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. 2024 Mar 6;23:31. doi: 10.1186/s12937-024-00934-4

Table 4.

Monitoring laboratory variables in the intervention group (L-carnitine) and control group (placebo) at baseline and end of the trial (day 7)

Variablea Study Timeline L-carnitine (n = 30), mean ± SD) Placebo (n = 30), mean ± SD) p-value2 p-value3 p-value4
Hepatic status ALT (U/L) Baseline 36.43 ± 20.13 42.20 ± 38.49 0.953 0.430 0.303
Endpoint 40.44 ± 32.33 38.90 ± 34.79
Mean difference ± SD 4.01 ± 26.44 -3.30 ± 8.28
p-value 0.789 0.284
AST (U/L) Baseline 42.20 ± 24.59 47.23 ± 38.63 0.879 0.587 0.672
Endpoint 40.20 ± 21.98 44.50 ± 27.43
Mean difference ± SD -2.00 ± 27.37 -2.74 ± 21.86
p-value 0.571 0.919
ALP (U/L) Baseline 255.77 ± 168.94 265.70 ± 174.59 0.617 0.532 0.327
Endpoint 263.09 ± 168.86 288.82 ± 193.23
Mean difference ± SD 7.32 ± 48.79 23.12 ± 49.96
p-value 0.645 0.114
Biochemistry tests BUN (mg/dl) Baseline 22.37 ± 21.38 24.20 ± 18.90 0.337 0.971 0.965
Endpoint 19.28 ± 12.00 19.57 ± 10.23
Mean difference ± SD -3.09 ± 15.18 -4.63 ± 12.59
p-value 0.903 0.284
Cr (mg/dl) Baseline 1.03 ± 0.49 1.43 ± 0.82 0.038 0.218 0.470
Endpoint 1.08 ± 0.48 1.22 ± 0.60
Mean difference ± SD 0.05 ± 0.42 -0.21 ± 0.56
p-value 0.292 0.062
Alb (g/dl) Baseline 2.55 ± 0.48 2.69 ± 0.65 0.368 0.036 0.027
Endpoint 2.66 ± 0.50 2.63 ± 0.56
Mean difference ± SD 0.11 ± 0.26 -0.06 ± 0.26
p-value 0.025 0.343
BS (mg/dl) Baseline 140.77 ± 46.64 120.47 ± 46.77 0.064 0.615 0.526
Endpoint 147.04 ± 73.27 119.59 ± 38.99
Mean difference ± SD 6.27 ± 62.95 -0.88 ± 22.81
p-value 0.976 0.743
Total Bilirubin (mg/dl) Baseline 1.06 ± 1.37 1.30 ± 1.21 0.062 0.462 0.532
Endpoint 0.78 ± 0.25 1.02 ± 0.59
Mean difference ± SD -0.29 ± 1.34 -0.28 ± 1.09
p-value 0.602 0.106
Direct Bilirubin (mg/dl) Baseline 0.32 ± 0.17 0.57 ± 0.74 0.018 0.626 0.576
Endpoint 0.28 ± 0.12 0.41 ± 0.40
Mean difference ± SD -0.02 ± 0.07 -0.16 ± 0.39
p-value 0.719 0.072
Na (mEq/L) Baseline 139.47 ± 4.30 138.20 ± 5.52 0.326 0.173 0.300
Endpoint 139.60 ± 4.97 137.75 ± 3.54
Mean difference ± SD 0.13 ± 5.29 -0.45 ± 5.38
p-value 0.892 0.649
K (mEq/L) Baseline 3.91 ± 0.42 4.05 ± 0.47 0.224 0.581 0.292
Endpoint 4.01 ± 0.38) 4.11 ± 0.61)
Mean difference ± SD 0.10 ± 0.51 0.05 ± 0.73
p-value 0.290 0.688
P (mg/dl) Baseline 3.04 ± 0.75 3.12 ± 1.01 0.717 0.249 0.212
Endpoint 2.96 ± 0.67 2.86 ± 0.48
Mean difference ± SD -0.83 ± 0.58 -0.26 ± 0.75
p-value 0.441 0.062
Mg (mg/dl) Baseline 1.91 ± 0.35 1.93 ± 0.41 0.839 0.914 0.911
Endpoint 1.89 ± 0.32 1.91 ± 0.43
Mean difference ± SD -0.02 ± 0.30 -0.02 ± 0.50
p-value 0.722 0.812
Ca (mg/dl) Baseline 7.27 ± 0.73 8.07 ± 0.81 0.091 0.360 0.686
Endpoint 7.93 ± 0.74 8.06 ± 0.62
