Real-World Evaluation of L-Carnitine L-Tartrate for Weight Management in Adults with Obesity: A Prospective Observational Study

Obesity remains a major global health concern associated with increased cardio-metabolic risk and healthcare burden. L-Carnitine plays a central role in mitochondrial fatty acid transport and has been investigated as a potential adjunct in weight management. This study evaluated the real-world effectiveness and tolerability of L-Carnitine L-Tartrate supplementation in adults with overweight and class I obesity. In this prospective, single-center, uncontrolled observational study, 50 adults (BMI 25–35 kg/m2) newly initiated on L-Carnitine L-Tartrate 2000 mg/day were followed for 8 weeks in a non-comparative, real-world setting, alongside standard lifestyle advice. The primary outcome was the mean change in body weight from baseline. Secondary outcomes included anthropometric measures, body composition parameters assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis, quality of life using the RAND 36-Item Health Survey, global satisfaction, and safety. Over 8 weeks, mean body weight in this cohort decreased from 73.69 ± 7.73 kg at baseline to 67.36 ± 7.87 kg at Week 8 (mean reduction: 6.33 kg; 8.59%; p < 0.001. Over the follow-up period, we observed reductions in waist circumference (−2.38 cm), hip circumference (−2.96 cm), total fat mass (−3.90 kg), and visceral fat (−39.91%) (all p < 0.001) in within-subject analyses. Quality of life shows progressive improvement over time. No adverse events or treatment discontinuations were reported. In this exploratory, single-arm, real-world observational study, initiation of L-Carnitine L-Tartrate supplementation alongside routine lifestyle advice was associated with reductions in body weight, central adiposity, and improvements in patient-reported outcomes over 8 weeks. While the uncontrolled study design warrants cautious interpretation, these findings provide supportive real-world evidence and generate a basis for future controlled studies to further evaluate the therapeutic potential of L-Carnitine L-Tartrate.