Murata Shinya, Inoue Keisuke, Aomatsu Tomoki, Yoden Atsushi, Tamai Hiroshi
Department of Pediatrics, Hirakata City Hospital, 2-14-1 Kinya-honmachi, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1013, Japan.
Department of Pediatrics, Osaka Medical College, 2-7 Daigaku-machi, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-8686, Japan.
J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2017 Mar;60(2):121-124. doi: 10.3164/jcbn.16-52. Epub 2017 Mar 1.
Carnitine is an essential nutrient for the mitochondrial transport of fatty acids. Carnitine deficiency causes a variety of symptoms in multiple organs. Patients with severe motor and intellectual disabilities often have carnitine deficiency. This study aimed to determine the correlation between constipation and carnitine deficiency in them. Patients with severe motor and intellectual disabilities at our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. The correlation between level of free carnitine and severity of constipation was examined. Constipation and non-constipation groups were compared for age; sex; body mass index; bed rest period; use of anti-epileptic drugs, valproate sodium, or enteral nutrition; and serum levels of albumin, pre-albumin, totalcholesterol, free carnitine, folic acid, and trace elements. Moreover, severity of constipation before and after carnitine supplementation was assessed. Twenty-seven patients were enrolled. Of these, 14 were assigned to the constipation group and 13 to the non-constipation group. The free carnitine level was significantly correlated with severity of constipation (R = 0.7604, <0.01). Free carnitine was significantly lower in the constipation compared with the non-constipation group (<0.01). No other significant differences between the groups were found. The severity of constipation was significantly relieved after carnitine supplementation (<0.001). In conclusion, carnitine supplementation could reduce the severity of constipation.
肉碱是脂肪酸线粒体转运所必需的营养素。肉碱缺乏会在多个器官引发多种症状。患有严重运动和智力障碍的患者常常存在肉碱缺乏的情况。本研究旨在确定他们便秘与肉碱缺乏之间的相关性。对我院患有严重运动和智力障碍的患者进行了回顾性研究。检测了游离肉碱水平与便秘严重程度之间的相关性。比较了便秘组和非便秘组在年龄、性别、体重指数、卧床时间、抗癫痫药物、丙戊酸钠或肠内营养的使用情况，以及血清白蛋白、前白蛋白、总胆固醇、游离肉碱、叶酸和微量元素水平。此外，还评估了补充肉碱前后便秘的严重程度。共纳入27例患者。其中，14例被分配到便秘组，13例被分配到非便秘组。游离肉碱水平与便秘严重程度显著相关（R = 0.7604，P<0.01）。与非便秘组相比，便秘组的游离肉碱水平显著更低（P<0.01）。两组之间未发现其他显著差异。补充肉碱后便秘严重程度显著缓解（P<0.001）。总之，补充肉碱可减轻便秘的严重程度。
