Total, Free, Short-Chain and Long-Chain Acyl Carnitine Levels in Arabian Camel Milk <i>(Camelus dromedarius)</i>

Abstract

The total, free, short-chain acyl and long-chain acyl carnitine levels were measured in milk of the Arabian camel (Cαmelus dromedarius). Significant variation in carnitine concentrations were observed in milk of the camel when compared with other mammalian milk species. The result shows that Arabian camel milk possesses a higher than usual concentration of the average percent contribution of free carnitine to total carnitine that is found in most mammalian milk species. A higher proportion of total carnitine was found in camel milk when compared with cow, human milk and milk formulas, however, it is lower when compared with sheep and goat milk. The higher carnitine content and a higher proportion of total carnitine in milk of the Arabian camel suggest an adaptive mechanism that could be common to desert mammalian species.

A Comparative Study of Erythrocytic Total, Free, Short-chain Acyl and Long-chain Acyl Carnitine Concentrations in Arabian Camel (Camelus dromedarius) with Different Species

“…The results of the current study are consistent with our previous investigation that there were significant differences in carnitine concentrations in the Arabian camel when compared to those species (Alhomida et al 1995a(Alhomida et al , 1996bAlhomida 1996). Significant variation in carnitine concentrations were observed in plasma and tissues of the camel when compared to other species.…”

“…Nevertheless, in the camel it is higher when compared to other species but lower than in humans (Alhomida et al 1995a). Furthermore, it has been reported that a significant variation in carnitine concentrations was observed in milk of the camel when compared to other mammalian milk species (Alhomida 1996). The results showed that a higher proportion of total carnitine was found in camel milk when compared to cow, human milk, milk formulas, however, it is lower when compared to sheep and goat milk (Alhomida 1996).…”

“…Furthermore, it has been reported that a significant variation in carnitine concentrations was observed in milk of the camel when compared to other mammalian milk species (Alhomida 1996). The results showed that a higher proportion of total carnitine was found in camel milk when compared to cow, human milk, milk formulas, however, it is lower when compared to sheep and goat milk (Alhomida 1996). It has been suggested that the ratio of AC/FC may provide a useful marker of changes in carnitine metabolism (Winter et al 1990).…”

“…Carnitine involvement in energy metabolism has been extensively studied in tissues such as liver (Hulse and Henderson 1980), skeletal muscle (Cederblad et al 1976), heart (Bahl et al 1981), kidney (Huth and Shug 1980), brain (Natecz and Natecz, 1996), serum , lymphocytes (Alhomida 2000), urine (Al-Kholaifi and Alhomida 1999), milk (Alhomida 1996) and sperm (Golan et al 1984). A study in our laboratory showed that the concentrations of carnitine in the Arabian camel tissues are higher than in most other species and a higher proportion of acyl carnitine compared to free carnitine exists in plasma and skeletal muscle (Alhomida et al 1995a).…”

Investigation of the effect of theophylline administration on total, free, short-chain acyl and long-chain acyl carnitine distributions in rat renal tissues

“…Total acid-soluble (TS) and FC carnitine concentrations were estimated as described previously, 21 whereas total (TC), short-(SC), longchain acyl (LC) and acyl (AC) carnitine levels were determined as described previously 19,20 with slight modi®cation for use in the current study. Brie¯y, for FC estimation 1 ml of PCA extract was carefully neutralized with 1 M KOH.…”