Preferential elimination of pivalate with supplemental carnitine via formation of pivaloylcarnitine in man

B. Sumegi, A. D. Sherry

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

1. To evaluate the effectiveness of carnitine administration in aiding the elimination of pivalate liberated from pivampicillin, studies were undertaken on seven paediatric patients treated for 7 days with combined pivampicillin and molar excess of carnitine. 2. A 22-fold increase occurred in urinary carnitine ester excretion on the last day of treatment (2967±604 versus 134±50μmol/day, p<0.05); the pivaloylcarnitine was identified with 13C-n.m.r. Only pivalate was detected in the urinary carnitine ester g.l.c. profile, the amount of this ester was equal to 92% of the daily pivalate intake. 3. The renal clearance rate of carnitine esters significantly exceeded that of creatinine indicating that the carnitine ester was eliminated by active transport. 4. The plasma concentration and urinary output of free carnitine were not changed significantly by the treatment, and the free and esterified carnitine concentrations in red cells remained unchanged indicating that carnitine deficiency was prevented.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1255-1261
Number of pages7
JournalXenobiotica
Volume23
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - 1993

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Toxicology
  • Pharmacology
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

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