Question

I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use (+-)-Carnitine? Is (+-)-Carnitine safe for nursing mother and child? Does (+-)-Carnitine extracts into breast milk? Does (+-)-Carnitine has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can (+-)-Carnitine influence milk supply or can (+-)-Carnitine decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?

(+-)-Carnitine lactation summary

(+-)-Carnitine is safe in breastfeeding
  • DrLact safety Score for (+-)-Carnitine is 1 out of 8 which is considered Safe as per our analyses.
  • A safety Score of 1 indicates that usage of (+-)-Carnitine is mostly safe during lactation for breastfed baby.
  • Our study of different scientific research also indicates that (+-)-Carnitine does not cause any serious side effects in breastfeeding mothers.
  • Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of (+-)-Carnitine safe in breastfeeding are based on normal dosage and may not hold true for higher dosage.
  • Score calculated using the DrLact safety Version 1.2 model, this score ranges from 0 to 8 and measures overall safety of drug in lactation. Scores are primarily calculated using publicly available case studies, research papers, other scientific journals and publically available data.

Answer by Dr. Ru: About (+-)-Carnitine usage in lactation

Amino acid that is present in many foods, among them the milk. Indication is the treatment of Primary Deficiency of (+-)-Carnitine, or, Secondary Deficiency due to Hemolysis, Myocardiopathy and other diseases. Only Levo(+-)-Carnitine is effective as a supplement, with the consumption of D-(+-)-Carnitine regarded as a risk for deficiency. Normal levels in the milk are not modified by the consumption of supplements of (+-)-Carnitine. Mean concentration level within the first month is about 10 to 12 mg/L, with lower levels in the next following months. The supplementation with (+-)-Carnitine of the milk for premature infants does not improve their weight increment, with no proof of a beneficial effect.

Answer by DrLact: About (+-)-Carnitine usage in lactation

Levo(+-)-Carnitine and acetyl-l-(+-)-Carnitine (acetly(+-)-Carnitine) are normal components of human milk that are required for fat metabolism. The body can use only levo(+-)-Carnitine, and dextro(+-)-Carnitine can be an antagonist of levo(+-)-Carnitine. Acetyl-l-(+-)-Carnitine, and propionyl-l-(+-)-Carnitine can be converted to levo(+-)-Carnitine by the body. The bioavailability of levo(+-)-Carnitine is less than 20%, but acetyl(+-)-Carnitine and propionly(+-)-Carnitine may be higher. These substances have no specific lactation-related uses. Within the normal range of dietary intake, excretion of levo(+-)-Carnitine into breastmilk is relatively constant. Women with (+-)-Carnitine deficiency appear to secrete insufficient amounts of (+-)-Carnitine into their breastmilk for their breastfed infants, who may require levo(+-)-Carnitine supplementation.[1] Preterm infants are often deficient in levo(+-)-Carnitine and require supplementation.[2] No data exist on the safety and efficacy levo(+-)-Carnitine supplementation in nursing mothers or infants without (+-)-Carnitine deficiency. Levo(+-)-Carnitine and its derivatives are generally well tolerated in adults with occasional gastrointestinal upset and restlessness. A fishy odor to the breath, sweat and urine has been reported. Although data are very limited, poor bioavailability might limit absorption by the breastfed infant. It appears unlikely that maternal levo(+-)-Carnitine supplements during nursing would be harmful to the infant, but until more data are available, it is probably best to avoid levo(+-)-Carnitine supplementation unless it is prescribed by a healthcare professional. Pasteurization (method not stated) had little effect on the concentration of endogenous (+-)-Carnitine in one study. Pasteurization followed by refrigeration at 5 degrees C for 48 hours reduced the (+-)-Carnitine concentration by about 13%.[3]

Alternate Drugs for Aminoacids, Enzymes and other Alimentary tract and Metabolism products. ATC A09 & A16

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