Summary of findings 2. Propionyl‐L‐carnitine compared to L‐carnitine for intermittent claudication.

Propionyl‐L‐carnitine compared to L‐carnitine for intermittent claudication
Patient or population: people with intermittent claudication Setting: outpatient setting Intervention: propionyl‐L‐carnitine Comparison: L‐carnitine
Outcomes	Anticipated absolute effects* (95% CI)		Relative effect (95% CI)	№. of participants (studies)	Certainty of evidence (GRADE)	Comments
	Risk with L‐carnitine	Risk with propionyl‐L‐carnitine
Absolute claudication distance (in meters) Follow‐up: 4 days	Mean ACD in control group was 36.00 m	MD 20 m higher (0.47 higher to 39.53 higher)	‐	28 (1 study)	⊕⊕⊝⊝ lowa
Initial claudication distance (in meters) Follow‐up: 4 days	Mean ICD in control group was 23.00 m	MD 4 m higher (9.86 lower to 17.86 higher)	‐	28 (1 study)	⊕⊕⊝⊝ lowa
Quality of life	See comments		‐	‐	‐	The single included study in this comparison did not report this outcome
Progression of disease (to Fontaine stage III or IV or necessity for intervention (endovascular or surgery))	See comments		‐	‐	‐	The single included study in this comparison did not report this outcome
Side effects of propionyl‐L‐carnitine regimen	See comments		‐	‐	‐	The single included study in this comparison did not report this outcome
Ankle brachial index	See comments		‐	‐	‐	The single included study in this comparison did not report this outcome
*The risk in the intervention group (and its 95% confidence interval) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI). ACD: absolute claudication distance; CI: confidence interval; ICD: initial claudication distance; MD: mean difference.
GRADE Working Group grades of evidence. High certainty: we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect. Moderate certainty: we are moderately confident in the effect estimate: the true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different. Low certainty: our confidence in the effect estimate is limited: the true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect. Very low certainty: we have very little confidence in the effect estimate: the true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect.

^aDowngraded by two levels because results are based on a single study with borderline or no statistically significant results. Moreover, this study is a cross‐over study with few participants and limited follow‐up time (four days), as well as several risk of bias issues.