human
***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: This study examined the impact of L-acetylcarnitine treatment on metabolic parameters and body composition in patients with lipodystrophy syndrome secondary to antiretroviral treatment in human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV ) infection . A total of 9 HIV-1 infected patients with lipodystrophy syndrome ( 4F/5 M , age 41+/-5 years , HIV duration 8+/-2 years , BMI 23.7+/-3.4 kg/m(2 ) , on protease inhibitors and nucleoside analogue Reverse Transcriptase inhibitors )  were evaluated before and after 8 months of therapy with L-acetylcarnitine ( 2 g/die ) and 9 matched healthy subjects served as control subjects . In all patients fasting plasma glucose , insulin concentrations ( for evaluation of surrogate indexes of insulin sensitivity ) , lipid profile , lipid oxidation ( by indirect calorimetry ) , body composition ( by DEXA ) , and intramyocellular triglyceride ( IMCL ) content of the calf muscles ( by (1)H NMR spectroscopy ) were assessed . After this therapy , in HIV-1 patients , the IMCL content of the soleus had significantly decreased ( p=0.03 ) . Plasma FFAs ( 0.79+/-0.31 to 0.64+/-0.25 ; p<0.05 ) and Respiratory Quotient ( 0.83+/-0.18 to 0.72+/-0.16 ; p<0.03 ) also decreased . Insulin sensitivity was significantly lower prior ( HOMA-IS 0.56+/-0.30 ) and nonstatistically different than controls after therapy ( 0.72+/-0.49 vs. 0.78+/-0.42 ) whilst the percentage of fat in the legs increased ( p=0.05 ) . Eight months of L-acetylcarnitine treatment increased lipid oxidation , decreased intramyocellular triglyceride content , and induced a more physiological distribution of fat deposits L-Carnitine ( L-C ) transports fatty acids into mitochondria for oxidation and is marketed as a weight loss supplement . In a double-blind investigation to test the weight loss efficacy of L-C , 36 moderately overweight premenopausal women were pair matched on Body Mass Index ( BMI ) and r and omly assigned to two groups ( N = 18 ) . For 8 weeks the L-C group ingested 2 g twice daily of L-C , while the placebo ( P ) group ingested the same amount of lactose . All subjects walked for 30 min ( 60 - 70 % maximum heart rate ) 4 days/week . Body composition , resting energy expenditure ( REE ) and substrate utilization were estimated before and after treatment . For the subjects who completed the study ( 15 P , 13 L-C ) , no significant changes in mean total body mass ( TBM ) , fat mass FM , and resting lipid utilization occurred over time , nor were there any significant differences between groups for any variable . Conversely REE increased significantly for all subjects , but no between group differences existed . Five of the L-C group experienced nausea or diarrhea and consequently did not complete the study . Eight weeks of L-C ingestion and walking did not significantly alter the TBM or FM of overweight women , thereby casting doubt on the efficacy of L-C supplementation for weight loss Abstract Introduction : Limited data are available assessing the effects of oral carnitine supplementation on mental health parameters and biomarkers of oxidative stress of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).This study was design ed to determine the effects of oral carnitine supplementation on mental health parameters and biomarkers of oxidative stress in women with PCOS . Methods : In the current r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial , 60 patients diagnosed with PCOS were r and omized to take either 250 mg carnitine supplements ( n = 30 ) or placebo ( n = 30 ) for 12 weeks . Results : After 12 weeks ’ intervention , compared with the placebo , carnitine supplementation result ed in a significant improvement in Beck Depression Inventory total score ( −2.7 ± 2.3 versus −0.2 ± 0.7 , p < 0.001 ) , General Health Question naire scores ( −6.9 ± 4.9 versus −0.9 ± 1.5 , p < 0.001 ) and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale scores ( −8.7 ± 5.9 versus −1.2 ± 2.9 , p = 0.001 ) . In addition , changes in plasma total antioxidant capacity ( TAC ) ( + 84.1 ± 151.8 versus + 4.6 ± 64.5 mmol/L , p = 0.01 ) , malondialdehyde ( MDA ) ( −0.4 ± 1.0 versus + 0.5 ± 1.5 μmol/L , p = 0.01 ) and MDA/TAC ratio ( −0.0005 ± 0.0010 versus + 0.0006 ± 0.0019 , p = 0.003 ) in the supplemented group were significantly different from the changes in these indicators in the placebo group . Conclusions : Overall , our study demonstrated that carnitine supplementation for 12 weeks among patients with PCOS had favorable effects on parameters of mental health and biomarkers of oxidative stress Background Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy ( CIPN ) is a common and disabling side effect of taxanes . Acetyl-L-carnitine ( ALC ) was unexpectedly found to increase CIPN in a r and omized trial . We investigated the long-term patterns of CIPN among patients in this trial . Methods S0715 was a r and omized , double-blind , multicenter trial comparing ALC ( 1000 mg three times a day ) with placebo for 24 weeks in women undergoing adjuvant taxane-based chemotherapy for breast cancer .  