Rapid Communication
Copyright ©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 7, 2006; 12(1): 110-113
Published online Jan 7, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i1.110
Changes of plasma fasting carnitine ester profile in patients with ulcerative colitis
Judit Bene, Katalin Komlósi, Viktória Havasi, Gábor Talián, Beáta Gasztonyi, Krisztina Horváth, Gyula Mózsik, Béla Hunyady, Béla Melegh, Mária Figler
Judit Bene, MTA PTE Clinical Genetics Research Group of Hungarian Academy of Sciences at the University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
Judit Bene, Katalin Komlósi, Viktória Havasi, Gábor Talián, Béla Melegh, Department of Medical Genetics and Child Development, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
Beáta Gasztonyi, Krisztina Horváth, Gyula Mózsik, Béla Hunyady, Mária Figler, 1st Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
Supported by the grant of Ministry of Health, No. ETT 325/2003 and 595/2003; the grant of Hungarian Science Foundation, No. OTKA T 35026 and T 49589; and from the National grant No. NKFP-4/005/2002
Correspondence to: Dr Béla Melegh, Professor of Medical Genetics and Pediatrics, Department of Medical Genetics and Child Development, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Szigeti 12, Hungary. bela.melegh@aok.pte.hu
Telephone: +36-72-536427 Fax: +36-72-536427
Received: May 23, 2005
Revised: June 8, 2005
Accepted: June 18, 2005
Published online: January 7, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To determine the plasma carnitine ester profile in adult patients with ulcerative culitis (UC) and compared with healthy control subjects.

METHOD: Using ESI triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry, the carnitine ester profile was measured in 44 patients with UC and 44 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.

RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the fasting free carnitine level between the patients with UC and the healthy controls. The fasting propionyl- (0.331 ± 0.019 vs 0.392 ± 0.017 μmol/L), butyryl- (0.219 ± 0.014 vs 0.265 ± 0.012), and isovalerylcarnitine (0.111 ± 0.008 vs 0.134 ± 0.008) levels were decreased in the UC patients. By contrast, the level of octanoyl- (0.147 ± 0.009 vs 0.114 ± 0.008), decanoyl- (0.180 ± 0.012 vs 0.137 ± 0.008), myristoyl- (0.048 ± 0.003 vs 0.039 ± 0.003), palmitoyl- (0.128 ± 0.006 vs 0.109 ± 0.004), palmitoleyl- (0.042 ± 0.003 vs 0.031 ± 0.002) and oleylcarnitine (0.183 ± 0.007 vs 0.163 ± 0.007; P < 0.05 in all comparisons) were increased in the patients with UC.

CONCLUSION: Our data suggest selective involvement of the carnitine esters in UC patients, probably due to their altered metabolism.

Keywords: Carnitine; Carnitine ester profile; Ulcerative colitis