L-carnitine in Beta Thalassemia

This study was conducted to determine L-carnitine levels in regularly transfused and chelated beta thalassemia patients (n=40; mean age, 17.5 +/- 5.0 years). Ten age matched controls were also studied. The mean L-carnitine level in thalassemic patients was 23.71 +/- 7.3 mu M as compared to control 29.26 +/- 2.37 mu M (P<0.0001). Mean Carnitine was significantly lower (P=0.037) in those with ferritin greater than 2000g/dL (22.80 +/- 6.97 mu M) in comparison to those with ferritin less than 2000ng/dL (30.1 +/- 7.77 mu M). Although Carnitine levels in non vegetarians was higher (26.91 +/- 8.4 mu M) than in vegetarians (22.34 +/- 6.55 mu M), this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.072). We conclude that L-carnitine levels were found to be lower in thalassemics as compared to age matched controls.