Clinica “Villa Maria Pia”, Rome, Italy.
Alcohol Alcohol. 2010 Sep-Oct;45(5):449-55. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agq039. Epub 2010 Jun 30.
The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of acetyl-l-carnitine (ALC), at different doses, in relapse prevention and craving in anhedonic detoxified alcohol-dependent subjects.
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot study in 64 alcohol-dependent anhedonic patients: 23 received ALC at a dose of 3 g/day, 21 received ALC at a dosage of 1 g/day and 20 were given placebo. Intensity of alcohol craving was evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale. Subjects were evaluated at the beginning of treatment and after 10, 30, 60 and 90 days.
Survival analysis showed that patients treated with ALC remained completely abstinent for longer than those treated with placebo (Z = -2.27; P < 0.05). From the 10th day onwards, a greater reduction of craving was observed in the ALC 1 g group than with placebo (P = 0.035). The two groups did not differ in the percentage of subjects remaining abstinent for the entire study period or the number of subjects who relapsed (defined as five or more standard drinks (four for women) on a single occasion or drinking on five or more days in 1 week).
The results of this study suggest that ALC can reduce craving and the time to first drink. ALC use was safe. Further studies are needed to clarify to confirm, over longer periods, these short-term outcome benefits.
本研究旨在评估不同剂量乙酰左旋肉碱（ALC）在预防复饮和缓解快感缺失性酒精依赖患者的渴求感方面的疗效。
这是一项随机、双盲、安慰剂对照的先导研究，纳入了 64 名快感缺失性酒精依赖患者：23 名患者接受 3 g/天的 ALC 治疗，21 名患者接受 1 g/天的 ALC 治疗，20 名患者接受安慰剂治疗。采用视觉模拟量表评估酒精渴求感的强度。在治疗开始时以及治疗后第 10、30、60 和 90 天对患者进行评估。
生存分析显示，接受 ALC 治疗的患者保持完全戒断的时间长于接受安慰剂治疗的患者（Z = -2.27；P < 0.05）。从第 10 天开始，1 g/天 ALC 组的渴求感降低程度大于安慰剂组（P = 0.035）。在整个研究期间保持完全戒断的患者比例或复饮患者比例（定义为单次饮酒 5 个或更多标准杯（女性为 4 个）或在 1 周内 5 天或以上饮酒）方面，两组之间没有差异。
这项研究的结果表明，ALC 可以降低渴求感和首次饮酒的时间。ALC 的使用是安全的。需要进一步的研究来证实，在更长的时间内，这些短期疗效是否能得到维持。
