Plasma free carnitine levels in 0-12-month-old infants in relation to feeding styles

Abstract

This study was planned to determine the blood carnitine levels of children aged 0-1 year in Kirikkale. Blood samples were taken on Guthrie cards and plasma free carnitine levels were analyzed by tandem mass specteometry. The mean free carnitine level was 25.12 ± 10.1 ?mol/L (10.1-49.5 ?mol/L). To assess the plasma free carnitine levels according to feeding style, babies were grouped as exclusively breastfed (n = 67, 49.3%), artificially fed (n = 24, 17.7%), and mixed fed (n = 45, 33%). The exclusively breastfed infants displayed the lowest free carnitine levels (p < 0.05). However, when this was analyzed in accordance with age, no significant change was observed in plasma free carnitine levels according to feeding style. Results of this study are important as they reveal an indication about the normal values of plasma free carnitine in Turkish infants and their relationship to feeding styles. © Hogrefe & Huber Publishers.