Serum carnitine and selenium levels in children with celiac disease.
OBJECTIVE
Celiac disease (CD) is a gluten-induced enteropathy that results in malabsorption of nutrients. We studied the serum levels of carnitine and selenium in children with CD.


METHODS
Serum levels of free carnitine and selenium were studied in 30 children (mean age 8.1 [4.4] years) with CD and 30 age- and gender-matched healthy children. All patients had type 3 duodenal lesions. The mean (SD) serum levels of free carnitine and selenium were lower among patients with CD (24.5 [7.7] micromol/mL and 52.1 (12.9) micromol/mL, respectively) than among healthy controls (29.4 [9.2] and 65.1 [17.2] micromol/mL; p < 0.05 each). Levels were similar in children with and without diarrhea.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum carnitine and selenium levels are decreased in children with CD, probably due to malabsorption.
Yüce
Aysel
A
Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. ayuce@hacettepe.edu.tr
Demir
Hülya
H
Temizel
Inci Nur Saltik
IN
Koçak
Nurten
N
D000293:Adolescent; D002331:Carnitine / Q000097:blood*; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood*
D012643:Selenium; D002331:Carnitine