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Query: UMLS:C0240066 (iron deficiency)
 7,156 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Severe iron deficiency in the suckling and weanling rat is associated with lipid accumulation in serum and liver, impaired ketogenesis in the suckling pup and low levels of carnitine in some tissues. Carnitine has been effective in reducing high triacylglycerol levels in humans and rats. This study examined tissue triacylglycerol concentrations of iron-deficient rats supplemented with carnitine or iron. Iron-adequate (C) and iron-deficient (D) pups were weaned to diets containing 38 ppm Fe (c) or 6 ppm Fe (d) with or without 0.2% DL-carnitine (Carn) resulting in six experimental treatments: CcCarn, DdCarn, Cc, Cd, Dc, Dd. Males received the diets for 2 wk and female littermates for 4. After 2 and 4 wk, carnitine supplementation significantly increased carnitine content in liver, heart and skeletal muscle by 30-60% in rats from control and Fe-deficient dams. Carnitine treatment significantly lowered the triacylglycerol level in liver of 49-d-old Fe-deficient females, but did not affect other tissues at either time point compared to other dietary treatments. Fe supplementation did not increase carnitine content in tissues, but did reduce triacylglycerol levels in liver by 4 wk and in skeletal muscle at both time points. Possible mechanisms by which iron and carnitine may lower lipids are discussed.
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PMID:Postweaning carnitine supplementation of iron-deficient rats. 379 27

Carnitine is not only obtained from animal-derived foods but also synthesized in the body. It plays an important role in the energy metabolism of many tissues, including heart and skeletal muscles. Iron is known to be essential for the biosynthesis of carnitine. Although many conditions are well known to cause secondary carnitine deficiency, iron deficiency, which is a very common condition in children, is not well studied as a cause of secondary carnitine deficiency in humans. This study demonstrates the coexistence of iron deficiency and low carnitine levels in otherwise healthy children. The mean carnitine concentration of 18 otherwise healthy children with iron deficiency anemia was significantly lower compared to the mean carnitine concentration of healthy children without iron deficiency anemia. Based on the evidence about the effect of low iron on carnitine stores in experimental animals, we proposed that low serum carnitine levels in these children may be secondary to iron deficiency. However, further studies need to be done to further clarify this relationship.
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PMID:Low serum carnitine concentrations in healthy children with iron deficiency anemia. 1176 98

Carnitine is ingested through animal-derived foods as well as synthesized in vivo. It plays an important role in the energy metabolism of many tissues. Iron acts as a co-factor for the synthesis of carnitine. However, the importance of iron deficiency as a cause of secondary carnitine deficiency is not well established. The aim of this study was to investigate the serum levels of carnitine in children with iron-deficiency anemia compared to those of healthy children and to determine if serum carnitine levels in with or without pica differ. The mean serum carnitine concentration in the iron-deficiency group was significantly lower than that in healthy children (12.44+/- 5.09 and 32.48 +/- 7.92 micromol/L, respectively, p < .001). In the iron-deficient group, serum carnitine levels, ferritin levels, and other hematological parameters were lowest in patients with pica (p < .001). Pearson correlation test indicated a positive correlation between serum carnitine and ferritin levels in iron-deficient patients. Based on the evidence about the effect of low iron on carnitine stores in animal studies, the authors propose that low serum carnitine levels in these children may be secondary to iron-deficiency anemia. However, further large-scale studies are needed to establish the frequency of carnitine deficiency in children with iron-deficiency anemia.
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PMID:Serum carnitine levels in children with iron-deficiency anemia with or without pica. 1672 58