Plasma carnitine is associated with fatigue in chronic hepatitis C but not in the irritable bowel syndrome

• Published in: Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics 2011-04, Vol.33 (8), p.961-968
• Main Authors: Anty, R., Marjoux, S., Bekri, S., DeGalleani, L., Dainese, R., Gelsi, E., Cherikh, F., Tran, A., Piche, T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Body Composition - physiology; Carnitine - blood; Case-Control Studies; Digestive system; Electric Impedance; Fatigue - blood; Fatigue - complications; Fatigue - physiopathology; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Hepatitis C virus; Hepatitis C, Chronic - blood; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - blood; Leptin - blood; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Other diseases. Semiology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Quality of Life - psychology; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Surveys and Questionnaires; Viral diseases; Viral hepatitis
• ISSN: 0269-2813; 1365-2036
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2011.04608.x

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2011; 33: 961–968 Summary Background  Fatigue is an important determinant of altered quality of life in patients affected by chronic hepatitis C or the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Aim  In this study, we aimed at determining the contributory role of plasma levels of leptin and carnitine on fatigue in chronic hepatitis C and IBS. Methods  We enrolled 81 patients with chronic hepatitis C, 42 with IBS and 44 healthy subjects. Fatigue was evaluated using the Fatigue Impact Scale questionnaire. Body composition was assessed through impedance analysis. Plasma carnitine and leptin were measured. Results  Fatigue scores were significantly more elevated in patients with chronic hepatitis C and IBS than in healthy subjects. Patients with chronic hepatitis C but not IBS, had significant lower plasma levels of total and free carnitine adjusted for fat mass compared with healthy subjects. In patients with chronic hepatitis C and not with IBS, fatigue scores were negatively correlated with plasma levels of carnitine. Levels of free carnitine were significantly and independently associated with the severity of fatigue in patients with chronic hepatitis C [OR = 2.019, P = 0.02, CI 95% (1.01–1.23)]. Conclusions  In patients with chronic hepatitis C, the severity of fatigue is associated with a low level of carnitine, suggesting that an oral supplementation may be effective to relieve fatigue in chronic hepatitis C. The underlying mechanism of fatigue in IBS does not seem to involve carnitine.