Posts Tagged ‘ your questions about carnitine deficiency ’

Your Questions About Carnitine Deficiency

July 6, 2012
By


Thomas Your Questions About Carnitine Deficiency

Thomas asks…

I have been advised to start taking ginkgo biloba and Ginseng, L-carnitine and Coenzyme Q10.Long term effects?

I have been advised to start taking ginkgo biloba and Ginseng, L-carnitine and Coenzyme Q10.Will there be any long term effects?
My mum takes Ginkgo biloba and has stopped for a month and her memory and brain are always muddled and forgetful.
My worry is that once you start taking these things you need to stick with them?
Surely if you start taking, your body stops producing and therefore if you don’t take them you end up with a deficiency?
Any advice would be great, many thanks
Advised by my doctor for CFS

admin answers:

Advised by whom and for what purpose?

Sharon Your Questions About Carnitine Deficiency

Sharon asks…

Can I take 5-HTP, SAMe, tyrosine, l-carnitine and CoQ-10 together?

I have been suffering from on and off depression for most of my young adult life (i’m 19 years old at the moment), and am getting a number of possible organic causes tested for. I have had diabetes, celiac disease and nutritional deficiencies ruled out, and am next attempting to rule out allergies, mineral imbalances, toxicity, and hypto-thyroidism. If these don’t result in any breakthroughs i’m resorting to self- medicating for depression.

I plan to take SAMe and tyrosine in the morning, l carnitine and CoQ-10 a few hours later, and 5-HTP right before I go to sleep. Is there a possibility of any negative reactions among these drugs?

admin answers:

In almost all vitamin stores and health food stores, I have seen sections of the store devoted to “brain supplements” or “mood enhancers.” Many of the ingredients in the brain and mood products are in combination form. In other words, a product in the Vitamin Shoppe, for example, might contain the amino acids L-carnitine and L-tyrosine plus herbs like ginkgo biloba and St. John’s wort, and possibly CoQ10, phosphatidyl serine, 5-HTP, etc.

Research on St. John’s wort suggests it can be helpful for mild (or maybe moderate) depression. However, what many people don’t know is that it can take at least 3 weeks to start working. This herb can also interact with some medications. So you should ask a health care professional about any possible bad interaction if you are taking any prescription medication.

I suggest you start with St. John’s wort since it has been researched more methodically than the other products you mentioned.

The products you mentioned may or may not be helpful for you. There is not a lot of scientific proof that they work. There is only speculation and “testimonials.”

I suggest you avoid SAMe. I go to a weekly mood support group for people with depression, bipolar disorder, etc. SAMe is very expensive and I have never heard anyone report that it helped them.

Finally, I doubt there would be negative interactions in the products you mentioned. Most of them have been sold in combination forms for years.

For myself, I found exercise to be a very potent antidepressant. I also practice relaxation techniques like meditation. Psychotherapy has also been helpful for me.

Sandy Your Questions About Carnitine Deficiency

Sandy asks…

biochem q on LCAD and glycogen storage diseases?

Fraternal twins have episodes of fasting hypoglycemia, hypoketonemia, and muscle weakness
occurring only during periods of caloric deprivation.
One twin dies at 5 months of age.
The
surviving twin develops a cardiomyopathy, which is diagnosed at 3 years of age.
Carnitine esters
are elevated in muscle tissue and in serum.
Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
A.
a-L-Iduronidase deficiency hunters
B.
Acid maltase deficiency (a 1,4-glucosidase deficiency) pompes
C.
Carnitine uptake deficiency
D.
Long-chain acyl CoA dehydrogenase (LCAD) deficiency
E.
Muscle glycogen phosphorylase deficiency mcardles

i was torn between B and D on this q…since carnitine levels were high then id say D. but what else could distinguish this answer of d being correct? i said pompes aka b first since the infant died and it was a heart problem plus the symptoms were aggrevated in times of not eating. pompes is a glycogen storage disease where a lysozomal enzyme doesnt break down glyocgen so if someone didnt eat and needed the glycogen theyd be screwed with this genetic disorder. any help is appreciated.

admin answers:

I agree that the elevated carnitine levels point to answer D. But I am not sure of this. What mystifies me is why these children do not have elevated ketones.

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Your Questions About Carnitine Deficiency

July 2, 2012
By


Lizzie Your Questions About Carnitine Deficiency

Lizzie asks…

Have any long-range side effects ( good or bad) been mapped for acetyl-l carnitine?

I have had acetyl-l-carnitine recommended as a memory aid, and am wondering if it is safe to use if I have not experienced any of the deficiencies described as an indication of the product. In other words, can one be harmed by taking it?

admin answers:

Apparently acetyl-l-carnitine has some small possible minor side effects as well as some benefits

Side Effects
1. Increase in blood pressure
2. Faster heartbeat
3. Fever and possible rash
4. Large amounts can lead to diarrhoea
5. Can cause nausea/vomiting, headache, bladder irritation or infection, unusual body odour, stuffy nose
6. Possibility of restlessness and difficulty sleeping due to the nature of the drug.

Benefits
1. It has a role in energy production and therefore a role in weight control
2. It can enhance cellular energy in the brain
3. It can alleviate the effects of depression
4. Can help to prevent cataracts
5. Can help those in a physically demanding job/hobby
6. Some studies have found evidence that acetyl-l-carnitine, might be helpful in Alzheimer’s disease
7. Uncontrolled studies suggest that L-carnitine or acetyl-L-carnitine may be helpful for improving sperm function.
8. Weak evidence also suggests that carnitine may be helpful for decreasing the toxicity of AZT (a drug used to treat AIDS).