CIPN was measured by the 11-item neurotoxicity ( NTX ) component of the FACT-Taxane scale at weeks 12 , 24 , 36 , 52 , and 104 . We examined NTX scores over two years using linear mixed models for longitudinal data . Individual time points were examined using linear regression . Regression analyses included stratification factors and the baseline score as covariates . All statistical tests were two-sided . Results Four-hundred nine subjects were eligible for evaluation . Patients receiving ALC  had a statistically significantly ( P = .01 ) greater reduction in NTX scores ( worse CIPN ) of -1.39 points ( 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] = -2.48 to -0.30 ) than the placebo group . These differences were particularly evident at weeks 24 ( -1.68 , 95 % CI = -3.02 to -0.33 ) , 36 ( -1.37 , 95 % CI = -2.69 to -0.04 ) , and 52 ( -1.83 , 95 % CI = -3.35 to -0.32 ) . At 104 weeks , 39.5 % on the ALC arm and 34.4 % on the placebo arm reported a five-point ( 10 % ) decrease from baseline . For both treatment groups , 104-week NTX scores were statistically significantly different compared with baseline ( P < .001 ) . Conclusions For both groups , NTX scores were reduced from baseline and remained persistently low . Twenty-four weeks of ALC therapy result ed in statistically significantly worse CIPN over two years . Underst and ing the mechanism of this persistent effect may inform prevention and treatment strategies . Until then , the potential efficacy and harms of commonly used supplements should be rigorously studied Lipoprotein ( a ) [ Lp(a ) ] is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease . There are currently limited therapeutic options to lower Lp(a ) levels . l-Carnitine has been reported to reduce Lp(a ) levels . The aim of this study was to compare the effect of l-carnitine/simvastatin co-administration with that of simvastatin monotherapy on Lp(a ) levels in subjects with mixed hyperlipidemia and elevated Lp(a ) concentration . Subjects with levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) > 160 mg/dL , triacylglycerol ( TAG ) > 150 mg/dL and Lp(a ) > 20 mg/dL were included in this study . Subjects were r and omly allocated to receive l-carnitine 2 g/day plus simvastatin 20 mg/day ( N = 29 ) or placebo plus simvastatin 20 mg/day ( N = 29 ) for a total of 12 weeks . Lp(a ) was significantly reduced in the l-carnitine/simvastatin group [ −19.4 % , from 52 ( 20–171 ) to 42 ( 15–102 ) mg/dL ; p = 0.01 ] , but not in the placebo/simvastatin group [ −6.7 % , from 56 ( 26–108 ) to 52 ( 27–93 ) mg/dL , p = NS versus baseline and p = 0.016 for the comparison between groups ] . Similar significant reductions in total cholesterol , LDL-C , apolipoprotein ( apo ) B and TAG were observed in both groups . Co-administration of l-carnitine with simvastatin was associated with a significant , albeit modest , reduction in Lp(a )  compared with simvastatin monotherapy in subjects with mixed hyperlipidemia and elevated baseline Lp(a ) levels BACKGROUND Centenarians are characterized by weakness , decreasing mental health , impaired mobility , and poor endurance . L-Carnitine is an important contributor to cellular energy metabolism . OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the efficacy of L-carnitine on physical and mental fatigue and on cognitive functions of centenarians . DESIGN This was a placebo-controlled , r and omized , double-blind , 2-phase study . Sixty-six centenarians with onset of fatigue after even slight physical activity were recruited to the study . The 2 groups received either 2 g levocarnitine once daily ( n = 32 ) or placebo ( n = 34 ) . Efficacy measures included changes in total fat mass , total muscle mass , serum triacylglycerol , total cholesterol , HDL cholesterol , LDL cholesterol , Mini-Mental State Examination ( MMSE ) , Activities of Daily Living , and a 6-min walking corridor test . RESULTS At the end of the study period , the levocarnitine-treated centenarians , compared with the placebo group , showed significant improvements in the following markers : total fat mass ( -1.80 compared with 0.6 kg ; P < 