SERUM CARNITINE CONCENTRATIONS IN CELIAC-DISEASE

Carnitine is essential for muscle energy production and is required fo r the transport of long chain fatty acids and acyl co-enzyme A derivat ives across the inner mitochondrial membrane. Recently, an absorptive transport mechanism was discovered at the small bowel level suggesting the possibility of a carnitine deficient state in patients with mucos al damage. Therefore, this study investigated carnitine concentrations in serum of patients with coeliac disease. Serum samples were obtaine d from 12 patients with active coeliac disease and seven with non-acti ve disease, and compared with serum samples of 17 children with gastro intestinal symptoms but with a small bowel normal on biopsy examinatio n and 33 normal controls. Total serum carnitine concentration was sign ificantly lower in the patients with coeliac disease compared with the other two groups and to reference values. When the degree of atrophy of coeliac intestinal mucosa was numerically graded, serum carnitine c oncentrations did not correlate to the degree of the intestinal lesion but were significantly lower in the damaged intestine compared with t he group with normal mucosa. It is suggested that coeliac disease shou ld be considered as a potential cause of secondary carnitine deficienc y.