Angsten Gertrud, Cederblad Gitten, Meurling Staffan
Department of Paediatric Surgery, University Children's Hospital, S-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
Ann Clin Biochem. 2003 Jul;40(Pt 4):406-10. doi: 10.1258/000456303766477066.
We investigated muscle and plasma carnitine concentrations in children to establish reference intervals for use following biopsy of skeletal muscle.
The study comprised 50 children from newborns up to 14 years of age, all undergoing elective surgery. They were divided into six age groups, the youngest 0-2 days and the oldest 11-14 years. The samples were taken at the beginning of surgery.
Gestational age was a major determinant of the total muscle carnitine concentration in newborns (Spearman's r(s) = 0.692, P < 0.01). This concentration was low during the first year, but subsequently did not differ between age groups. In neonates the median value (range) for total carnitine concentration in skeletal muscle was 5.9 (2.2-15.9) micro mol/g dry weight and the free to total carnitine ratio was 62 (31-81)%. In children 1-12 months old the corresponding figures were 6.0 (3.5-7.9) micro mol/g dry weight and 51 (28-71)% and in those 1-14 years they were 12.1 (6.6-17.4) micro mol/g dry weight and 76 (42-92)%.
This study shows that muscle carnitine concentrations in newborns are dependent on gestational age. The data suggest that there is an accretion of carnitine in skeletal muscle during the first year of life. Reference intervals are given.
我们研究了儿童肌肉和血浆中的肉碱浓度，以建立骨骼肌活检后使用的参考区间。
该研究包括50名从新生儿到14岁的儿童，均接受择期手术。他们被分为六个年龄组，最小的0 - 2天，最大的11 - 14岁。样本在手术开始时采集。
胎龄是新生儿骨骼肌总肉碱浓度的主要决定因素（斯皮尔曼相关系数r(s)=0.692，P<0.01）。第一年该浓度较低，但随后各年龄组之间无差异。新生儿骨骼肌中总肉碱浓度的中位数（范围）为5.9（2.2 - 15.9）微摩尔/克干重，游离肉碱与总肉碱的比率为62（31 - 81）%。1 - 12个月大儿童的相应数据为6.0（3.5 - 7.9）微摩尔/克干重和51（28 - 71）%，1 - 14岁儿童的数据为12.1（6.6 - 17.4）微摩尔/克干重和76（42 - 92）%。
本研究表明新生儿肌肉中的肉碱浓度取决于胎龄。数据表明生命的第一年骨骼肌中有肉碱蓄积。给出了参考区间。