0.01 ) , total muscle mass ( 3.80 compared with 0.8 kg ; P < 0.01 ) , plasma concentrations of total carnitine ( 12.60 compared with -1.70 mumol ; P < 0.05 ) , plasma long-chain acylcarnitine ( 1.50 compared with -0.1 micromol ; P < 0.001 ) , and plasma short-chain acylcarnitine ( 6.0 compared with -1.50 micromol ; P < 0.001 ) . Significant differences were also found in physical fatigue ( -4.10 compared with -1.10 ; P < 0.01 ) , mental fatigue ( -2.70 compared with 0.30 ; P < 0.001 ) , fatigue severity ( -23.60 compared with 1.90 ; P < 0.001 ) , and MMSE ( 4.1 compared with 0.6 ; P < 0.001 ) . CONCLUSIONS Our study indicates that oral administration of levocarnitine produces a reduction of total fat mass , increases total muscular mass , and facilitates an increased capacity for physical and cognitive activity by reducing fatigue and improving cognitive functions Background : The effects of L-carnitine on the hemodynamic state of chronic hemodialysis patients have been debated . In order to clarify the effect of administered L-carnitine on cardiac function and hypotensive episodes during the hemodialysis procedure , a r and omized double-blind placebo-controlled study was performed for 3 months . Methods and Results : Twenty stable out patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment were divided into two groups : controls ( placebo ) and treated patients ( L-carnitine 900 mg p.o . daily ) . After 3 months , cardiac function was reevaluated by echocardiography , and hypotensive episodes during hemodialysis were assessed . Free and acyl carnitine levels increased significantly from 22.3 ± 7.1 to 140.3 ± 57.5 μmol/l and from 15.8 ± 2.8 to 94.8 ± 50.4 μmol/l , respectively , in the treated group . The ejection fraction significantly increased from 61.8 ± 16.0 to 64.4 ± 13.8 % ( p < 0.05 ) in the treated group . However , there was no difference in other echocardiographic parameters between the two groups . Hypotensive episodes significantly decreased from 4.0 ± 1.7 to 1.3 ± 0.9 times per month ( p <  
    Output:
    
agent
No significant effect was seen for waist circumference ( WC ) and body fat percent .
A non-linear dose-response association was seen between l-carnitine supplementation and body weight reduction ( P < 0.001 ) suggesting that ingestion of 2000 mg l-carnitine per day provides the maximum effect in adults .
This association was not seen for BMI , WC and body fat percent .
CONCLUSIONS l-carnitine supplementation provides a modest reducing effect on body weight , BMI and fat mass , especially among adults with overweight/obesity
***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: This study examined the impact of L-acetylcarnitine treatment on metabolic parameters and body composition in patients with lipodystrophy syndrome secondary to antiretroviral treatment in human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV ) infection . A total of 9 HIV-1 infected patients with lipodystrophy syndrome ( 4F/5 M , age 41+/-5 years , HIV duration 8+/-2 years , BMI 23.7+/-3.4 kg/m(2 ) , on protease inhibitors and nucleoside analogue Reverse Transcriptase inhibitors )  were evaluated before and after 8 months of therapy with L-acetylcarnitine ( 2 g/die ) and 9 matched healthy subjects served as control subjects . In all patients fasting plasma glucose , insulin concentrations ( for evaluation of surrogate indexes of insulin sensitivity ) , lipid profile , lipid oxidation ( by indirect calorimetry ) , body composition ( by DEXA ) , and intramyocellular triglyceride ( IMCL ) content of the calf muscles ( by (1)H NMR spectroscopy ) were assessed . After this therapy , in HIV-1 patients , the IMCL content of the soleus had significantly decreased ( p=0.03 ) . Plasma FFAs ( 0.79+/-0.31 to 0.64+/-0.25 ; p<0.05 ) and Respiratory Quotient ( 0.83+/-0.18 to 0.72+/-0.16 ; p<0.03 ) also decreased . Insulin sensitivity was significantly lower prior ( HOMA-IS 0.56+/-0.30 ) and nonstatistically different than controls after therapy ( 0.72+/-0.49 vs. 0.78+/-0.42 ) whilst the percentage of fat in the legs increased ( p=0.05 ) . Eight months of L-acetylcarnitine treatment increased lipid oxidation , decreased intramyocellular triglyceride content , and induced a more physiological distribution of fat deposits L-Carnitine ( L-C ) transports fatty acids into mitochondria for oxidation and is marketed as a weight loss supplement . In a double-blind investigation to test the weight loss efficacy of L-C , 36 moderately overweight premenopausal women were pair matched on Body Mass Index ( BMI ) and r and omly assigned to two groups ( N = 18 ) . For 8 weeks the L-C group