L-Carnitine Supplementation of a Soybean-Based Formula in Early Infancy

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Abstract
The absence of carnitine in the diet of normal infants results in marked reduction of plasma carnitine levels. In order to evaluate the effects of L-carnitine supplementation of soybean formula, plasma and urine levels of free carnitine and acylcarnitine were compared in infants receiving carnitine-free soybean protein-based formula and the same formula supplemented with 50 and 250 nmol/ml L-carnitine. In infants receiving soybean formula with 50 nmol/ml L-carnitine, the plasma levels of free carnitine were not significantly different from those in infants receiving formula with 250 nmol/ml L-carnitine; however, urine levels of free carnitine were significantly increased when the infants received formula with 250 nmol/ml L-carnitine. In normal full-term infants, supplementation of soybean formula with 50 nmol/ml L-carnitine was sufficient to maintain normal plasma levels that were comparable to breast-fed infants.