Renal carnitine excretion following abstinence after chronic drinking

Abstract

Purpose: Carnitine participates in the metabolism of lipids and cognitive activity. Excessive consumption of alcohol disturbes renal tubular canalicules, that increases urinary excretion of carnitine and its esters. The study evaluates restoration of the urinary free- and total carnitine as well as acylcarnitine excretion after chronic drinking and during the 49-days of controlled abstinence.

Materials/methods: In 32 patients (6♀; 26♂), 26-60 years old, 2-30 years of alcohol dependence: 75-700g of pure alcohol (166±94g) of alcohol daily consumption, 2-360 (35±67) days of intoxication and 1.25±0.8 days of abstinence at admission, we determined urinary free (FC) and total carnitine (TC) as well as acylcarnitine (AC) and acylcarnitine/free carnitine ratio (AC/FC) at admission (T0), after 30 (T30) and 49 (T49) days of the controlled abstinence.

Results: At T0 excretion of FC, TC and AC as well as AC/FC ratio were significantly higher as compared to the control group. After 30- and 49-days of abstinence, excretion of FC and TC decreased to the level of control group with an exception of the AC and AC/FC ratio at T30 that remained significantly increased.

Conclusion: 30 days for the FC and TC and 49 days of abstinence for the AC and AC/FC ratio was sufficient to normalize urinary excretion of the carnitines.

Keywords: Abstinence; Alcohol; Carnitine; Fatty acids; Urinary excretion.