Carnitine levels in patients with skeletal myopathy due to anorexia nervosa before and after refeeding.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the role of carnitine in the skeletal myopathy present in anorexia nervosa.

METHOD: Serum levels of free and total carnitine were measured in a group of severely underweight women with anorexia nervosa and skeletal myopathy before and after an inpatient refeeding program.

RESULTS

Carnitine levels were within the reference range before refeeding and remained unchanged despite significant weight gain in all the subjects.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that carnitine plays no part in the muscle weakness seen in severe anorexia nervosa.