Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Science, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy.
Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy.
Nutrients. 2020 Dec 19;12(12):3887. doi: 10.3390/nu12123887.
Frailty is an expression that reconciles and condenses loss of autonomy, both physical and cognitive decline and a wide spectrum of adverse outcomes due to aging. The decrease in physical and cognitive activity is associated with altered mitochondrial function, and energy loss and consequently morbidity and mortality. In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated the carnitine levels in frailty status. The mean serum concentrations of total carnitine (TC) were lower in frail elderly subjects than in prefrail ones ( = 0.0006), higher in frail vs. robust subjects ( < 0.0001), and higher in prefrail vs. robust subjects ( < 0.0001). The mean serum concentrations of free carnitine (FC) were lower in frail elderly subjects than in prefrail ones ( < 0.0001), lower in frail vs. robust subjects ( < 0.0001) and lower in prefrail vs. robust subjects ( = 0.0009). The mean serum concentrations of acylcarnitine (AC) were higher in frail elderly subjects than in prefrail ones ( = 0.054) and were higher in pre-frail vs. robust subjects ( = 0.0022). The mean urine concentrations of TC were lower in frail elderly subjects than in prefrail ones ( < 0.05) and lower in frail vs. robust subjects ( < 0.0001). The mean urine concentrations of free carnitine were lower in frail elderly vs. robust subjects ( < 0.05). The mean urine concentrations of acyl carnitines were lower in frail elderly subjects than those in both prefrail ( < 0.0001) and robust subjects ( < 0.0001). Conclusion: high levels of carnitine may have a favorable effect on the functional status and may treat the frailty status in older subjects.
衰弱是一个表达,它协调并浓缩了自主能力丧失、身体和认知能力下降以及由于衰老而导致的广泛不良后果。身体和认知活动的减少与改变线粒体功能、能量损失以及随之而来的发病率和死亡率有关。在这项横断面研究中,我们评估了虚弱状态下的肉碱水平。与非虚弱老年人相比,虚弱老年人的总肉碱(TC)血清浓度较低(= 0.0006),与健壮老年人相比,虚弱老年人的 TC 血清浓度较高(<0.0001),与健壮老年人相比,非虚弱老年人的 TC 血清浓度较高(<0.0001)。与非虚弱老年人相比,虚弱老年人的游离肉碱(FC)血清浓度较低(<0.0001),与健壮老年人相比,虚弱老年人的 FC 血清浓度较低(<0.0001),与健壮老年人相比,非虚弱老年人的 FC 血清浓度较低(= 0.0009)。与非虚弱老年人相比,虚弱老年人的酰基肉碱(AC)血清浓度较高(= 0.054),与健壮老年人相比,非虚弱老年人的 AC 血清浓度较高(= 0.0022)。与非虚弱老年人相比,虚弱老年人的 TC 尿浓度较低(<0.05),与健壮老年人相比,虚弱老年人的 TC 尿浓度较低(<0.0001)。与健壮老年人相比,虚弱老年人的游离肉碱尿浓度较低(<0.05)。与非虚弱老年人和健壮老年人相比,虚弱老年人的酰基肉碱尿浓度较低(<0.0001)。结论:肉碱水平升高可能对功能状态有有利影响,并可能治疗老年患者的虚弱状态。