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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.
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.
Abstract:
The serum-free carnitine (SFC) levels of 91 children with heart failure (HF) and of a control group consisting of 30 healthy children were measured. Twenty-four of 91 children with HF were administered oral L-carnitine. The mean SFC level of children with HF (20.16 +/- 0.30 nmol/l) was significantly lower than that of the control group (38.98 +/- 0.79 nmol/ml) (p < 0.01). Mean SFC levels of 24 patients, after L-carnitine administration, increased significantly (p < 0.01). Patients administered L-carnitine displayed a marked difference in time taken for clinical improvement compared with those not given oral L-carnitine.