Things that depletes carnitine are genetic disorders, dietary factors, certain medical conditions, certain medications and even pregnancy and burn injuries.
Extensive burns can result in significant carnitine loss and your carnitine requirements increase during pregnancy which can lead to a depletion of carnitine.
Certain antibiotics like pivampicillin and Valproic acid, an anti-seizure medication and deplete carnitine.
Carnitine is also excreted in the urine and kidney disease or kidney damage can result in excessive loss of carnitine and liver damage and liver disease can also impair the production of carnitine and certain types of seizures can deplete carnitine levels and disorders such as Mitochondrial disorders affect the mitochondria, which are the organelles that are responsible for carnitine uptake.
Inadequate intake of carnitine rich foods like meat, fish, poultry and dairy products and even malnutrition and or vegetarianism can deplete carnitine.
And fatty acid disorders affect the breakdown of fatty acids, which lead to a decrease in production of carnitine and even primary carnitine deficiency that is caused by mutations in genes that are responsible for carnitine transport or synthesis can result in depletion of carnitine.
The symptoms of a carnitine deficiency are irritability, poor feeding in infants, growth failure in children and infants, delayed motor development, exercise intolerance, muscle weakness and fatigue.
Carnitine deficiency happens when the body has low levels of carnitine.
Carnitine is an essential nutrient that the body needs for energy production.
Other symptoms that can occur with a carnitine deficiency are hypoglycemia which is low blood sugar, Hepatomegaly which is an enlarged liver, Cardiomyopathy which is heart muscle disease and coma and seizures.
Some other specific symptoms of carnitine deficiency in newborns are failure to thrive, Anemia and respiratory problems.
Other specific symptoms of carnitine deficiency in adults are muscle aches, joint pain and increased risk of infections and liver damage.
Some people with a carnitine deficiency don't have any symptoms or may only have mild symptoms.
If you have any of the above symptoms or a child or baby has any symptoms of a carnitine deficiency you should see a doctor about the issue.
Carnitine deficiency can be a serious condition which requires prompt diagnosis and prompt treatment.
If the carnitine deficiency is confined to the muscles it causes weakness in the hips, shoulders and upper arms and legs and the neck and jaw muscles also may be weak and heart muscle weakness can also occur.
Carnitine also interacts with pivalate-conjugated antibiotics, such as pivampicillin, that are used to prevent urinary tract infections.
Chronic administration of these antibiotics can lead to carnitine depletion as well.