ingested 2 g twice daily of L-C , while the placebo ( P ) group ingested the same amount of lactose . All subjects walked for 30 min ( 60 - 70 % maximum heart rate ) 4 days/week . Body composition , resting energy expenditure ( REE ) and substrate utilization were estimated before and after treatment . For the subjects who completed the study ( 15 P , 13 L-C ) , no significant changes in mean total body mass ( TBM ) , fat mass FM , and resting lipid utilization occurred over time , nor were there any significant differences between groups for any variable . Conversely REE increased significantly for all subjects , but no between group differences existed . Five of the L-C group experienced nausea or diarrhea and consequently did not complete the study . Eight weeks of L-C ingestion and walking did not significantly alter the TBM or FM of overweight women , thereby casting doubt on the efficacy of L-C supplementation for weight loss Abstract Introduction : Limited data are available assessing the effects of oral carnitine supplementation on mental health parameters and biomarkers of oxidative stress of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).This study was design ed to determine the effects of oral carnitine supplementation on mental health parameters and biomarkers of oxidative stress in women with PCOS . Methods : In the current r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial , 60 patients diagnosed with PCOS were r and omized to take either 250 mg carnitine supplements ( n = 30 ) or placebo ( n = 30 ) for 12 weeks . Results : After 12 weeks ’ intervention , compared with the placebo , carnitine supplementation result ed in a significant improvement in Beck Depression Inventory total score ( −2.7 ± 2.3 versus −0.2 ± 0.7 , p < 0.001 ) , General Health Question naire scores ( −6.9 ± 4.9 versus −0.9 ± 1.5 , p < 0.001 ) and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale scores ( −8.7 ± 5.9 versus −1.2 ± 2.9 , p = 0.001 ) . In addition , changes in plasma total antioxidant capacity ( TAC ) ( + 84.1 ± 151.8 versus + 4.6 ± 64.5 mmol/L , p = 0.01 ) , malondialdehyde ( MDA ) ( −0.4 ± 1.0 versus + 0.5 ± 1.5 μmol/L , p = 0.01 ) and MDA/TAC ratio ( −0.0005 ± 0.0010 versus + 0.0006 ± 0.0019 , p = 0.003 ) in the supplemented group were significantly different from the changes in these indicators in the placebo group . Conclusions : Overall , our study demonstrated that carnitine supplementation for 12 weeks among patients with PCOS had favorable effects on parameters of mental health and biomarkers of oxidative stress Background Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy ( CIPN ) is a common and disabling side effect of taxanes . Acetyl-L-carnitine ( ALC ) was unexpectedly found to increase CIPN in a r and omized trial . We investigated the long-term patterns of CIPN among patients in this trial . Methods S0715 was a r and omized , double-blind , multicenter trial comparing ALC ( 1000 mg three times a day ) with placebo for 24 weeks in women undergoing adjuvant taxane-based chemotherapy for breast cancer .  CIPN was measured by the 11-item neurotoxicity ( NTX ) component of the FACT-Taxane scale at weeks 12 , 24 , 36 , 52 , and 104 . We examined NTX scores over two years using linear mixed models for longitudinal data . Individual time points were examined using linear regression . Regression analyses included stratification factors and the baseline score as covariates . All statistical tests were two-sided . Results Four-hundred nine subjects were eligible for evaluation . Patients receiving ALC  had a statistically significantly ( P = .01 ) greater reduction in NTX scores ( worse CIPN ) of -1.39 points ( 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] = -2.48 to -0.30 ) than the placebo group . These differences were particularly evident at weeks 24 ( -1.68 , 95 % CI = -3.02 to -0.33 ) , 36 ( -1.37 , 95 % CI = -2.69 to -0.04 ) , and 52 ( -1.83 , 95 % CI = -3.35 to -0.32 ) . At 104 weeks , 39.5 % on the ALC arm and 34.4 % on the placebo arm reported a five-point ( 10 % ) decrease from baseline . For both treatment groups , 104-week NTX scores were statistically significantly different compared with baseline ( P < .001 ) . Conclusions For both groups , NTX scores were reduced from baseline and remained persistently low . Twenty-four weeks of ALC therapy result ed in statistically significantly worse CIPN over two years . Underst and ing the mechanism of this persistent effect may inform prevention and treatment strategies . Until then , the potential efficacy and harms of commonly used supplements should be rigorously studied