---
title: Acetyl-L-Carnitine Reduces Depression and Improves Quality of Life in Patients With Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy
nct_id: NCT01223729
overall_status: COMPLETED
phase: NA
sponsor: University of Catania
study_type: INTERVENTIONAL
primary_condition: Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy
countries: Italy
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/agent/trials/NCT01223729.md"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01223729"
ct_last_update_post_date: 2010-10-19
last_seen_at: "2026-05-12T07:09:29.713Z"
source: ClinicalTrials.gov (mirrored, no enrichment)
---
# Acetyl-L-Carnitine Reduces Depression and Improves Quality of Life in Patients With Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy

**NCT ID:** [NCT01223729](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01223729)

## Key Facts

- **Status:** COMPLETED
- **Phase:** NA
- **Study Type:** INTERVENTIONAL
- **Target Enrollment:** 67
- **Lead Sponsor:** University of Catania
- **Conditions:** Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy
- **Start Date:** 2002-04
- **Completion Date:** 2005-11
- **CT.gov Last Update:** 2010-10-19

## Brief Summary

Minimal hepatic encephalopathy represents a common complication present in well-compensated cirrhotic patients that impairs patients daily functioning and health-related quality of life. Acetyl-L-carnitine has been shown to be useful in improving blood ammonia and cognitive functions in cirrhotic patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy. This study evaluated the effects of acetyl-L-carnitine treatment on health related quality of life and on depression in patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy.

## Eligibility

- **Minimum age:** 34 Years
- **Maximum age:** 67 Years
- **Sex:** ALL

```
Inclusion Criteria:

* All patients diagnosed as having cirrhosis at the outpatient Internal Medicine of the Department of Senescence of Cannizzaro Hospital (Catania) were candidates for enrolment. The diagnosis of cirrhosis was based on clinical, biochemical and ultrasonographic or liver histological data.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Exclusion criteria were overt hepatic encephalopathy or a history of overt HE; history of recent alcohol intake; infection; recent antibiotic use or gastrointestinal bleeding; history of recent use of drugs affecting psychometric performances like benzodiazepines, antiepileptics or psychotropic drugs; a history of shunt surgery or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for portal hypertension; electrolyte imbalance; renal impairment; hepatocellular carcinoma; severe medical problems such as congestive heart failure, pulmonary disease or neurological or psychiatric disorder that could influence quality of life measurement; inability to perform neuropsycological tests.
```

## Arms

- **Acetyl-L-Carnitine** (EXPERIMENTAL)
- **placebo** (PLACEBO_COMPARATOR)

## Interventions

- **Acetyl-L-Carnitine** (DRUG) — 2 g acetyl-L carnitine twice a day
- **placebo** (OTHER) — placebo twice per day

## Locations (1)

- Cannizzaro Hospital, Catania, Italy

## Recent Field Changes (last 30 days)

- `status.overallStatus` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.completionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.lastUpdatePostDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.phases` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.enrollmentCount` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.criteria` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.minAge` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.maxAge` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.sex` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.arms` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.interventions` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `sponsor.lead` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `results.hasResults` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `locations.cannizzaro hospital|catania||italy` — added _(2026-05-12)_

---

*Canonical: https://parkinsonspathways.com/agent/trials/NCT01223729.md*  
*Source data (authoritative): https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01223729*  
*This page is a raw mirror with no AI summary, no editorial enrichment, and no Parkinson's-specific filtering.*