Carnitine Deficiency in Premature Infants

Carnitine Deficiency—Missed Diagnosis Can Lead to Serious Consequences in Premature Infants

Premature infants have very low carnitine tissue concentrations due to underdeveloped carnitine uptake and tissue storage mechanisms¹
Clinical consequences of a missed diagnosis include failure to thrive, cardiac dysfunction, recurrent infections, and even death²

Approximately half a million babies are born early or prematurely every year in the United States³

References: 1. Rubaltelli FF, et al: Carnitine and the premature. Biol Neonate 1987;52(suppl 1):65-77. 2. Shannon DW, Wolfe GS: Carnitine deficiency: a missed diagnosis. J Care Manag 1997;3:1-8. 3. Martin JA, et al: Births: Final data for 2002. National vital statistics reports; vol 52 no 10. Hyattsville, Maryland: National Center for Health Statistics. 2003.

"There is convincing evidence that premature infants have a low capacity for carnitine biosynthesis." 1

Carnitine Deficiency—Missed Diagnosis Can Lead to Serious Consequences in Premature Infants

Approximately half a million babies are born early or prematurely every year in the United States3

"There is convincing evidence that premature infants have a low capacity for carnitine biosynthesis." ¹

Approximately half a million babies are born early or prematurely every year in the United States³