Carnitine Status at Birth of Newborn Infants of Varying Gestation

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Abstract
Summary: This study assessed and compared the plasma and red blood cell concentrations of carnitine in cord blood samples from preterm (≤36 wk, n = 53) and term (≥37 wk, n = 72) neonates. The mean (±S.E.) plasma carnitine concentration (PL[C]) was significantly higher in preterm than in term neonates (29.0 ± 1.8 versus 22.4 ± 0.8 nmole/ml; P < 0.001). Likewise, the mean (±S.E.) red blood cell carnitine concentration (RBC[C]) was significantly higher in preterm than in term neonates (0.24 ± 0.02 versus 0.14 ± 0.01 nmole/mg Hgb; P < 0.001). Both PL[C] and RBC[C] were particularly elevated in extremely immature neonates (≤33 wk gestation). Linear regression analysis showed a significantly negative correlation between PL[C] and gestational age (r = −0.332; P < 0.001), and between RBC[C] and gestational age (r = −0.531; P < 0.001). Approximately 72.2 ± 1.1% (mean ± S.E.) of carnitine in blood was estimated to be contained in the RBC, and 27.8 ± 1.1% (mean ± S.E.) of carnitine was estimated to be in the plasma.