title: L-carnitine supplementation of a soybean-based formula in early infancy: plasma and urine levels of carnitine and acylcarnitines.
abstract: The absence of carnitine in the diet of normal infants results in marked reduction of plasma carnitine levels. In order to evaluate the effects of L-carnitine supplementation of soybean formula, plasma and urine levels of free carnitine and acylcarnitine were compared in infants receiving carnitine-free soybean protein-based formula and the same formula supplemented with 50 and 250 nmol/ml L-carnitine. In infants receiving soybean formula with 50 nmol/ml L-carnitine, the plasma levels of free carnitine were not significantly different from those in infants receiving formula with 250 nmol/ml L-carnitine; however, urine levels of free carnitine were significantly increased when the infants received formula with 250 nmol/ml L-carnitine. In normal full-term infants, supplementation of soybean formula with 50 nmol/ml L-carnitine was sufficient to maintain normal plasma levels that were comparable to breast-fed infants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami, School of Medicine, Florida 33101.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Monkus
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Silverio
authors.forename: O M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Clouston
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Cassady
mesh_terms: D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000378:metabolism; D002331:Carnitine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D013025:Glycine max
chemical_list: D000108:Acetylcarnitine; D002331:Carnitine