Lipoprotein ( a ) [ Lp(a ) ] is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease . There are currently limited therapeutic options to lower Lp(a ) levels . l-Carnitine has been reported to reduce Lp(a ) levels . The aim of this study was to compare the effect of l-carnitine/simvastatin co-administration with that of simvastatin monotherapy on Lp(a ) levels in subjects with mixed hyperlipidemia and elevated Lp(a ) concentration . Subjects with levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) > 160 mg/dL , triacylglycerol ( TAG ) > 150 mg/dL and Lp(a ) > 20 mg/dL were included in this study . Subjects were r and omly allocated to receive l-carnitine 2 g/day plus simvastatin 20 mg/day ( N = 29 ) or placebo plus simvastatin 20 mg/day ( N = 29 ) for a total of 12 weeks . Lp(a ) was significantly reduced in the l-carnitine/simvastatin group [ −19.4 % , from 52 ( 20–171 ) to 42 ( 15–102 ) mg/dL ; p = 0.01 ] , but not in the placebo/simvastatin group [ −6.7 % , from 56 ( 26–108 ) to 52 ( 27–93 ) mg/dL , p = NS versus baseline and p = 0.016 for the comparison between groups ] . Similar significant reductions in total cholesterol , LDL-C , apolipoprotein ( apo ) B and TAG were observed in both groups . Co-administration of l-carnitine with simvastatin was associated with a significant , albeit modest , reduction in Lp(a )  compared with simvastatin monotherapy in subjects with mixed hyperlipidemia and elevated baseline Lp(a ) levels BACKGROUND Centenarians are characterized by weakness , decreasing mental health , impaired mobility , and poor endurance . L-Carnitine is an important contributor to cellular energy metabolism . OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the efficacy of L-carnitine on physical and mental fatigue and on cognitive functions of centenarians . DESIGN This was a placebo-controlled , r and omized , double-blind , 2-phase study . Sixty-six centenarians with onset of fatigue after even slight physical activity were recruited to the study . The 2 groups received either 2 g levocarnitine once daily ( n = 32 ) or placebo ( n = 34 ) . Efficacy measures included changes in total fat mass , total muscle mass , serum triacylglycerol , total cholesterol , HDL cholesterol , LDL cholesterol , Mini-Mental State Examination ( MMSE ) , Activities of Daily Living , and a 6-min walking corridor test . RESULTS At the end of the study period , the levocarnitine-treated centenarians , compared with the placebo group , showed significant improvements in the following markers : total fat mass ( -1.80 compared with 0.6 kg ; P < 0.01 ) , total muscle mass ( 3.80 compared with 0.8 kg ; P < 0.01 ) , plasma concentrations of total carnitine ( 12.60 compared with -1.70 mumol ; P < 0.05 ) , plasma long-chain acylcarnitine ( 1.50 compared with -0.1 micromol ; P < 0.001 ) , and plasma short-chain acylcarnitine ( 6.0 compared with -1.50 micromol ; P < 0.001 ) . Significant differences were also found in physical fatigue ( -4.10 compared with -1.10 ; P < 0.01 ) , mental fatigue ( -2.70 compared with 0.30 ; P < 0.001 ) , fatigue severity ( -23.60 compared with 1.90 ; P < 0.001 ) , and MMSE ( 4.1 compared with 0.6 ; P < 0.001 ) . CONCLUSIONS Our study indicates that oral administration of levocarnitine produces a reduction of total fat mass , increases total muscular mass , and facilitates an increased capacity for physical and cognitive activity by reducing fatigue and improving cognitive functions Background : The effects of L-carnitine on the hemodynamic state of chronic hemodialysis patients have been debated . In order to clarify the effect of administered L-carnitine on cardiac function and hypotensive episodes during the hemodialysis procedure , a r and omized double-blind placebo-controlled study was performed for 3 months . Methods and Results : Twenty stable out patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment were divided into two groups : controls ( placebo ) and treated patients ( L-carnitine 900 mg p.o . daily ) . After 3 months , cardiac function was reevaluated by echocardiography , and hypotensive episodes during hemodialysis were assessed . Free and acyl carnitine levels increased significantly from 22.3 ± 7.1 to 140.3 ± 57.5 μmol/l and from 15.8 ± 2.8 to 94.8 ± 50.4 μmol/l , respectively , in the treated group . The ejection fraction significantly increased from 61.8 ± 16.0 to 64.4 ± 13.8 % ( p < 0.05 ) in the treated group . However , there was no difference in other echocardiographic parameters between the two groups . Hypotensive episodes significantly decreased from 4.0 ± 1.7 to 1.3 ± 0.9 times per month ( p <  
    Output:
    