The protective effect of L-carnitine supplementation on retinopathy of prematurity: A retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Background/Aim: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is important morbidity in premature infants and is the most common preventable cause of blindness in childhood. Carnitine is a key molecule in energy metabolism and in oxidation of fatty acids, which are the main structural component of phospholipid membrane of the brain and retinal cells. Premature babies are born with insufficient carnitine pools. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of carnitine replacement on ROP in premature infants aged