Carnitine Deficiency and polyneuropathy
 

I have been posting here recently and went to a major university for a 2nd opinion with a neurologist. (My neurologist told me he would order physical therapy to help me without even doing a complete evaluation). Anyway, the doctor at the university did a complete evaluation in 1 visit-emg,blood work, skin biopsy and ordered mri neurography. He e-mailed me today telling me my carnitine level was low and to start supplements. I will return for a visit after the mri neurography in about 1-2 weeks. Has anyone here ever had this deficiency and if so, did you improve with taking carnitine? I know things will probably not be that simple but the symptoms I have fit. Muscle pain, weakness, neuropathy etc. Thanks for reading. :grouphug:

If you do a quick search you will find that there is loads of stuff on this board about carnitine.

Here is a good one for starters:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post653568-5.html

I don't think I've ever been tested for my carnitine levels so hats off to your doctor for having the foresight to check it for you. :)

Carnitine is found in alot of products, including: dairy products, such as cheese and milk; red meat, such as beef and lamb; chicken, turkey, fish, leafy green vegetables, cereals, avocados, apples, nuts and bananas. I would suggest eating more of these foods as well as taking a good supplement.

Did he indicate if the deficiency was behind your symptoms?

Carnitine is often helpful for DNA type damage to mitochondria, by drugs (often Chemo or antibiotics etc) or toxins.

Taken as a supplement in doses higher than that found in food it helps facilitate using fatty acids instead of glucose for energy production.

No not yet. I see him next Monday. I did read that symptoms of it are muscle pain, severe fatigue and muscle weakness and polyneuropathy. I'll let you know after I see him.

Carnitine is over the counter and it is thought that acetyl carnitine is better than l-carnitine.

It is really easy to tolerate with few if any side effects.
GI side effects only occur in the high dosage ranges.

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supple...YL-L-CARNITINE

The HIV community has been using acetyl carnitine for over a decade because their antiviral drugs tend to deplete this.

Also the drug Depakote, depletes carnitine over time.