Mean difference ± SD 0.20 ± 0.53 -0.02 ± 0.45
p-value 0.049 0.856
CBC diff test RBC (1012/L) Baseline 3.49 ± 0.55 3.70 ± 0.71 0.252 0.967 0.788
Endpoint 3.56 ± 0.65 3.65 ± 0.54
Mean difference ± SD 0.07 ± 0.56 -0.06 ± 0.56
p-value 0.527 0.779
WBC (109/L) Baseline 9.96 ± 3.75 8.23 ± 3.06 0.059 0.290 0.154
Endpoint 8.95 ± 3.13 8.82 ± 3.94
Mean difference ± SD -1.01 ± 2.54 0.59 ± 3.91
p-value 0.059 0.366
Lymphocyte (%) Baseline 13.65 ± 8.11) 15.32 ± 9.25 0.444 0.113 0.193
Endpoint 13.46 ± 6.54 17.74 ± 10.81
Mean difference ± SD -0.20 ± 7.22 2.42 ± 12.00
p-value 0.744 0.178
Neutrophil (%) Baseline 73.13 ± 16.53 74.56 ± 11.51 0.871 0.167 0.116
Endpoint 74.69 ± 10.97 70.80 ± 15.23
Mean difference ± SD 1.56 ± 10.67 -3.75 ± 16.40
p-value 0.727 0.207
Hb (g/dl) Baseline 9.74 ± 1.53 10.31 ± 1.62 0.220 0.675 0.741
Endpoint 9.76 ± 1.48 10.20 ± 2.00
Mean difference ± SD 0.01 ± 1.58 -0.12 ± 1.36
p-value 0.996 0.645
Hct (%) Baseline 28.86 ± 3.86 31.38 ± 5.86 0.054 0.405 0.409
Endpoint 29.05 ± 3.85 31.05 ± 4.55
Mean difference ± SD 0.19 ± 4.30 -0.34 ± 4.34
p-value 0.810 0.675
MCV (fL) Baseline 83.12 ± 6.34 83.81 ± 10.43 0.295 0.316 0.435
Endpoint 83.20 ± 6.41 85.41 ± 3.58
Mean difference ± SD 0.08 ± 3.56 1.60 ± 10.06
p-value 0.891 0.852
MCH (pg) Baseline 27.69 ± 2.55 28.02 ± 2.30 0.589 0.174 0.421
Endpoint 27.75 ± 2.45 28.44 ± 2.71
Mean difference ± SD 0.06 ± 1.15 0.42 ± 1.09
p-value  < 0.001  < 0.001
MCHC (g/dl) Baseline 33.11 ± 1.38 32.47 ± 1.68 0.114 0.689 0.616
Endpoint 33.91 ± 2.24 33.91 ± 3.03
Mean difference ± SD 0.80 ± 2.41 1.43 ± 2.99
p-value 0.081 0.014
Plt (/ml) Baseline 241.47 ± 116.47 260.13 ± 127.15 0.556 0.004 0.042
Endpoint 276.26 ± 110.86 220.30 ± 94.34
Mean difference ± SD 34.80 ± 109.82 -39.83 ± 98.67
p-value 0.093 0.035
ABG test pH Baseline 7.42 ± 0.08 7.39 ± 0.09 0.207 0.999 1.000
Endpoint 7.47 ± 0.12 7.44 ± 0.10
Mean difference ± SD 0.05 ± 0.13 0.05 ± 0.11
p-value  < 0.001  < 0.001
PCO2 (mmHg) Baseline 41.70 ± 8.48 48.34 ± 15.76 0.110 0.633 0.809
Endpoint 39.42 ± 9.66 43.18 ± 13.17
Mean difference ± SD -2.28 ± 10.27 -5.16 ± 13.37
p-value 0.194 0.060
PO2 (mmHg) Baseline 110.95 ± 36.29 94.27 ± 40.09 0.096 0.779 0.558
Endpoint 91.07 ± 29.08 84.87 ± 25.43
Mean difference ± SD -19.88 ± 36.18 -9.40 ± 40.08
p-value 0.005 0.209
BE (mmol/L) Baseline 2.48 ± 6.30 3.63 ± 4.05 0.405 0.590 0.673
Endpoint 2.27 ± 6.11 2.15 ± 5.10
Mean difference ± SD -0.21 ± 6.32 -1.48 ± 4.76
p-value 0.856 0.099
HCO3 (mmol/L) Baseline 26.39 ± 6.03 28.38 ± 4.84 0.165 0.610 0.731
Endpoint 26.21 ± 6.81 27.77 ± 6.10
Mean difference ± SD -0.18 ± 7.22 -0.61 ± 6.93
p-value 0.893 0.633
Coagulation status PT (s) Baseline 13.71 ± 4.05 13.53 ± 3.66 0.976 0.443 0.767
