Novak M, Wieser P B, Buch M, Hahn P
Pediatr Res. 1979 Jan;13(1):10-5. doi: 10.1203/00006450-197901000-00003.
The acetylcarnitine concentration in amniotic fluid fell significantly between 33 and 37 and 40 weeks of gestation. It was significantly higher in samples that had a low lecithin to sphingomyelin ratio. The acetylcarnitine content of tracheal fluid was higher in samples obtained from premature newborns. The major excretory form of carnitine is the acetate ester and only in adults does the urine contain significant amounts of free carnitine. The level of acetylcarnitine in plasma significantly increases after the first day of life; there was no difference in the plasma levels of carnitine between full-term and premature newborns. Plasma-free carnitine and acetylcarnitine levels were significantly lower in infants who were receiving a soybean-based formula. A positive correlation was found between the plasma level of ketone bodies and that of acetylcarnitine.
羊水中乙酰肉碱浓度在妊娠33至37周以及40周时显著下降。在卵磷脂与鞘磷脂比值低的样本中，其浓度显著更高。从早产新生儿获取的样本中，气管液中的乙酰肉碱含量更高。肉碱的主要排泄形式是乙酸酯，只有成人才会在尿液中含有大量游离肉碱。出生第一天后，血浆中乙酰肉碱水平显著升高；足月新生儿与早产新生儿的血浆肉碱水平没有差异。接受大豆配方奶粉喂养的婴儿，其血浆游离肉碱和乙酰肉碱水平显著更低。酮体血浆水平与乙酰肉碱血浆水平之间存在正相关。
