Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology (CEOG) is published by IMR Press from Volume 47 Issue 1 (2020). Previous articles were published by another publisher on a subscription basis, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with S.O.G.
Comparative study of plasma carnitine: determination in the neonate and in normal deli very
Free total plasma carnitine and acylcarnitine were determined in 20 mothers with normal deliveries and their neonates. Women of reproductive age and children constituted the comparative control groups. The mothers had lower total and free carnitine concentrations as compared to the neonates and the differences were statistically significant. The acylcarnitine values in the mothers were higher but the differences were not statistically significant. The women had higher total and free carnitine concentrations as compared to the children, while the values of acylcarnitme were higher in the children and the differences were statistically significant. The women had higher total and free carnitine concentrations as compared to the mothers and the differences were statistically very significant. In contrast the concentration of acylcarnitine was higher in the mothers than in the women and the difference was statistically significant. The children had higher total and free carnitine concentrations as compared to the neonates. On the other hand the concentration of acylcarnitine was higher in the neonates than in the children. The difference was statistically significant. It appears that transfer of maternal carnitine to the fetus constitutes the main factor of determining carnitine concentration in the neonate.