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- Title
Relative carnitine deficiency in autism.
- Authors
Filipek, Pauline A; Juranek, Jenifer; Nguyen, Minh T; Cummings, Christa; Gargus, J Jay
- Abstract
A random retrospective chart review was conducted to document serum carnitine levels on 100 children with autism. Concurrently drawn serum pyruvate, lactate, ammonia, and alanine levels were also available in many of these children. Values of free and total carnitine (p < 0.001), and pyruvate (p = 0.006) were significantly reduced while ammonia and alanine levels were considerably elevated (p < 0.001) in our autistic subjects. The relative carnitine deficiency in these patients, accompanied by slight elevations in lactate and significant elevations in alanine and ammonia levels, is suggestive of mild mitochondrial dysfunction. It is hypothesized that a mitochondrial defect may be the origin of the carnitine deficiency in these autistic children.
- Publication
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2004, Vol 34, Issue 6, p615
- ISSN
0162-3257
- Publication type
Journal Article
- DOI
10.1007/s10803-004-5283-1