Z Gastroenterol 2004; 42 - 35
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-827139

On the plasma carnitine ester profile in adult celiac disease

B Gasztonyi 1, M Juhász 2, K Horváth 1, J Bene 3, K Komlósi 4, V Havasi 4, G Talián 3, T Zágoni 2, S Varjú 1, V Vélin 1, Z Tulassay 2, I Juricskay 1, G Mózsik 1, B Hunyady 1, B Melegh 4
  • 11st Dept. of Medicine, Medical School, Univ. of Pécs
  • 22nd Dept. of Medicine, Semmelweis Univ., Budapest
  • 3Clinical Genetics Res. Group of Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Univ. of Pécs
  • 4Dept. of Medical Genetics and Child Development, Medical School, Univ. of Pécs

Background: The majority of the carnitine (C) reserves derive from alimentary sources, the site of the absorption located to the small intestines. C absorption is known to be influenced by the damaged intestinal uptake.

Aim: We determined the plasma C profile in adult patients with CD and compared with healthy controls, first in the literature.

Patients and methods: The circulating C profile (including the free C and 12 C esters) were detected by ESI triple quadrupol tandem mass spectrometry in 26 patients with CD (11 were on gluten free diet (GFD) and 17 were not (NGFD)) and in 31 healthy age and sex matched controls.

Results: There were no difference in the fasting free C levels among the two CD groups and healthy controls (average±S.E.M.) (GFD: 57.8±4.5, NGFD: 61.0±3.22, control: 57.7±1.5). The fasting C2 ester levels were significantly decreased in both CD groups (GFD: 4.3±0.95, NGFD: 3.3±0.5, control: 10.5±0.4, p<0.001). Compared with controls C5 (0.21±0.03 vs. 0.14±0.02, p<0.05), C5-DC (0.05±0.003 vs. 0.04±0.004, p<0.01), C18:1 (0.17±0.008 vs. 0.15±0.01, p<0.05) and C18:2 (0.14±0.006 vs. 0.1±0.01, p<0.01) levels were decreased significantly in patients with NGFD, only.

Conclusion: The data show involvement of the C system in adult CD, and a selective involvement of the C ester absorption and/or metabolism in patients without GFD suggesting thereby that the diet helps to maintain the normal C profile.