Chemotherapy and Natural Interventions

Cancer patients suffering from chemotherapy related fatigue might benefit from L-carnitine supplementation. Non-anemic (low red blood cell levels that cause weakness) cancer patients (n=50) received oral L-carnitine 4 g/day for a week. Fatigue status was then measured using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Fatigue (FACTF) score. After L-carnitine treatment, carnitine levels became normal and the average FACTF score increased from 19.7 at the start of the study to 34.9 after a week of treatment, indicating an improvement in fatigue. These results were maintained until the patients underwent another cycle of chemotherapy. (1)

Chemotherapy reduces levels of L-carnitine, which is important for energy production in cells, leaving some cancer patients feeling tired. According to research daily 2 g of L-carnitine supplementation for a month did not significantly improve fatigue in cancer patients compared to placebo. At the end of the 4-week study, L-carnitine levels had significantly improved. Average daily fatigue, measured using the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI, measures severity and impact of fatigue on daily functioning of an individual) improved by -0.96 and -1.11 in the treatment and placebo group, respectively. However, the improvement was not significantly different between the two groups. Additionally, fatigue measured using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue system which looks at health-related quality of life also did not show a difference between the treatment and placebo group. (2)