Carnitine Deficiency Test in Idaho

What this test measures

Carnitine is made in the body from the amino acids lysine and methionine and is also obtained from foods such as red meat and dairy. Its main job is to shuttle fatty acids into the mitochondria so they can be converted to energy. Tissues that rely heavily on fat for fuel, including skeletal muscle and the heart, are especially sensitive to low carnitine levels.

The test measures total carnitine and may report free carnitine and acylcarnitine fractions. The sample is a blood draw, and some laboratories also test urine or use a broader carnitine profile. Because carnitine participates in fatty-acid oxidation, abnormal results can point toward inherited or acquired disorders of that pathway as well as nutritional or absorption problems.

Clinicians order carnitine testing when someone has unexplained muscle weakness, cramping, low blood sugar, or other signs of impaired fat metabolism. It may also be used to monitor people who take certain medications or who have conditions that affect nutrient absorption. Results are always considered with the clinical picture and often with additional metabolic tests.