Introduction:

In Mexico, it is estimated that eight to 10% of births are preterm newborns. Achieving adequate growth and development are one of the challenges of caring for prematures, which is why supplementation of nutrients, such as levocarnitine, is recommended.

Objective:

To assess the efficacy of oral levocarnitine in weight gain of prematures, compared with placebo.

Material and methods:

A randomized, double-blind controlled trial, compared with placebo, was carried out in a General Hospital, San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Patients weighing less than 1.8 kg were included, who had conditions to receive enteral feeding. The experimental group received 100 mg/kg/day of levocarnitine, and the control group 5% glucose solution. Weight gain (grams) at 7, 14 and 21 days, as well as length of hospital stay, were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed with Chi-square and Student’s t.

Results:

There were 32 prematures in the levocarnitine group and 28 in the placebo group. When analyzing the weight, the experimental group had an average weight gain of 167.8 g ± 54.97, 203.5 g ± 65.05 and 202.1 g ± 57.58, in the three weekly measurements. Which was higher (p <0.05) than in the control group: 143.4 g ± 60.32, 174.5 g ± 52.86 and 151 g ± 44.58, respectively. In addition, the experimental group had fewer days of hospitalization, 15.5 ± 7.1 vs 18.1 ± 8.6.

Conclusion:

In preterm newborns without complications, the administration of oral levocarnitine is effective in improving weight gain and probably in reducing hospital stay.