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Free carnitine and acetyl carnitine plasma levels and their relationship with body muscular mass in athletes

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Summary

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between plasma carnitine concentration and body composition variation in relation to muscular and fat masses since there is no experimentally proved correlation between plasma carnitine and body masses. We used bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA), to determine body composition and to have a complete physical fitness evaluation. The post-absorptive plasma free carnitine and acetyl carnitine plasma levels, body composition as Fat-Free Mass (FFM) and Fat Mass (FM) in kg, as well as in percent of body mass, were analysed in 33 healthy subjects. A significant negative correlation was found between plasma acetyl carnitine and FFM in weight (kg) as well as in percent of body mass (respectively p < 0.0001; p < 0.01); a significant positive correlation was found only between FM in percent and plasma acetyl carnitine (p < 0.01). The observed negative correlation between plasma acetyl carnitine and muscular mass variation might reflect an oxidative metabolic muscle improvement in relation to muscular fat free mass increment and might be evidence that muscle metabolism change is in relation to plasma acetyl carnitine concentration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cattedra di Biochimica Clinica, Istituto di Semeiotica Medica, Università degli Studi di Padova, Via Ospedale 105, I-35100, Padova, Italy

    R. Gatti, C. B. De Palo &  E. F. De Palo

  2. Cattedra di Nutrizione Clinica - Istituto di Medicina Clinica - Universitä degli Studi di Padova, Centro Provinciale di Medicina dello Sport C.O.N.I., F.M.S.I., Padova, Italy

    P. Spinella

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  1. R. Gatti
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  2. C. B. De Palo
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  3. P. Spinella
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  4. E. F. De Palo
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Gatti, R., De Palo, C.B., Spinella, P. et al. Free carnitine and acetyl carnitine plasma levels and their relationship with body muscular mass in athletes. Amino Acids 14, 361–369 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01318855

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01318855

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