 mm ± 0.01 mm, P < 0.001), and mean levels of the right CIMT (−0.01 ± 0.02 vs. +0.002 mm ± 0.01 mm, P = 0.001). Change in plasma nitric oxide (NO) (+2.4 ± 3.6 vs. +0.2 ± 2.3 μmol/L, P = 0.007) was significantly different between the supplemented patients and placebo group. We did not see any significant effect in serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) following the supplementation of carnitine compared with the placebo. Conclusions: Overall, carnitine administration for 12 weeks to participants with PCOS had beneficial effects on CIMT and plasma NO, but did not affect serum hs-CRP levels.