Is Carnitine Intake Important for Infant’s Brain Development

How does carnitine affect postnatal growth? Carnitine intake especially from breast milk increases postnatal growth and brain size in very preterm infants.

Carnitine intake in the first postnatal weeks promotes better growth and larger brain size at term equivalent age in very preterm infants. Carnitine intake from breast milk in particular seems to be associated with better growth.

These findings of the study by the University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital were published in Nutrients.

What is Carnitine?

Carnitine is a compound similar to amino acids, and its primary function in the body is to transport long-chain fatty acids to the cell powerhouse mitochondria for energy production. In addition, earlier studies have suggested that carnitine may also be involved in nervous system development.

Top 15 Toxic Chemicals Affecting Brain Development In Children
Toxic chemicals found in the environment in the air, water, soil and even in day to day stuff we use can cause irreversible brain damage in infants and children. Learn more about toxic exposures and how to protect your child.

‘The carnitine intake from breast milk or infant formulae was associated with the growth of preterm infants and their brain size in particular.’

Carnitine is both obtained from nutrition and produced by the body. In preterm infants, the main sources of carnitine are breast milk and infant formulae containing carnitine.

Very preterm infants born before 32 weeks of gestation are at risk of developing carnitine deficiency due to limited tissue stores, immature endogenous synthesis, and insufficient intake from nutrition. Due to rapid growth, they also have an increased need for carnitine.

The associations of carnitine intake and serum carnitine levels with the growth and brain size of preterm infants have not been studied in a longitudinal setting before.

Junk Food and Energy Drinks may Affect Brain Development in Teens
Energy drinks and junk food consumption is increasing among teens and is affecting their brain development leading to learning and memory problems.

In this new study, the researchers measured the carnitine levels of preterm infants at three-time points and calculated the intake of nutrients, including carnitine, over the first five postnatal weeks.

They also examined the associations of serum carnitine levels and nutrition with the growth of weight, length, and head circumference, as well as brain diameters determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Brain Development in Newborns Improves With Gentle Touch
Gentle touch therapy during hospitalization of newborns especially among pre-term babies aid brain development in the future.

The intake of carnitine, free carnitine, and short-chain acylcarnitine concentrations in serum, were associated with the growth of preterm infants and with cerebellar size in particular.

In addition to these associations, dietary carnitine was found to correlate with free carnitine and short-chain acylcarnitine concentrations in serum, suggesting that these carnitine levels can be considered markers of carnitine intake.

Is Carnitine Supplementation Necessary?

Both breast milk and infant formulae contain varying amounts of carnitine. Parenteral nutrition, i.e., nutrient preparations gave intravenously, on the other hand, usually do not contain carnitine.

Marijuana Used to Treat Morning Sickness Harmful for Baby�s Brain
Marijuana used by pregnant women to treat morning sickness can be harmful to the baby’s brain. It causes behavioral, memory, and learning problems due to damage to the nerve connections in the brain.

It is possible to give carnitine parenterally, but evidence on the benefits of carnitine supplementation remains contradictory and it is not generally recommended in the current parenteral nutrition guidelines for preterm infants.

Further research is still needed on whether carnitine supplementation is necessary during prolonged parenteral nutrition and, on the other hand, whether breast milk should be enriched with carnitine in some situations in the dietary treatment of preterm infants.

Source-Eurekalert