Serum Carnitine Levels in Infants Receiving Elemental Diet or Total Parenteral Nutrition

Abstract

Serum carnitine levels were measured in six infants nounished with elemental diet, mainly for diarrhea, and six infants supported by TPN. Total and free carnitine levels in serum decreased during the period of elemental diet and TPN, but it returned to normal level as soon as the oral feeding started. On the other hand acyl carnitine level did not show any remarkable change during the period of investigation. Clinical sign of carnitine deficiency was observed in none of them. The importance of carnitine metabolism in pediatric surgery should always been keeped in mind. Further investigation of carnitine metabolism in needed to resolve the the essential problems.