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Table 1 Characteristics of the study population (n = 72) at baseline visit of the study (mean ± SEM)

From: L-Carnitine-supplementation in advanced pancreatic cancer (CARPAN) - a randomized multicentre trial

Parameter

L-Carnitine (n = 38)

Placebo (n = 34)

gender

male

20 (52.6%)

23 (67.6%)

female

18 (47.4%)

11 (32.4%)

mean age

64.4 ± 1.67

64.4 ± 1.65

Karnofsky performance status

76.8 ± 1.87

80.0 ± 2.16

Nutritional Status

normal BMI (kg/m²)

28.0 ± 1.01

30.1 ± 0.84

baseline visit BMI (kg/m²)

24.7 ± 0.65

24.9 ± 0.89

Phase angle (°)

4.4 ± 0.16

4.4 ± 0.17

Weight loss*

present

34 (89.5%)

31 (91.2%)

absent

4 (10.5%)

3 (8.8%)

meanweight loss (kg)*

11.4 ± 1.28

12.3 ± 1.56

Nutritional support

none

20 (52.6%)

21 (61.8%)

oral

14 (36.8%)

9 (26.5%)

 

Parenteral nutrition

4 (10.5%)

4 (11.7%)

ECM/BCM index **

1.5 ± 0.11

1.4 ± 0

Cell percentage (%)

41.8 ± 1.22

42.70 ± 1.21

chemotherapy (n) 35 (92%) 30 (88%)

Laboratory values

L-Carnitine level (μmol/l)

25.3 ± 2.29

24. 8 ± 2.11

Albumine (g/l)

33.8 ± 1.09

33.7 ± 1.20

CRP (mg/l)

31.3 ± 6.55

45.5 ± 10.39

Leucocytes (Gpt/l)

8.3 ± 0.83

6.9 ± 0.46

CA 19–9 (U/ml)

14,095 ± 32,572

18,345 ± 35,950

  1. No statistically significant differences were observed between L-Carnitine and placebo group.
  2. *weight loss during the last 6 month.
  3. **ECM/BCM-Index, Extra-Cellular-Mass/Body-Cell-Mass-Index.