URINARY-EXCRETION OF CARNITINE IN MAN

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 87 (5), 760-766
Abstract
A convenient assay procedure for urinary carnitine is described. Urinary excretion of carnitine is determined in human subjects in various experimental states. Average excretions by this procedure were 59.3 .+-. 3.3 mg/day in men and 44.1 .+-. 2.9 mg/day in women. Carnitine excretion had a wide variation in women during the menstrual cycle and reached a maximum at the time of ovulation, but the excretion was relatively constant in men. Marked increases in carnitine excretion were observed in the states with increased lipolysis induced by fasting or ACTH injection. Lipid mobilization might be reflected in the excretion of carnitine in urine.