Depression linked to low blood levels of acetyl-L-carnitine

In the latest study, the scientists measured levels of LAC (acetyl-L-carnitine) in blood samples taken from people diagnosed with MDD. They found that levels were significantly decreased in these patients, as compared to age-matched individuals without depression. Additional analysis revealed that patients with very low LAC exhibited more severe depression and were more likely to develop MDD early in life. Finally, the researchers found that decreased LAC was associated with having a history of childhood trauma and treatment-resistant depression, particularly in women.

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Carla Nasca, Benedetta Bigio, Francis S. Lee, Sarah P. Young, Marin M. Kautz, Ashly Albright, James Beasley, David S. Millington, Aleksander A. Mathé, James H. Kocsis, James W. Murrough, Bruce S. McEwen, Natalie Rasgon. Acetyl-l-carnitine deficiency in patients with major depressive disorder. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2018; 201801609 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1801609115