A recent study by the University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital shows that carnitine intake in the first postnatal weeks promotes better growth and larger brain size at term equivalent age in very preterm infants. Carnitine intake from breast milk in particular seems to be associated with better growth. The findings were published in Nutrients.
Carnitine is a compound similar to amino acids, and its primary function in the body is to transport long-chain fatty acids to the cell powerhouse mitochondria for energy production. In addition, earlier studies have suggested that carnitine may also be involved in nervous system development. Carnitine is both obtained from nutrition and produced by the body. In preterm infants, the main sources of carnitine are breast milk and infant formulae containing carnitine.
Very preterm infants have an increased risk for developing…
