title: Serum levels of acylcarnitines are altered in prediabetic conditions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The role of mitochondrial function in the complex pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes is not yet completely understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate serum concentrations of short-, medium- and long-chain acylcarnitines as markers of mitochondrial function in volunteers with normal, impaired or diabetic glucose control.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test, 1019 studied subjects were divided into a group with normal glucose tolerance (NGT; n = 636), isolated impaired fasting glycaemia (IFG; n = 184), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT; n = 87) or type 2 diabetes (T2D; n = 112). Serum concentrations of free carnitine and 24 acylcarnitines were measured by mass spectrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum levels of acetylcarnitine (C2), propionylcarnitine (C3), octanoylcarnitine (C8), malonylcarnitine/hydroxybutyrylcarnitine (C3DC+C4OH), hexanoylcarnitine (C6), octenoylcarnitine (C8:1), decanoylcarnitine (C10), decenoylcarnitine (C10:1), dodecanoylcarnitine (C12), tetradecenoylcarnitine (C14:1), tetradecadienylcarnitine (C14:2), hydroxytetradecanoylcarnitine (C14OH), hydroxyhexadecanoylcarnitine (C16OH) and octadecenoylcarnitine (C18:1) were significantly different among the groups (all p<0.05 adjusted for age, gender and BMI). Between the prediabetic states C14:1, C14:2 and C18:1 showed significantly higher serum concentrations in persons with IGT (p<0.05). Compared to T2D the IFG and the IGT subjects showed lower serum concentrations of malonylcarnitine/hydroxybutyrylcarnitine (C3DC+C4OH) (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alterations in serum concentrations of several acylcarnitines, in particular tetradecenoylcarnitine (C14:1), tetradecadienylcarnitine (C14:2), octadecenoylcarnitine (C18:1) and malonylcarnitine/hydroxybutyrylcarnitine (C3DC+C4OH) are associated not only with T2D but also with prediabetic states.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Department for Internal Medicine, Neurology and Dermatology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mai
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Department for Internal Medicine, Neurology and Dermatology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Anke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tönjes
authors.affiliation: IFB Adiposity Diseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kovacs
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Department for Internal Medicine, Neurology and Dermatology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany ; IFB Adiposity Diseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stumvoll
authors.affiliation: Center of Laboratory Medicine, University Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Inselspital - Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Georg Martin
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Fiedler
authors.affiliation: Center of Laboratory Medicine, University Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Inselspital - Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Alexander Benedikt
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Leichtle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001823:Body Composition; D002331:Carnitine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000097:blood*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011236:Prediabetic State / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; C116917:acylcarnitine; D002331:Carnitine