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l ‐Carnitine Improves Postoperative Liver Function in Hepatectomized Patients
Author(s) -
Okabayashi Takehiro,
Sui Kenta,
Mastumoto Takatsugu,
Iwata Jun,
Morita Sojiro,
Iiyama Tatsuo,
Shimada Yasuhiro
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.935
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1941-2444
pISSN - 0148-6071
DOI - 10.1002/jpen.1720
Subject(s) - carnitine , medicine , perioperative , gastroenterology , hepatectomy , clinical endpoint , liver function , surgery , randomized controlled trial , resection
Background and aims The effect of perioperative treatment with l‐ carnitine in hepatectomized patients is unclear. The objective of the current study is to evaluate the short‐term outcomes after liver cancer surgery in patients treated with l‐ carnitine compared with nontreated patients. Methods Patients with primary liver malignancies scheduled to undergo a hepatectomy were randomly assigned to receive either perioperative treatment with l‐ carnitine (carnitine group) or usual intake (control group). The primary endpoint of this study was the short‐term outcome after liver surgery. Results The study participants were randomly assigned into 2 groups: 106 patients in the control group and 102 patients in the perioperative l‐ carnitine supplementation group. The restoration of serum ammonia levels, prothrombin time, and peripheral neutrophil count at 3 days after the operation was significantly faster in the carnitine group than in the control group. Fewer patients in the carnitine group developed grade B posthepatic liver failure, according to the grading system of the International Study Group of Liver Surgery, than patients in the control group (20% vs 76%). The length of hospitalization was significantly shorter in patients in the carnitine group than in those in the control group. Conclusions We found that perioperative treatment with l ‐carnitine was significantly better than ordinary treatment in reducing postoperative serum ammonia levels, suggesting that l ‐carnitine may serve as a pivotal regulator of liver injury and repair and result in shorter postoperative hospitalization (ClinicalTrials.gov trial registration no. NCT03021876).