Plasma and urine carnitine levels and carnitine supplementation in children with malnutrition

The purpose of the present investigation was to determine serum and urinary carnitine levels in children suffering from protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) before and after dietary treatment and carnitine supplementation, and to compare them with those in healthy children. Plasma and urine carnitine levels mere lower in patients with marasmus and kwashiorkor than in controls. There was no statistical difference between groups with and without carnitine supplementation on on the first day. On the fifth day, in groups receiving carnitine supplementation, plasma and urine carnitine levels mere significantly higher than in groups without supplementation (p < 0.01). On the 15th day there was no statistical significance between groups with PEM and controls.