Safety Issues
L-carnitine in its three forms appears to be quite safe. However, individuals with low or borderline-low thyroid levels should avoid carnitine because it might impair the action of thyroid hormone.
Individuals on dialysis should not receive this (or any other supplement) without a physician’s supervision. The maximum safe dosages for young children, pregnant or nursing women, or those with severe liver or kidney disease have not been established.

Interaction Drug Side Effects You Should Know About
If you are taking;
• Antiseizure medications, particularly valproic acid (Depakote, Depakene) but also phenytoin (Dilantin): You may need extra carnitine.
• Thyroid medication: Do not take carnitine except under a physician’s supervision

Like any drug, the possible side effects will affect people differently – due to metabolic factors – speak to your doctor for more information

Nancy Your Questions About Carnitine Deficiency

Nancy asks…

Has anyone had a someone with muscular dystrophy.?

My husband has carnitine deficiency and is doing very badly. Has anyone gone through this before and what should I expect

admin answers:

Muscular Dystrophy is a general term for several forms of dystrophies. The most common form is Duchene Muscular Dystrophy. Others are like Becker, Limb-girdle, Myotonic, and Congenital Muscular Dystrophy, just to name a few. They all seem to be caused by a genetic defect that causes a decrease in the production of dystrophin in the muscle, which leads to necrosis of the muscle. All of these various muscular dystrophies will have different clinical courses and affect different muscle groups. What you will expect is your physician can only sit back and watch because they do not have the magic bullet for this one. What you can do is start a regiment of healthy low glycemic meals (I can supply recipes) next a high quality supplement in high dose (it gives his God made body the ability to defend itself) next if you can walk 20-30 minutes a day. Contact me through my site for the specifics. Help is here.

Robert Your Questions About Carnitine Deficiency

Robert asks…

Starting a foundation?

I have hypoglycemia, particularly a carnitine deficiency. I want to start a foundation for those who have the same problem. I know there is already a Hypoglycemia Foundation, but I want to start one particularly for those with a carnitine deficiency, because there is a medicine for it, but that many might not be able to afford. It transforms the lives of those who need it, so I believe this is really a great cause. How would I go about starting this foundation?

admin answers:

The laws on starting the nonprofit company vary by state. There are a lot of services online that will do that for you, but it’s not hard to do it yourself. Look it up on your state’s secretary of state homepage. You can also found it in another state if you like their laws better – delaware is popular if i recall correctly.

Once you start your corporation you’ll need to get 501c3 status, which means filling out paperwork and sending money to the irs.

Once you have that you’ll be eligible for all sorts of grants from other foundations. If you can you might want to hire a grant writer, or recruit an experienced volunteer for that.

Side note – most (all?) pharmaceutical companies already have programs to help people who can’t afford their meds. You can probably check with the company about that.

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Your Questions About Carnitine Deficiency

June 28, 2012
By


Mandy Your Questions About Carnitine Deficiency

Mandy asks…

What is Carnitine Deficiency?

I would like to know what is Carnitine Deficiency?

admin answers:

Carnitine Deficiency Syndromes

http://www.webmd.com/hw/health_guide_atoz/nord60.asp

this article is more indepth

http://www.emedicine.com/ped/topic321.htm

Plz let me know if you need further help in searching this syndrome.

Richard Your Questions About Carnitine Deficiency

Richard asks…

pyruvate oxidation in carnitine deficiency?

i know that pyruvate oxidation in carnitine deficiency is not impaired. i’m just not sure why. can someone please explain? i’d really appreciate it. thanks icon smile Your Questions About Carnitine Deficiency

admin answers:

Why would pyruvate oxidation be impaired? Carnitine is a fatty acid carrier.
W

Lizzie Your Questions About Carnitine Deficiency

Lizzie asks…

Is there a difference between “carnitine deficiency” and an “SCADD” (short chain deficiency)?

My son died 2 hours after an induced labor (37 weeks) of “metabollic acidosis” coupled with severe anemia. I was on two epilepsy meds, depakote (which depletes carnitine levels — mine were LOW but they didn’t know this till later) and zonegran (which killed my appetite, resulting in fasting which is apparently horrible if you’re already low on carnitine). They found he was carnitine deficient and/or had an SCADD — it didn’t occur to me until now — are these two separate things? Can the SCADD be a result of a carnitine deficiency linked to the depakote? (They have no idea what caused the anemia, other than possibly bleeding into the placenta after the cord was cut.) I am still puzzling over this…thanks!

admin answers:

According to nih.gov:
“Primary carnitine deficiency is a condition that prevents the body from using fats for energy, particularly during periods without food (fasting).”
I know this is for primary cases, and you’re suggesting this case was medication induced, but that was all I could find icon sad Your Questions About Carnitine Deficiency .

SCADD on the other hand is discussed more as a autosomal recessive genetic disorder. So each time you have a child, there may be a 25% chance of having it again in that child. The children tend to get hypoglycemic which can result in the metabolic acidsosis.

I wish I knew more. It sounds like you are worried that your medications may have somehow worsened all this and I’m very sorry for your loss. Personally as an MD student, it does not sound like your medications should have contributed much. If they did, then it was your doctor’s responsibility to take you off the meds and maybe on a safer alternative. I hope you feel better. I’ll leave the links for you in case you are interested in reading on it.

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