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Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 52 · 2020

4 results

L-Carnosine combination therapy for major depressive disorder: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Araminia B, Shalbafan M, Mortezaei A, Shirazi E, Ghaffari S, Sahebolzamani E, Mortazavi SH, Shariati B, Ardebili ME, Aqamolaei A, Naderi S, Akhondzadeh S

Journal of affective disorders7 Feb 2020Cited by 29 (Europe PMC)

Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study4

4 results from studies that gave the peptide. 4 results from people.

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In patients with major depressive disorder receiving citalopram, added L‑carnosine improved HAM-D scores more than placebo at weeks 2, 4 and 6.

    In plain wordsIn patients receiving citalopram for depression, added L‑carnosine improved depression scores more than placebo at weeks 2, 4 and 6.

    Outcome
    DecreaseHAM-D improvement
    Study

    n = 52

    Comparator
    Placebo with citalopram
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    400 mg twice daily · six weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Significantly greater improvement was detected in HAM-D score of the L-Carnosine group compared with the placebo group from baseline to weeks 2, 4 and 6 [Ps = 0.013, 0.028 and 0.023; respectively].
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Fifty-eight patients with MDD (DSM-V) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) score ≥ 19 were randomized to receive either 400 mg twice daily L-Carnosine or placebo in addition to citalopram (maximum dosage of 40 mg/day) for six weeks in a randomized double-blind, and placebo-controlled study.
    Summary · context
    Fifty-two patients completed the trial.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In patients with major depressive disorder receiving citalopram, added L‑carnosine produced a higher response rate than placebo.

    In plain wordsIn patients receiving citalopram for depression, response was more frequent with added L‑carnosine than placebo.

    Outcome
    IncreaseResponse rate
    Study

    n = 52

    Comparator
    Placebo with citalopram
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    400 mg twice daily · six weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Patients in the L-Carnosine group experienced significantly greater response and remission rate than the placebo group [Ps = 0.023 and 0.012; respectively].
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Fifty-eight patients with MDD (DSM-V) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) score ≥ 19 were randomized to receive either 400 mg twice daily L-Carnosine or placebo in addition to citalopram (maximum dosage of 40 mg/day) for six weeks in a randomized double-blind, and placebo-controlled study.
    Summary · context
    Fifty-two patients completed the trial.
  3. 03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In patients with major depressive disorder receiving citalopram, added L‑carnosine produced a higher remission rate than placebo.

    In plain wordsIn patients receiving citalopram for depression, remission was more frequent with added L‑carnosine than placebo.

    Outcome
    IncreaseRemission rate
    Study

    n = 52

    Comparator
    Placebo with citalopram
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    400 mg twice daily · six weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Patients in the L-Carnosine group experienced significantly greater response and remission rate than the placebo group [Ps = 0.023 and 0.012; respectively].
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Fifty-eight patients with MDD (DSM-V) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) score ≥ 19 were randomized to receive either 400 mg twice daily L-Carnosine or placebo in addition to citalopram (maximum dosage of 40 mg/day) for six weeks in a randomized double-blind, and placebo-controlled study.
    Summary · context
    Fifty-two patients completed the trial.
  4. 04HumanRandomized controlled trialSafety outcome

    In patients with major depressive disorder receiving citalopram, side-effect frequency did not differ significantly between added L‑carnosine and placebo.

    In plain wordsIn patients receiving citalopram for depression, side-effect frequency did not differ significantly between added L‑carnosine and placebo.

    Outcome
    No significant changeSide-effect frequency
    Study

    n = 52

    Comparator
    Placebo with citalopram
    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Whole body
    Studied dose
    400 mg twice daily · six weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    There was no significant difference between the two groups in baseline parameters and frequency of side effects.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Fifty-eight patients with MDD (DSM-V) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) score ≥ 19 were randomized to receive either 400 mg twice daily L-Carnosine or placebo in addition to citalopram (maximum dosage of 40 mg/day) for six weeks in a randomized double-blind, and placebo-controlled study.
    Summary · context
    Fifty-two patients completed the trial.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 2Current

    27 Oct 2026, 18:20 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    27 Oct 2026, 16:32 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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