Abstract
Composition of energy metabolism was determined in children receiving chronic valproate treatment with indirect calorimetry. In eight of ten randomly selected subjects the resting respiratory quotient (RQ) increased as compared with age and sex matched controls (0.91±0.01 vs 0.87±0.01). A shift was observed in the metabolic fuel consumption, decrease was found in fats oxidised (0.68±0.23 vs 1.18±0.18 g/kg/day) and the utilisation of carbohydrates increased (5.31±0.79 vs 3.81±0.39 g/kg/day), with no significant change of the urinary output of nitrogen compounds. The resting total energy expenditure was not affected by the treatment. The children showing altered energy consumption pattern received carnitine supplementation for a month. After the carnitine administration the RQ value decreased (0.87±0.02) and an increase was in the oxidation of fats (1.42±0.25), the consumption of carbohydrates decreased (3.87±0.79). The resting energy consumption was not affected by the treatment. The results show, that carnitine depletion, which is a known adverse effect of valproic acid administration, may result in inhibited fatty acid oxidation leading to a shift from fats to carbohydrates in composition of substrates utilised.
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Melegh, B., Pap, M., Morava, E. et al. 159 CARNITINE DEPENDENT CHANGES OF METABOLIC FUEL CONSUMPTION IN CHRONIC VALPROATE TREATMENT. Pediatr Res 36, 29 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199407000-00159
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199407000-00159