---
title: "Evidence: fatty-acid mitochondrial shuttle"
description: "Daily L-carnitine doses above or below 3g do not offer additional benefits for mortality or cardiovascular events after a heart attack."
url: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s135.md"
canonical: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s135.html"
html: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s135.html"
type: "study"
study_key: "s135"
journal: "BMC Cardiovasc Disord"
year: 2014
pmid: "25044037"
doi: "10.1186/1471-2261-14-88"
citations: 1
updated: 2026-09-02
author: "Gabriel Radu, DO"
author_credentials: "Physiatrist (PM&R). NY medical license 275110. NPI 1376861765."
publisher: "Magellan Longevity"
content_format: "markdown"
---

# Evidence: fatty-acid mitochondrial shuttle

[Home](https://magellanlongevity.com/) › [Research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) › Evidence: fatty-acid mitochondrial shuttle

**HTML version:** https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s135.html · **In the Magellan app:** https://magellanlongevity.com/#/study/s135

## Citation

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Journal | BMC Cardiovasc Disord |
| Year | 2014 |
| PMID | [25044037](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25044037/) |
| DOI | [10.1186/1471-2261-14-88](https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2261-14-88) |
| Study key | s135 |

## Takeaway

Daily L-carnitine doses above or below 3g do not offer additional benefits for mortality or cardiovascular events after a heart attack.

## The question

What are the effects of various oral maintenance dosages of L-carnitine on all-cause mortality and cardiovascular morbidities in patients with acute myocardial infarction?

## Hypothesis

Higher doses of L-carnitine supplementation may not provide additional therapeutic benefits due to strict homeostatic regulation of plasma L-carnitine concentrations.

## Methods

A meta-analysis of five controlled trials (n = 3108) was conducted after a systematic review of PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library up to November 2013. The analysis determined the effects of L-carnitine on all-cause mortality and cardiovascular morbidities in acute MI patients.

## Results

There were no significant differences in the effects of 2 g, 3 g, 4 g, and 6 g daily oral L-carnitine doses on all-cause mortality (RR = 0.77, 95% CI [0.57-1.03], P = 0.08). A statistically insignificant trend favored the 3 g dose (RR = 0.48) over the 2 g dose (RR = 0.62), which was favored over the 4 g and 6 g doses (RR = 0.78, 0.78). No significant differences were found between 2 g and 6 g doses for heart failure (RR = 0.53, P = 0.10), unstable angina (RR = 0.90, P = 0.71), or myocardial reinfarction (RR = 0.74, P = 0.50).

## Conclusion

There appears to be no significant marginal benefit for oral L-carnitine maintenance doses greater or less than 3 g per day in terms of all-cause mortality, heart failure, unstable angina, or myocardial reinfarction in acute MI patients.

## Limitations

The abstract does not explicitly state limitations of the study.

## Verbatim from the abstract

> L-carnitine has been associated with a significant reduction in all-cause mortality

## Effect of L-carnitine Daily Dose on All-Cause Mortality (Risk Ratio)

| Measure | Risk Ratio |
| --- | --- |
| 3 g | 0.48 |
| 2 g | 0.62 |
| 4 g | 0.78 |
| 6 g | 0.78 |

*Risk ratios for all-cause mortality across different daily oral L-carnitine maintenance dosages, showing a trend favoring the 3g dose.*

## Where this study is used on Magellan

This paper is one of the citations behind the evidence grade on the pages below. Grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of affiliate commissions.

| Compound or device | Evidence grade | Graded pages |
| --- | --- | --- |
| L-Carnitine | Moderate evidence | [L-Carnitine](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/135.md) |

## Reference

1. **Evidence: fatty-acid mitochondrial shuttle**
   BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2014 · [PMID 25044037](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25044037/) · [DOI 10.1186/1471-2261-14-88](https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2261-14-88)

   > L-carnitine has been associated with a significant reduction in all-cause mortality

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## Related on Magellan Longevity

- [L-Carnitine](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/135.md) — product graded on this and related evidence
- [L-carnitine in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: systematic review and…](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d23597877.md)
- [L-carnitine in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: systematic review and…](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/lcarnitine_cvd.html)
- [Evidence: mitochondrial fatty-acid transport](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s126.md)
- [Longevity research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html)
- [Evidence-based longevity supplements](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-supplements.md)

## Scope and disclosures

Educational information, not medical advice. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your physician before starting any supplement or device, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication.

Editorial firewall: evidence grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of any affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, Magellan Longevity earns from qualifying purchases.

Reviewed for accuracy by a board-certified physician (DO).