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The influence of intravenous medium‐ and long‐chain triglycerides and carnitine on the excretion of dicarboxylic acids
Author(s) -
Bohles H,
Akcetin Z,
Lehnert W
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.935
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1941-2444
pISSN - 0148-6071
DOI - 10.1177/014860718701100146
Subject(s) - carnitine , caprylic acid , caproic acid , excretion , chemistry , capric acid , dicarboxylic acid , adipic acid , butyric acid , fatty acid , biochemistry , sebacic acid , medicine , organic chemistry , lauric acid
Four groups of male Wistar rats were alimented parenterally for 3 days. Groups 1 and 2 received medium‐chain triglycerides (MCT) and groups 3 and 4 long‐chain triglycerides (LCT). Groups 2 and 4 were supplemented with 100 mg L‐carnitine/kg/day. The MCT‐alimented rats presented with a distinct excretion of the dicarboxylic acids: adipic acid (C6), suberic acid (C8), and sebacic acid (C10). The acids excreted corresponded to the infused pattern of monocarboxylic acids: caproic acid (C6), caprylic acid (C8), and capric acid (C10). Dicarboxylic acid excretion after MCT administration may reflect an insufficient capacity of beta‐oxidation on one hand or a preferential omega‐oxidation of medium‐chain fatty acids on the other. Carnitine supplementation lead to a further increase of the dicarboxylic acids in the MCT‐group. beta‐OH‐butyric acid excretion decreased after carnitine in the MCT as well as in the LCT group. An increased transport of fatty acid‐carnitine compounds out of the mitochondria is discussed as an important effect of carnitine supplementation. Hereby medium‐chain fatty acids may be more accessible for omega‐oxidation.