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Assessments of free carnitine levels in the plasma of patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass grafting

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 67, pages 1334–1335 (2013)Cite this article

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Carnitine acts in skill transfer of long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondrial matrix to generate energy. The heart does not perform the biosynthesis of carnitine, although the cardiomyocytes require high levels of this compound.1, 2 Under physiological conditions, the concentrations of carnitine in the myocardium are maintained by intestinal absorption biosynthesis, as well as by renal reabsorption and transport to cardiomyocytes. Changes in cardiac metabolism can lead to decreased cardiac carnitine concentration, which causes accumulation of free fatty acids and acylcarnitines that are not metabolized properly.3 The open heart procedure may be more a factor of impact on the levels of carnitine. Thus, it is important to evaluate plasma levels to preserve the myocardial metabolic disorders resulting from deficiency of free carnitine.4 Few studies address the concentrations of free carnitine in plasma of patients with chronic ischemia who undergo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate whether the levels of free carnitine are affected by CABG.

Ten consecutive patients with left ventricular ejection fraction ⩽50% (Teicholz) and chronic ischemic heart failure class II and III NYHA5 who were admitted for elective CABG surgery at the National Institute of Cardiology (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) between November 2012 and January 2013 were included in this study. The National Institute of Cardiology is a public hospital under the direction of the Ministry of Health, Brazil. Patients were excluded if they had preoperatively renal dysfunction, hepatic disorders, disabsorptive syndromes, any tumors or the ones who needed an intra-aortic balloon. They were also excluded if there were perioperative cerebral vascular accident, dysphagia, and sepsis or required dialysis, postoperatively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Experimental Nutrition Laboratory, College of Nutrition Fluminense Federal University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    S M da Silva GuimarĂ£es, B C Sat'Anna, C A S da Costa, W M de Souza Cruz & G T Boaventura

  2. Department of Surgical Procedures, National Institute of Cardiology, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    A S Colafranceschi

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  1. S M da Silva GuimarĂ£es
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  2. B C Sat'Anna
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  3. C A S da Costa
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  4. W M de Souza Cruz
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  5. A S Colafranceschi
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  6. G T Boaventura
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Correspondence to S M da Silva GuimarĂ£es.

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da Silva GuimarĂ£es, S., Sat'Anna, B., da Costa, C. et al. Assessments of free carnitine levels in the plasma of patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass grafting. Eur J Clin Nutr 67, 1334–1335 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2013.141

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