Acetyl-L-carnitine 500mg tablets

Background and purposePeripheral neuropathy is one of the most prevalent and undesirable side effects of taxane-containing chemotherapy regimens. This study aimed to investigate the effect of acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) on the prevention of taxane-induced neuropathy (TIN).Experimental approachMEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, and Google scholar were systemically applied as electronic databases from 2010 to 2019. The current systematic review was carried out based on the main considerations of PRISMA preferential reporting items for systematic review and meta-analyses. Since there was no significant discrepancy, the random-effect model was used for 12-24 weeks' analysis (I2 = 0%, P = 0.999).Findings/resultsTwelve related titles and abstracts were found during the search, 6 of them were excluded in the first phase. In the second phase, the full text of the remaining 6 articles was comprehensively evaluated and 3 papers were rejected. Finally, 3 articles complied with the inclusion criteria and pooled analyses. The meta-analysis showed a risk ratio of 0.796 (95% CI between 0.486 and 1.303), so, the effects model was used for 12-24 weeks' analysis (I2 = 0%, P = 0.999) since no significant discrepancies were observed. There was no evidence of ALC's positive effect on the prevention of TIN during 12 weeks, and it was revealed that ALC significantly increased TIN in 24 weeks.Conclusion and implicationsAccording to our findings, the hypothesis that ALC had a positive effect on preventing TIN in 12 weeks has not been proved; however, ALC led to an increase in the TIN in 24 weeks.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-SA

Acetyl-l-carnitine (ALC) is increasingly recognized for its potential psychopharmacological mechanism and role in the treatment of mood disorders, particularly major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD). Emerging evidence suggests that ALC levels are reduced in individuals with MDD, and this deficiency may contribute to depressive symptoms through disruptions in mitochondrial fatty acid transport, neuroplasticity, and neurotransmission. This review synthesizes findings from randomized controlled trials, open-label studies, and observational research examining ALC use and clinical outcomes in adults treated with ALC in MDD and BD. A systematic review (n=15) and meta-analysis (n=10) studies (14 randomized controlled trials [RCTs] and 1 open label) involving 809 participants (treatment group: 392; comparator group: 417) revealed that ALC significantly reduces depressive symptoms compared to placebo, with comparable efficacy to standard antidepressants and fewer adverse effects. Subgroup analyses suggest enhanced benefits in older adults and those with treatment-resistant depression. These findings support the potential of ALC as both a biomarker and a therapeutic agent in mood disorders. Further large-scale, longitudinal studies are needed to clarify its clinical utility and mechanistic pathways in mood disorders.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC