Carnitine supplementation and ketogenesis by small-for-date neonates on medium-and long-chain fatty acid formulae.
Carnitine is a key molecule in energy production from various substrates. Although it is generally believed that it plays no role in the metabolism of medium-chain triglycerides, quite a few data exist to the contrary. In the present study we investigated the effect of carnitine on ketogenesis in small-for-date neonates fed formulae of equal caloric value and fat content that was predominantly long-chain triglycerides or medium-chain triglycerides (46% of total fat). According to our results there was a statistically significant interaction between carnitine and the chain length of the administered fat with respect to ketone production. Increased ketogenesis was only shown by the neonates receiving medium-chain triglycerides and carnitine. Our results provide further evidence for the involvement of carnitine in medium-chain triglyceride metabolism.
Labadaridis
J
J
NICU, General Hospital Nikea, Piraeus, Greece.
Mavridou
I
I
Sarafidou
G
G
Alexiou
N
N
Costalos
C
C
Michelakakis
H
H
D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007225:Infant Food; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000378:metabolism*; D007657:Ketone Bodies / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids; D007657:Ketone Bodies; D014280:Triglycerides; D002331:Carnitine