Efficacy of L-Carnitine for Dilated Cardiomyopathy: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Table 1

Characteristics of included RCTs.

Study	Sample size (T/C)	Age (years)	Diagnosis standard	NYHA classification	Intervention	Control	Course	Outcomes
A. Juntao 2019	44/44	T: C:	Chinese publications	II-IV	L-carnitine, 3.0 g/d, iv.+CVT	CVT	14 days	Overall efficacy, BNP, TGF-β1
C. Qun 2009	39/39	T: C:	WHO/ISFC	III-IV	L-carnitine, 4.0 g/d, iv.+CVT	CVT	20 days	Overall efficacy, LVEF, LVEDD, CO
F. Cunzhong 2007	24/24	30-68	Chinese publications	II-IV	L-carnitine, 1.0 g/d, iv.+CVT	CVT	21 days	Overall efficacy, LVEF, CO
F. Tianfu 2006	32/32	T: 42-78; C: 39-77	WHO/ISFC	II-IV	L-carnitine, 2.0 g/d, iv.+CVT	CVT	10 days	Overall efficacy, LVEF
H. Qiaojuan 2009	30/30	T: C:	WHO/ISFC	II-IV	L-carnitine, 3.0 g/d, iv.+CVT	CVT	21 days	Overall efficacy, LVEF
H. Wenwei 2013	23/23		WHO/ISFC	II-IV	L-carnitine, 3.0 g/d, iv. then 1.0 g/d, po.+CVT	CVT	iv. 14 days, then po. 2 months	Effective rate, LVEF, LVEDD, CO, BNP
L. Jinshun 2013	29/29	35-58	Chinese publications	II-III	L-carnitine, 2.0 g/d, iv.+CVT	CVT	14 days	Overall efficacy, LVEF, LVEDD
L. Ming 2015	30/30		WHO/ISFC	III-IV	L-carnitine, 3.0 g/d, iv.+CVT	CVT	14 days	Overall efficacy, LVEF, LVEDD
L. Shengnan 2013	50/50	T: C:	WHO/ISFC	III-IV	L-carnitine, 4.0 g/d, iv.+CVT	CVT	14 days	Overall efficacy, LVEF, CO
L. Yunjian 2013	27/29	T: C:	WHO/ISFC	III-IV	L-carnitine, 3.0 g/d, iv.+CVT	CVT	14 days	Overall efficacy, LVEF, LVEDD, BNP
L. Zengbiao 2014	60/60	T: C:	WHO/ISFC	II-IV	L-carnitine, 2.0 g/d, iv.+CVT	CVT	14 days	Overall efficacy, TGF-β1
Q. Zhixian 2009	36/32		Chinese publications	III-IV	L-carnitine, 2.0 g/d, iv.+CVT	CVT	14 days	Overall efficacy, LVEF, BNP
T. Zhiqiang 2009	26/24	T: C:	WHO/ISFC	III-IV	L-carnitine, 3.0 g/d, iv. then 3.0 g/d, po.+CVT	CVT	iv. 14 days, then po. 6 months	Overall efficacy, LVEF, LVEDD
W. Erling 2013	30/22	T: C:	WHO/ISFC	III-IV	L-carnitine, 2.0 g/d, iv.+CVT	CVT	14 days	Overall efficacy, LVEF, LVEDD, TGF-β1
W. Jianxia 2014	32/33	55-75	WHO/ISFC	II-III	L-carnitine, 3.0 g/d, iv.+CVT	CVT	12 days	Overall efficacy
X. Yong 2013	20/20	NR	WHO/ISFC	II-IV	L-carnitine, 1.0 g/d, iv.+CVT	CVT	28 days	Overall efficacy, LVEF, CO
Z. Zhiyu 2007	30/26		WHO/ISFC	II-IV	L-carnitine, 3.0 g/d, iv.+CVT	CVT	21 days	Overall efficacy, LVEF, LVEDD
Z. Xiuqing 2007	34/32	T: 70-85; C: 81-83	WHO/ISFC	II-IV	L-carnitine, 6.0 g/d, iv.+CVT	CVT	10 days	Overall efficacy, LVEF
Z. Chunli 2010	30/30	30-63	WHO/ISFC	II-IV	L-carnitine, 2.0 g/d, iv.+CVT	CVT	28 days	Overall efficacy, LVEF, CO
Z. Hou 2009	31/31		Chinese publications	II-IV	L-carnitine, 3.0 g/d, iv.+CVT	CVT	14 days	Overall efficacy, LVEF, LVEDD
W. Fangjie 2018	42/42	T: C:	ESC	II-IV	L-carnitine, 100 mg/(kg·d), iv.+CVT	CVT	14 days	Overall efficacy, LVEF, CO, BNP
Y. Shengxiang 2019	25/20	1 month-13 years	WHO/ISFC	II-IV	L-carnitine, 50-100 mg/(kg·d), po.+CVT	CVT	1 year	LVEF
Y. Wang 2018	19/10	1 month-13 years	WHO/ISFC	III-IV	L-carnitine, 50-100 mg/(kg·d), po.+CVT	CVT	1 year	LVEF

Note: CVT: conventional treatment (such as ACE inhibitors, ARBs, β-blockers, aldosterone antagonists, diuretics, or digoxin); NR: not reported; T: experimental group; C: control group.