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Effect of oral L-carnitine supplementation on sleep quality in hemodialysis patients

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Abstract

Background & Purpose: Poor sleep quality is common among hemodialysis patients. On the other hand, hemodialysis patients are encountered with carnitine deficiency. L-carnitine is a dietary supplement that has various metabolic functions and decreases the complications during dialysis. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of oral L-carnitine supplementation on sleep quality in hemodialysis patients. Materials & Methods: In this double blind randomized clinical trial, 59 qualified hemodialysis patients were gone under investigation in Imam Khomeini Hospital in Shirvan during 2013. Patients were divided into intervention and control groups by permutation blocking method. Patients in the intervention group received 500 mg of L-carnitine supplement twice a day, and the placebo group was similarly taking placebo for 12 weeks. Tools for data collection consist of demographic form and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index which were completed before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed with SPSS statistical software version 11.5 and using independent t-test, Mann-Whitney test, chi-square, Fisher, Wilcoxon tests, Analysis of Covariance and significance level of P0.05. Results: Before intervention, the mean PSQI scores were 9.6±4.2 and 10.1±4.13, respectively in the drug group and the placebo group and, after the intervention, the scores were, respectively, 6.4±2/8 and 9/7±3/48 that showed significant differences in both groups, compared to baseline(P0.05). Also, The PSQI score decreased by 33% in the intervention group and by 3/9% in the control group. Based on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the lower score demonstrates a better condition of sleep qualiy. Conclusion: This study showed that oral L-carnitine supplementation can improve sleep quality in hemodialysis patients. Keywords HEMODIALYSIS; L; CARNITINE; SLEEP QUALITY
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E-mail: erfan_sahel@yahoo.com
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
   
   
       
      
    




    
      



         
     


      
    

 



 

       




     
 
     

       
      


         
    
    
 

   
    


  

       
     


    

  

     

 
 


       

    





   
  
       
  

     


  
     
   




     
   
 


       


-
  

        


     
       
    
       

     

     
 
 -
CE-

        
       

        

  

    


   


    
 
 


 
       


     
 
 
    

      
  
 


       


       

     
 



        
.    
 
        

   

AB 
       
   .  

 

        

    


-



      
      
    





    
       

-
       
   
<P

   





   ±  
    ±  

     
      
      
      



p      
     ±
±
(P=     
 ±±
>p



        ±
±
p    

  P).   
       
± ±   
p<
       ±
±
  p   
        
     




     


  
 
      
   

    
 
  

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



     
         
      
-
        
      
      
       
      -
       

 
 

     
     
     

       

CC
      
      
C

       
    
      

  

     BMI 

        
       


       
    
     . 
     
    
       
   
     
     ±
±     



        
       


      
     


       
 <P  

       
      
       



      

    
     
      

     
      
    

      



-
       



     -
      

  



      
      
.   medsab.Rec.92.24
      
 
   IRCT2014030516848N1
    
  
      


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Quarterly Journal of Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Volume 22, Number 3, July & August 2015

