Disturbed carnitine regulation in chronic heart failure--increased plasma levels of palmitoyl-carnitine are associated with poor prognosis.

Background/objectives: Heart failure is characterized by disturbed energy metabolism and impaired mitochondrial function. L-carnitine plays a critical role in fatty acid transport into the mitochondria and may thus influence inflammation and myocardial function. The aim of this study was to investigate carnitine metabolism in relation to progression of heart failure (HF).