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PMID: 3396591 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Carnitine plasma concentrations in 353 metabolically healthy children.

European journal of pediatrics ·Vol. 147 ·No. 4 ·1988-05-00 ·Pages 356-60

Schmidt-Sommerfeld E, Werner D, Penn D

Abstract

Carnitine plasma concentrations were determined by an enzymatic radioisotopic method in 353 metabolically healthy children and in 41 adults. There was a positive correlation between total and free carnitine plasma concentrations and the age of the children. Both free and acylcarnitine concentrations were elevated on the 1st day of life, reflecting an increased rate of fatty acid oxidation. Carnitine plasma concentrations decreased after the 1st day and subsequently increased during the 1st year. From the 2nd year of life until adulthood, no further change was noted. Up to 17 years of age no differences were seen between male and female individuals. However, adult males had higher carnitine concentrations in plasma than adult females. Total carnitine concentrations were higher in 10- to 17-year-old females and lower in 10- to 17-year-old males compared with adults of the same sex, indicating a possible role for sex hormones in the regulation of carnitine plasma concentrations.

MeSH Terms
Adolescent Adult Age Factors Carnitine/analogs & derivatives,blood Child Child, Preschool Fasting Female Fetal Blood/analysis Humans Infant Infant, Newborn Male Middle Aged Sex Factors Spectrophotometry
Chemicals
Carnitine
Authors & Affiliations
3 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Schmidt-Sommerfeld E
Universitäts-Kinderklinik, Giessen, Federal Republic of Germany.
Werner D
Penn D
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46 references, click to expand
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Article Info
Journal
European journal of pediatrics
Abbr.
Eur J Pediatr
ISSN
0340-6199
DOI
10.1007/BF00496410
Published
1988-05-00
Pages
356-60
Language
English
Region
Germany
NLM ID
7603873
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1007/BF00496410 View journal details
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