Effect of l-carnitine supplementation on muscle cramps induced by stroke: A case report

• Published in: Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) Los Angeles County, Calif.), 2020-03, Vol.71, p.110638, Article 110638
• Main Authors: Miwa, Takao, Hanai, Tatsunori, Morino, Kotaro, Katsumura, Naoki, Shimizu, Masahito
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenosine triphosphate; Aged; Carnitine; Carnitine - administration & dosage; Case reports; Cell membranes; Cerebral infarction; Cirrhosis; Coenzyme A; Cramps; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Dialysis; Dietary Supplements; Growth factors; Hemodialysis; Humans; Hypertension; Infarction; Leg; Leg - physiopathology; Liver cirrhosis; Male; Metabolism; Muscle Cramp - etiology; Muscle Cramp - therapy; Muscle cramps; Muscle pain; Muscles; Nocturnal leg cramps; Oxidation; Paralysis; Patients; Sleep; Stroke; Stroke - complications; Stroke - physiopathology; Supplements
• ISSN: 0899-9007; 1873-1244
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2019.110638

•l-carnitine is reported to reduce muscle cramps in patients with liver cirrhosis, diabetes, and those on dialysis.•The present patient, diagnosed with cerebral infarction, experienced nocturnal leg cramps in the affected side with sleep disturbance.•l-carnitine supplementation reduced the number of nocturnal leg cramps and alleviated sleep disturbance.•This case suggests that stroke may cause localized carnitine deficiency, and l-carnitine supplementation might be effective for muscle cramps induced by stroke. l-carnitine, a compound responsible for transportation of acyl groups across cell membranes and modulating intracellular acyl-coenzyme A levels, is reported to reduce muscle cramps in patients with liver cirrhosis and diabetes and those on dialysis. A 79-y-old man with right-sided paralysis was admitted to our hospital and diagnosed with cerebral infarction. Nocturnal leg cramps appeared in the affected side and caused sleep disturbance. Supplementation with l-carnitine reduced the number of nocturnal leg cramps and alleviated sleep disturbance. It also plays an important role in nerve protection and treatment for carnitine deficiency. Patients with stroke-induced paralysis experience muscle wasting, which might reduce pooled carnitine in the affected side. This case suggests that stroke may cause localized carnitine deficiency, and l-carnitine supplementation might be effective for muscle cramps induced by stroke. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of l-carnitine supplementation for muscle cramps triggered by cerebral infarction.