Inspiratory muscle strength is correlated with carnitine levels in type 2 diabetes.
BACKGROUND
Plasma carnitine insufficiency has been known to cause muscle weakness. Carnitine levels and pulmonary functions were lower in patients with diabetes.


METHODS
To determine whether pulmonary functions are correlated with carnitine levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. In this study, we evaluated pulmonary functions and carnitine concentrations in 49 patients with type 2 diabetes and 34 healthy controls.


RESULTS
Carnitine levels were lower in type 2 diabetes group than control group (52.56 +/- 12.38 and 78.96 +/- 10.66 hmol/mL, respectively, p < 0.0001). Pulmonary functions were not significantly different between groups. Carnitine levels were not correlated with age, duration of diabetes, fasting blood glucose levels, and glycemic control (HbA1c%) in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, carnitine levels in patient group were correlated with % forced vital capacity (FVC%) (r = 0.35, p = 0.016), % forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1%) (r = 0.318, p= 0.029), FEV1/FVC (r= 0.302, p= 0.039), inspiratory muscle strength (PImax) (r = 0.407, p = 0.023), and PImax% (r = 0.423, p= 0.018).


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that low carnitine levels may be associated with lower PImax and PImax% in type 2 diabetes.
Kiliçli
Fatih
F
Department of Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey.
Dökmetaş
Sebila
S
Candan
Ferhan
F
Ozşahin
Sefa
S
Korkmaz
Serdal
S
Amasyali
Elvan
E
Fakioğlu
Koray
K
Dal
Kürşat
K
Acibucu
Fettah
F
Cakir
Ilkay
I
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002331:Carnitine / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D001786:Blood Glucose; D002331:Carnitine