Effect of oral L-carnitine supplementation on sleep quality
in hemodialysis patients.
Zahra Estaji
MSc of Nursing, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.
Bahman Jaafari
Internist, Dialysis Unit, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Shirvan.
Mohammad Hassan Rakhshani
Assistant Professor, Department of Biostatistics, School of public health, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences,
Sabzevar,Iran.
Maryam Hatami
Master Student of Critical Care Nursing, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.
Received:09/02/2015, Revised:08/03/2015, Accepted:22/04/2015
Abstract
Background & Purpose: Poor sleep quality is common among
hemodialysis patients. On the other hand, hemodialysis patients
are encountered with carnitine deficiency. L-carnitine is a dietary
supplement that has various metabolic functions and decreases
the complications during dialysis. The purpose of this study was
to determine the effect of oral L-carnitine supplementation on
sleep quality in hemodialysis patients.
Materials & Methods: In this double blind randomized clinical
trial, 59 qualified hemodialysis patients were gone under
investigation in Imam Khomeini Hospital in Shirvan during 2013.
Patients were divided into intervention and control groups by
permutation blocking method. Patients in the intervention group
received 500 mg of L-carnitine supplement twice a day, and the
placebo group was similarly taking placebo for 12 weeks. Tools
for data collection consist of demographic form and Pittsburgh
Sleep Quality Index which were completed before and after the
intervention. Data were analyzed with SPSS statistical software
version 11.5 and using independent t-test, Mann-Whitney test,
chi-square, Fisher, Wilcoxon tests, Analysis of Covariance and
significance level of P0.05.
Results: Before intervention, the mean PSQI scores were
9.6±4.2 and 10.1±4.13, respectively in the drug group and the
placebo group and, after the intervention, the scores were,
respectively, 6.4±2/8 and 9/7±3/48 that showed significant
differences in both groups, compared to baseline(P0.05). Also,
The PSQI score decreased by 33% in the intervention group and
by 3/9% in the control group. Based on the Pittsburgh Sleep
Quality Index, the lower score demonstrates a better condition of
sleep qualiy.
Conclusion: This study showed that oral L-carnitine
supplementation can improve sleep quality in hemodialysis
patients.
Keywords: Hemodialysis, L-carnitine, Sleep quality
Corresponding author:
Maryam Hatami,
Sabzevar University of Medical
Sciences. Sabzevar, Iran.
E-mail: Erfan_sahel@yahoo.com
... 37 Various factors such as medication, poor nutrition, fatigue, muscle pain and cramps, peripheral neuropathy, anemia, and metabolic disorders can cause directly or indirectly boredom, memory loss, impaired consciousness, and cognitive impairment. 11 Therefore, memory enhancement may improve medication adherence in hemodialysis patients. ...
... 44 In general, these two dimensions of memory are very important in human interactions, professional life, health and security, as well as realworld tasks. 4,6,27 Various factors such as drug use, poor nutrition, fatigue, muscle pain and cramps, peripheral neuropathy, anemia, metabolic disorders cause poor sleep quality in dialysis patients, which can eventually lead to boredom, memory loss, depressed level of consciousness, decreased cognitive ability, etc. 11 In the existing literature, one of the methods used to enhance memory is aromatherapy, one of the ancient sciences used to improve the temperament and strengthen the whole body and organs, especially nervous, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and reproductive systems. 21,25 Aromatherapy is the controlled use of aromatic oils to maintain physical and mental health and is used as part of nursing care in many countries such as Switzerland, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. ...
Article
Background: hemodialysis patients’ daily use of medications is essential for the disease management. One of the causes of medication non-adherence is that they forget to take medications, and non-adherence to treatment following memory loss is a common problem in patients on hemodialysis. Objective: the current study aimed to compare the effects of Lavender, Rosemary, and Orange essential oils on memory problems (both retrospective and prospective aspects of memory) and medication adherence in hemodialysis patients. Design: this study was a parallel randomized controlled trial. Setting: the two main hemodialysis centers in Kerman, southeastern Iran. Participants: eighty-six patients under chronic hemodialysis were randomly allocated into four groups (Lavender, Rosemary, Orange, and control) by simple randomization method. Interventions: The samples of the intervention group, in addition to routine care, received Lavender or Rosemary or Orange essential oils three times a week for a month. A gauze containing with five drops of the essential oil was placed at a distance of 10 cm from the patient's nose one hour after hemodialysis, and the patient was asked to inhale it for 30 minutes. Main outcome measures: retrospective and prospective memory, and medication adherence were assessed before, immediately and one month after the intervention. Results: prospective memory problems in Lavender, Rosemary and Orange groups did not change significantly over time (P> 0.05). Prospective memory problems in the control group had a significant increase (P = 0.002). No significant difference was found in prospective memory problems between the four groups (P> 0.05). Retrospective memory problems in the Lavender and Rosemary groups decreased significantly over time (P <0.05). The decreasing retrospective memory problems in the Orange and control groups were not statistically significant over time (P> 0.05). There was no significant difference in retrospective memory problems between the four groups (P> 0.05). No significant difference was observed between the four groups in medication adherence score during the study (P> 0.05). Conclusion: aromatherapy with Lavender or Rosemary can reduce some memory problems in hemodialysis patients. However, the results of this study could not justify the effect of aromatherapy on the rate of medication adherence in patients on hemodialysis, so further studies are required. Trial registration: IRCT20190428043410N1
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