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Revista mexicana de pediatría
versión impresa ISSN 0035-0052
Resumen
ESCUDERO-LOURDES, Gabriela Virginia et al. Efficacy of oral L-carnitine in weight gain in preterm newborns. Double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Rev. mex. pediatr. [online]. 2020, vol.87, n.5, pp.183-188. Epub 27-Jun-2022. ISSN 0035-0052. https://doi.org/10.35366/97172.
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.
Palabras llave : Levocarnitine; preterm; newborn; weight gain; hospital stay.