Carnitine in Treatment of Dupuytrens Contracture

Carnitine is used in Alternative Medicine to treat medical conditions, like Dupuytrens contracture, in which fibrous thickening and scar formation is an important component of the illness.

Description

Carnitine is a naturally occurring amino acid (protein building block).

There are three forms of carnitine: L-carnitine, acetyl-L-carnitine and proprionyl-L-carnitine. Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) is the principal form used in most research and treatment of Dupuytrens contracture and Peyronie’s Disease (PD), not the L-carnitine form. This last form, acetyl-L-carnitine, functions in the body as an anti-oxidant, breaking down arachidonic acid and histimine, thus controlling inflammation. Perhaps this is why it is more effective in treating fibrous tissue thickening. Using the less expensive L-carnitine form is not recommended for this reason.

Dupuytrens contracture and Peyronie’s disease connection
There are many statistical and clinical similarities between Dupuytrens contracture and Peyronie’s disease. So much so, that there is even a connection between treatment that has benefited one condition being also potentially beneficial for the other. Because of this, it is common to learn from men who are being treated with a PDI therapy program for their Peyronie’s disease that their concurrent Dupuytrens contracture is also improving.

Therefore, when one study shows that Peyronies disease is benefited by carnitine, it can be of interest to someone with Dupuytrens contracture. And there are actually two important studies in the literature concerning the effects of using carnitine to treat PD. Both of these studies report that carnitine is helpful in treating PD, and one of the two states that acetyl-L-carnitine is more effective for PD than tamoxifen, the most commonly prescribed medication that is used for treating PD. (1, 2) Here is how the findings of this study were reported:

These are very impressive results. No wonder many men are excited about using acetyl-L-carnitine for their PD, and those with Dupuytrens contracture should take note of these results for their problem.

There is probably more good science, and the best research results supporting acetyl-L-carnitine treatment of PD than other therapies that are available. It is difficult to ignore acetyl-L-carnitine as a PD treatment when there is so much research pointing in that direction. However, as will always be seen with PD, even this strong research does not clearly make it a proven treatment for PD.(3) It is necessary for the reader to determine, along with his treating physician, if this is a therapy that makes sense in a good treatment plan for the hand problem also. .

Carnitine Product Recommendation
The carnitine product DCI recommends is a 500 mg capsule, called Max Carnitine, from Douglas Laboratory. Many products we suggest for Dupuytrens contracture come from Douglas Laboratory because we both want to deal with a dependable and well-known company that has earned a great reputation. Maybe you can get a bottle of carnitine for a few dollars less, but you cannot get a bottle of this high quality carnitine from a company with a better reputation or at a better price than we charge. When all is said and done, you are also buying the confidence that comes from a highly reputable source.

Want to learn more technical information about carnitine?

The sister organization for the Dupuytrens Contracture Institute (DCI) is the Peyronie’s Disease Institute (PDI). There are many statistical and pathophysiological similarities between these two conditions, that the same group of doctors who created PDI have also developed DCI. Many men who have Peyronie’s disease note that their Dupuytrens contracture also improves. Therefore, there appears to be a natural confluence of interest between these two problems. What can be said for one problem can be said of the other, especially in terms of treatment. This is why DCI recommends the use of acetyl-L carnitine for Dupuytrens contracture.

On the website of the larger PDI website you will find a more detailed discussion and instruction of this topic. Just click here to learn more about carnitine on the PDI website.

For ideas and suggestions to put this information about carnitine into an effective treatment plan, click Create a Dupuytrens Treatment Plan.

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1. Biagiotti G, Cavallini G. Acetyl-L-carnitine vs tamoxifen in the oral therapy of Peyronie’s disease: a preliminary report. BJU Int. 2001;88:63-67.
2. Cavallini G, Biagiotti G, , Koverech A, et al. Oral propionyl-L-carnitine and intraplaque verapamil in the therapy of advanced and resistant Peyronie’s Disease. BJU Int. 2002;89:895-900.
3. Fisman M, Mersky H, Helmes E. Double-blind trial of 2-dimethylaminoethanol in Alzheimer's disease. Am J Psychiaty. 1981;138:970–972.