Lee Swanson Research Update

Acetyl L-Carnitine May Ease Pain in Diabetics

April 2005

Long-standing or poorly controlled diabetes can cause permanent peripheral and autonomic nerve dysfunction called diabetic neuropathy. The pain caused by diabetic neuropathy ranks as one of the most troubling issues that diabetics must deal with.

New research has shown that Acetyl-L-Carnitine, a unique ester of the amino acid L-carnitine, may relieve the painful suffering caused by diabetic neuropathy.

Researchers evaluated databases from two 52-week randomized placebo-controlled clinical diabetic neuropathy trials, which had tested two doses of Acetyl-L-Carnitine: 500 mg and 1,000 mg per day. The two studies were evaluated separately and combined.

According to scientists, pain, "the most bothersome symptom" of diabetic neuropathy, improved significantly in the study featuring 1,000 mg doses. The relief was greatest among patients who had diabetes for the shortest amount of time. Data showed significant improvements in sural nerve fiber numbers and regenerating nerve fiber clusters.

Diabetes Care 28:89-94, 2005

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