title: Similarities in serum acylcarnitine patterns in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus and in metabolic syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In type 1 diabetes (T1D), type 2 diabetes (T2D) and metabolic syndrome (MetS), the associated complex metabolomic changes in the involvement of carnitine metabolism in total carnitine ester level has already been documented; here we extended the investigations to the individual acylcarnitines.
  
  
  METHODS
  The fasting serum acylcarnitine concentrations were determined in 49 T1D, 38 T2D and 38 MetS patients and 40 controls by isotope dilution electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The acylcarnitine profiles of the 3patient groups shared elements with the controls. Considerably higher levels of almost all short-chain acylcarnitines (p < 0.05) and lower levels of some long-chain acylcarnitines were detected in T2D and MetS patients. The amounts of C3 and C4 carnitine were higher and most of the medium-chain and long-chain acylcarnitine levels were lower (p < 0.05) in T1D and MetS patients than in the controls. In T1D and T2D, the levels of C3 and C4 acylcarnitines were markedly elevated and some long-chain acylcarnitines were lower than the controls (p < 0.05). Moreover, significantly lower concentrations of free- and total carnitine were observed in T1D patients (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Profound alterations were detected in acylcarnitine profiles in the 3 patient groups. Similarities in the patterns suggest different degrees of involvement of the same metabolic systems in a systems biology approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, Clinical Center, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary. judit.bene@aok.pte.hu
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bene
authors.forename: Magdolna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Márton
authors.forename: Márton
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohás
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bagosi
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bujtor
authors.forename: Tamás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oroszlán
authors.forename: Beáta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gasztonyi
authors.forename: Istvan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wittmann
authors.forename: Bela
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Melegh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002331:Carnitine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood*; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C116917:acylcarnitine; D002331:Carnitine