Gender and age differences in plasma carnitine, muscle strength, and exercise tolerance in haemodialysis patients.

Background: Haemodialysis patients have impaired exercise tolerance that may be related to impaired carnitine availability and/or alterations in carnitine metabolism. As carnitine metabolism is sex- and age-related, we examined plasma free and esterified carnitine concentrations, muscle strength, and estimated exercise tolerance in female (n=51) and male (n=63) patients of different ages (18-86 years).

Methods: Concentrations of free carnitine and acetylcarnitine were determined in the plasma of patients.