Enzymatic Evaluation of the Biological Demand for L-Carnitine and its supply from de novo Synthesis and Diet of Swine

North Carolina State University Swine Nutrition Research from 2004-2005. Research has not yet determined when
-butyrobetaine hydroxylase levels reach adult levels in the pig, or whether the activity of the enzyme in the liver and kidney is age dependent. Therefore, it is unknown when de novo synthesis of carnitine begins to sufficiently meet the carnitine needs of the pig. To evaluate the supply and demand of L-carnitine for CPT I at various stages of development, and in various tissues by determining the enzyme activities of CPT and
-butyrobetaine hydroxylase, the effect of age on the regulation of key enzymes involved in the synthesis of L-carnitine and its requirement were investigated.