SERUM LEVELS OF CARNITINE IN CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME - CLINICAL CORRELATES

Carnitine is essential for mitochondrial energy production. Disturbanc e in mitochondrial function may contribute to or cause the fatigue see n in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients. One previous investigati on has reported decreased acylcarnitine levels in 38 CFS patients. We investigated 35 CFS patients (27 females and 8 males); our results ind icate that CFS patients have statistically significantly lower serum t otal carnitine, free carnitine and acylcarnitine levels, not only lowe r acylcarnitine levels as previously reported, We also found a statist ically significant correlation between serum levels of total and free carnitine and clinical symptomatology. Higher serum carnitine levels c orrelated with better functional capacity. These findings may be indic ative of mitochondrial dysfunction, which may contribute to or cause s ymptoms of fatigue in CFS patients.