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Serum-free carnitine levels in children with heart failure

A T Ergür1, F Tanzer, O Cetinkaya

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey.

Journal of Tropical Pediatrics
|July 13, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Children with heart failure (HF) have significantly lower serum-free carnitine (SFC) levels. L-carnitine supplementation improved SFC levels and accelerated clinical improvement in pediatric HF patients.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Heart failure (HF) in children is associated with metabolic alterations.
  • Carnitine plays a crucial role in cardiac energy metabolism.
  • Reduced carnitine levels may contribute to the pathophysiology of pediatric HF.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate serum-free carnitine (SFC) levels in children with heart failure (HF).
  • To evaluate the effect of L-carnitine supplementation on SFC levels and clinical outcomes in pediatric HF.

Main Methods:

  • Serum-free carnitine (SFC) levels were measured in 91 children with HF and 30 healthy controls.
  • Twenty-four children with HF received oral L-carnitine supplementation.
  • Clinical improvement was assessed in patients receiving L-carnitine versus those who did not.

Main Results:

  • Children with HF exhibited significantly lower mean SFC levels compared to healthy controls (20.16 +/- 0.30 nmol/l vs. 38.98 +/- 0.79 nmol/ml, p < 0.01).
  • L-carnitine administration led to a significant increase in mean SFC levels in pediatric HF patients (p < 0.01).
  • Patients supplemented with L-carnitine showed a marked difference in the time to clinical improvement.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric heart failure is linked to significantly reduced serum-free carnitine levels.
  • Oral L-carnitine supplementation is effective in increasing SFC levels in children with HF.
  • L-carnitine may be a beneficial therapeutic agent for improving clinical outcomes in pediatric heart failure.

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