Endpoint 13.39 ± 2.87 13.49 ± 2.79
Mean difference ± SD -0.32 ± 2.67 -0.04 ± 3.84
p-value 0.992 0.333
PTT (s) Baseline 30.21 ± 5.08 33.29 ± 11.29 0.175 1.000 0.534
Endpoint 32.98 ± 9.38 33.56 ± 10.53
Mean difference ± SD 2.78 ± 9.67 0.26 ± 10.53
p-value  < 0.001  < 0.001
INR Baseline 1.29 ± 0.21 1.35 ± 0.37 0.709 0.180 0.346
Endpoint 1.28 ± 0.18 1.35 ± 0.28
Mean difference ± SD -0.01 ± 0.13 0.00 ± 0.38
p-value 0.841 0.145
Urinary status SG Baseline 1018.83 ± 5.72 1020.10 ± 6.27 0.417 0.715 0.659
Endpoint 1018.96 ± 5.20 1019.80 ± 5.30
Mean difference ± SD 0.127 ± 5.77 -0.31 ± 7.28
p-value 0.905 0.820
Urinary pH Baseline 6.43 ± 1.07 6.23 ± 1.19 0.498 0.804 0.767
Endpoint 6.43 ± 1.00 6.33 ± 0.98
Mean difference ± SD 0.000 ± 1.27 0.095 ± 1.34
p-value 0.998 0.701
Other monitoring variables Temperature (°C) Baseline 37.77 ± 0.97 37.55 ± 0.72 0.321 0.151 0.269
Endpoint 37.40 ± 0.48 37.45 ± 0.48
Mean difference ± SD -0.37 ± 0.76 -0.10 ± 0.46
p-value 0.012 0.231
SBP (mmHg) Baseline 126.63 ± 21.87 113.17 ± 17.94 0.012 0.030 0.007
Endpoint 117.05 ± 20.72 98.17 ± 24.21
Mean difference ± SD -9.58 ± 21.98 -14.99 ± 24.16
p-value 0.024 0.002
DBP (mmHg) Baseline 85.30 ± 21.71 92.37 ± 27.76 0.277 0.393 0.027
Endpoint 76.29 ± 7.93 75.53 ± 8.44
Mean difference ± SD -9.02 ± 18.33 -16.84 ± 26.65
p-value 0.012 0.002
PRL (ng/ml) Baseline 59.37 ± 32.87 48.05 ± 20.62 0.006 0.236 0.197
Endpoint 55.61 ± 27.06 44.95 ± 17.89
Mean difference ± SD -3.76 ± 31.76 -3.10 ± 21.77
p-value 0.521 0.442

ABG arterial blood gas, Alb Albumin, ALP Alkaline phosphatase, ALT alanine aminotransferase, AST aspartate aminotransferase, BE Base Excess, BS Blood sugar, BUN Blood urea nitrogen, Ca Calcium, CBC diff Complete blood count with differential, Cl Chloride, Cr Creatinine, DBP Diastolic blood pressure, Hb Hemoglobin, HCO3 bicarbonate, Hct Hematocrit, INR International normalized ration, K Potassium, MCH Mean corpuscular hemoglobin, MCHC Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, MCV Mean corpuscular volume, Mg Magnesium; Na Sodium, P Phosphorus, PCO2 Partial pressure of carbon dioxide, Plt Platelets, PO2 partial pressure of oxygen, PT Prothrombin time, PTT Partial thromboplastin time, RBC Red blood cells, SBP Systolic blood pressure, SG Specific gravity, WBC White blood cells, SD standard deviation

1Obtained from Paired sample t-test

2Obtained from Independent Sample t-test

3Obtained from analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in the adjusted models (adjusted for baseline value)

4Obtained from analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in the adjusted models (adjusted for baseline value and ESR)

aValues are Mean ± Standard deviation