L-carnitine plays a major role in the transport of the long chain
fatty acids for the beta-oxidation in the mitochondria. The deficiency of the
carnitine is associated by the deficit of the beta-oxidation of the long chain
fatty acids and so a different syndromes. The purpose of this study was to determine the plasmatic concentrations of the
carnitine and its metabolites in patients with neuromuscular pathologies within the group of
mitochondrial myopathies by the comparison with a control group. The study comprised 11 healthy volunteers and 11 patients with neuromuscular
mitochondrial diseases. The plasmatic concentrations of the free
carnitine, total
carnitine and the short and long chain acilcarnitine were determined by using the radio enzymatic method with Acetyl Co A 14C. The values were calculated by the standard curve in increased concentrations of the
L-carnitine in aquous
solution.
RESULTS: The values were expressed as mean +/- S.D. The control group gave the following values: For free
carnitine (32.6 +/- 4.95 microM), total
carnitine (38.48 +/- 5.8 microM), short chain
acylcarnitine (4.12 +/- 0.95 microM) and for long chain
acylcarnitine (1.73 +/- 0.15 microM). The patients were divided in two groups according to their values: The 1st group gave the values within the control group: For free
carnitine (31.44 +/- 3.72 microM), total
carnitine (36.6 +/- 3.86 microM), short chain
acylcarnitine (3.52 +/- 1.56 microM) and long chain
acylcarnitine (1.68 +/- 0.08 microM). The 2nd group gave values bellow the control group: For free
carnitine (16.8 +/- 6.3 microM), total
carnitine (20.88 +/- 6.26 microM), short chain
acylcarnitine (2.98 +/- 0.81 microM) and long chain
acylcarnitine (0.92 +/- 0.41 microM) respectively. In conclusion, this method showed appropriate and accurate for the determinations of the
carnitine and its metabolites in plasma, and must be useful for clinical support.