Carnitine Intake and Serum Levels Associate Positively with Postnatal Growth and Brain Size at Term in Very Preterm Infants.

ABSTRACT: Carnitine has an essential role in energy metabolism with possible neuroprotective effects. Very preterm (VPT, <32 gestation weeks) infants may be predisposed to carnitine deficiency during hospitalization. We studied the associations of carnitine intake and serum carnitine levels with growth and brain size at term equivalent age (TEA) in VPT infants. This prospective cohort study included 35 VTP infants admitted to Kuopio University Hospital, Finland. Daily nutrient intakes were registered at postnatal weeks (W) 1 and 5, and serum carnitine levels were determined at W1, W5, and TEA. The primary outcomes were weight, length, and head circumference Z-score change from birth to TEA, as well as brain size at TEA in magnetic resonance imaging. Carnitine intake at W1 and W5, obtained from en

SUBMITTER: Manninen S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9696952 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature