Chinese Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2009;17(5):311-315

doi:10.3760/cma.j.issn.1674-635X.2009.05.015

Carnitine deficiency and its related diseases

Yuehui FANG ; Meiqin CAI

Keywords

Carnitine deficiency; Metabolism; Lipid storage myopathies; Cardiomyopathy; Obesity; Male infertility

Country

China

Language

Chinese

Abstract

L-carnitine plays an essential role in the beta-oxidation of fatty acids by transporting long chain acyl-coenzyme A into the mitochondrial matrix.Carnitine deficiency may lead to various diseases,including lipid storage myopathies,systemic carnitine deficiency syndrome,cardiomyopathy,obesity,and infertility.This article summarizes the causes of carnitine deficiency and elucidates the clinical features and treatment strategies of its related diseases.