A review on the role of L-carnitine in the management of tamoxifen side effects in treated women with breast cancer.

L-carnitine is an antioxidant and is found to be a protective agent against many diseases including cancer. This review illustrates the possible role of L-carnitine as an add-on therapy to breast cancer patients maintained on tamoxifen. The objectives of carnitine treatment are diverse: improving tamoxifen-related side effects, offering better cancer prognosis by reducing the risk of developing cancer recurrence or metastasis, and modulating the growth factors which may be, in part, a prospective illustration to overcome tamoxifen resistance. So, it could be recommended to supplement L-carnitine to breast cancer patients starting tamoxifen treatment.