Abstract
The possible effects of carnitine supplementation on nitrogen metabolism were studied on AGA preterm infants(birthweight 980-1750g) maintained on mixed nutrition (50% pooled milk 50% formula daily). Started by various postnatal ages (mean 25.5 days) 15 infants received L-carnitine supplemented formula (600 nmol/ml over endogenous content)during 7 days, another 10 served as controls. Plasma carnitines increased whereas alanine (0.21±0.02, 0.19±0.03, 0.25±0.02 mmol/l; day 0, 7, and 14, means±SEM, p<0.05) and glutamine (0.37±0.06, 0.31±0.05, 0.4l±0.05 mmol/l p<0.05) decreased with a fall of urea level. Urinary urea (2.6±0.23, 2.25±0.18, 2.31±0.21 mmol/kg/day, p < 0.05) and ammonia (1.07-0.1, 0.87±0.1, 1.4±0.1 mmol/kg/day, p<0.05) decreased suggesting lowered amino acid degradation. Surprisingly, 7 days after the supplementation, excretion of acylcarnitines remained high (5.9±1.5, 13.1±2.5, 10.3±1.3 umol/day, p< 0.05) which was not seen for the free fraction.
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Melegh, B., Sándor, A., Kerner, J. et al. CARNITINE SUPPLEMENTATION IN PREMATURE INFANTS. Pediatr Res 22, 232 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198708000-00112
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198708000-00112