title: Correlation of serum L-carnitine and dehydro-epiandrosterone sulphate levels with age and sex in healthy adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  L-carnitine and dehydro-epiandrosterone (DHEA) independently promote mitochondrial energy metabolism. We therefore wondered if an age-related deficiency of L-carnitine or DHEA may account for the declining energy metabolism associated with age.
  
  
  METHODS
  we evaluated serum levels of L-carnitine and the sulphated derivative of DHEA (DHEAS) in cross-sectional study of 216 healthy adults, aged 20-95.
  
  
  RESULTS
  serum DHEAS levels declined, while total carnitine levels increased with age (P < 0.0001). Total and free carnitine and DHEAS levels were lower in women than men (P < 0.0001). Esterified/free (E/F) carnitine (inversely related to carnitine availability) increased with age in both sexes (P=0.012).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  reduced carnitine availability correlates with the age-related decline of DHEAS levels. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that decreased energy metabolism with age relates to DHEAS levels and carnitine availability.
authors.affiliation: Program in Osteoporosis and Bone Biology, University of California at San Francisco, USA.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Havighurst
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Shug
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Daynes
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gravenstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D002331:Carnitine / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D002331:Carnitine