JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 1988 Mar-Apr; 12(2): 143-6.

Serum carnitine levels in normal individuals.

Lambert ME, Shipley K, Holbrook I, Faragher EB, Irving MH.

Department of Surgery, Hope Hospital, Salford, U.K.

Serum carnitine levels have been measured in 178 samples from 75 normal volunteers. We report a wide range of values (10-70 mumol/liter and 8-74 mumol/liter for free and acetylated carnitine, respectively) and a distinct difference between the ranges for males and females (p less than 0.001). There is also substantial, seemingly random fluctuation in any one individual's levels, when measured serially over several weeks.