title: Carnitine and the premature.
abstract: After birth, the main energy fuel for the newborn is constituted by fat. Carnitine is necessary for the beta-oxidation of long chain fatty acids at the mitochondrial level, and seems also to have a role in the metabolism of the branched-chain amino acids, in ammonia detoxification, and in urea production. Colostrum is particularly rich in carnitine whereas semi-elemental formulae and soy-based formulae contain little or no carnitine. Since the newborn has a low capacity for carnitine biosynthesis, it seems useful to administer L-carnitine to infants on total parenteral nutrition, soy-based or semi-elemental formulae.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Rubaltelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orzali
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rinaldo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Donzelli
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carnielli
mesh_terms: D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000652:urine; D002331:Carnitine / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007225:Infant Food / Q000032:analysis; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000378:metabolism*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D005227:Fatty Acids; D002331:Carnitine