Genger H, Sevelda P, Vytiska-Binstorfer E, Salzer H, Legenstein E, Lohninger A
I. Univ. Frauenklinik Wien.
Z Geburtshilfe Perinatol. 1988 May-Jun;192(3):134-6.
Carnitine (trimethylamino-hydroxy butyric acid) is present in all living cells. It is necessary for the transport of fatty acids into mitochondria and for other metabolic functions of the cell. Studies in various animal species have demonstrated a transfer of carnitine from the mother to the fetus during pregnancy. Recent studies reported decreased carnitine levels at term, but little is known on carnitine levels during various stages of human gestation. Therefore it was interesting to measure the blood carnitine status during normal human pregnancy from early stages up to term, including analyses of umbilical cord blood of the newborn. The results show a gradually decreasing carnitine level in maternal plasma, a sharp decline within the 1st trimester was followed by a much slower but highly significant decrease in the 2nd and 3rd trimester. In whole blood carnitine levels are decreasing, too. The continuous decrease of the portion of plasma carnitine in whole blood is correlated with a higher carnitine concentration in the blood cells. Together these results might indicate an increased need of carnitine during pregnancy. Therefore the clinical application of carnitine not only to provide a respiratory distress syndrome should be examined.
肉碱（三甲氨基 - 羟基丁酸）存在于所有活细胞中。它对于脂肪酸进入线粒体以及细胞的其他代谢功能是必需的。对各种动物物种的研究表明，孕期母体中的肉碱会转移至胎儿体内。近期研究报道足月时肉碱水平降低，但关于人类孕期各阶段的肉碱水平却知之甚少。因此，测量正常人类孕期从早期直至足月期间的血液肉碱状况，包括对新生儿脐带血进行分析，是很有意思的。结果显示母体血浆中肉碱水平逐渐降低，孕早期急剧下降，随后在孕中期和孕晚期下降速度虽慢但降幅显著。全血中的肉碱水平也在降低。全血中血浆肉碱比例的持续下降与血细胞中较高的肉碱浓度相关。综合这些结果可能表明孕期对肉碱的需求增加。因此，不仅应研究肉碱在治疗呼吸窘迫综合征方面的临床应用。
