Carnitine levels in patients with skeletal myopathy due to anorexia nervosa before and after refeeding.

Objective: To assess the role of carnitine in the skeletal myopathy present in anorexia nervosa.

Methods: Serum levels of free and total carnitine were measured in a group of severely underweight women with anorexia nervosa and skeletal myopathy before and after an inpatient refeeding program.

Results: Carnitine levels were within the reference range before refeeding and remained unchanged despite significant weight gain in all the subjects.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that carnitine plays no part in the muscle weakness seen in severe anorexia nervosa.