Acetyl- and propionyl-L-carnitine: open active comparison
Vermeulen RCW, Scholte HR · 2004 · Psychosomatic Medicine
Indexed 2026-11-12.
Reported findings and study design
Reported findings
Open randomized active comparison over 24 weeks. Single-form groups received 2 g/day of acetyl-L-carnitine or propionyl-L-carnitine. The third group received the combination.
Dose, route and schedule
Open randomized active comparison over 24 weeks. Single-form groups received 2 g/day of acetyl-L-carnitine or propionyl-L-carnitine. The third group received the combination.
Protocol source ↗ · Original article abstract
| Measure | Result | Comparison, timing and statistics |
|---|---|---|
| Considerable global improvement | 59% with acetyl-L-carnitine, 63% with propionyl-L-carnitine and 37% with the combination. | |
| After treatment | Fatigue worsened two weeks after stopping in 52%, 50% and 37%, respectively. Pain did not improve in any arm. |
There was no inactive control. These derivatives differ from the levocarnitine used in the Bemitil combination patent.
Source for these results ↗ · Reviewed 2026-11-12
For research and education. Consult a qualified clinician for medical advice.
Study limitations and source details
Study limitations
- There was no inactive control. These derivatives differ from the levocarnitine used in the Bemitil combination patent.
Source access
Open randomized active comparison over 24 weeks. Single-form groups received 2 g/day of acetyl-L-carnitine or propionyl-L-carnitine. The third group received the combination.
Source reviewed 2026-11-12.
Citation and original source
Original source: Vermeulen RCW, Scholte HR. Acetyl- and propionyl-L-carnitine: open active comparison Psychosomatic Medicine 2004.
Molekul research summary: https://molekul.io/research/carnitine-cfs-2004. Cite the original publication for its findings and this page when referring to Molekul’s summary or evidence appraisal.
Bibliography entry