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A Clinical Trial Assessing the Safety, Efficacy, and Delivery of Olive-Oil-Based Three-Chamber Bags for Parenteral Nutrition
Published on: September 20, 2019
Carnitine as a possible adjunct in parenteral feeding
P M Rawcliffe1, P Giles, S Bartlett
1John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU UK.
Clinical Nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland)
|October 1, 1984
Summary
Oral L-carnitine did not improve the body's ability to handle an intravenous lipid load in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Carnitine absorption was confirmed, but steroid treatment affected carnitine excretion.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Human Physiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Carnitine is essential for fatty acid transport into mitochondria.
- Intralipid infusions can deplete carnitine levels.
- The effect of oral L-carnitine on intravenous lipid tolerance is not well understood, especially in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if oral L-carnitine administration enhances tolerance to an intravenous lipid load in patients with active IBD.
- To assess the impact of oral L-carnitine on triglyceride and ketone body levels during Intralipid infusion.
- To evaluate carnitine absorption and excretion patterns in IBD patients, particularly in the context of steroid treatment.
Main Methods:
- Eight patients with active IBD receiving intravenous prednisolone were studied.
- Intralipid was infused intravenously on two separate occasions.
- Blood samples were analyzed for triglycerides and ketone bodies; urine samples were collected to measure carnitine excretion after oral L-carnitine administration.
Main Results:
- Intravenous Intralipid infusion reproducibly increased triglyceride and ketone body levels.
- Oral L-carnitine administration did not significantly alter these metabolic responses.
- Carnitine was absorbed following oral dosing, as indicated by increased urinary excretion, but steroid treatment appeared to increase carnitine excretion.
Conclusions:
- Under the study conditions, oral L-carnitine does not demonstrate a beneficial effect on the metabolic handling of an intravenous lipid load in IBD patients on steroids.
- Steroid therapy may influence carnitine metabolism and excretion.
- Further research is needed to clarify carnitine's role and potential interactions with steroid medications in IBD patients.
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