Is Levocarnitine safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what NIH LactMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's authority on medicines and breastfeeding, reports about Levocarnitine. This is a summary of that source — not our own verdict.
Effects on the breastfed infant
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Levels in milk
Levocarnitine and acetlycarnitine are normal components of breastmilk, and are transported into milk via organic cation transporters.[ 3 ] As of the revision date, no published information was found regarding breastmilk levels following levocarnitine used as a dietary supplement by nursing mothers. Maternal Levels. A woman diagnosed with carnitine uptake deficiency following the birth of her infant was given oral carnitine 500 mg 3 times daily. This dose failed to increase her breastmilk carnitine concentration, with a persistently low concentration of 3.4 mg/L (21 micromoles/L) before supplementation and after 18 days of supplementation.[ 1 ] The carnitine concentration was measured in the breastmilk of 27 normal mothers who were not taking carnitine as a supplement. Average carnitine concentrations were 10.1 mg/L over the first 21 days postpartum, which was higher than the maternal serum concentration. The concentration decreased by about 50% by postpartum days 40 to 50. No difference in concentration was found between fore- and hindmilk.[ 4 ] Another study in normal mothers found a similar average carnitine concentration of 10.6 mg/L.[ 5 ] In a study that followed 37 healthy, nonsmoking mothers who were not taking carnitine as a supplement, carnitine and acetylcarnitine in breastmilk were measured over time. Immediately postpartum, the average milk carnitine concentration was 12.6 mg/L and acetylcarnitine was 5.7 mg/L. From 2 months postpartum to 12 months postpartum, carnitine and acetylcarnitine milk concentrations were lower, in the range of 6.1 to 8.9 mg/L for carnitine and 1.2 to 2 mg/L for acetylcarnitine.[ 6 ] Ten mothers of full-term infants and mothers of preterm infants (36 weeks gestation or less) provided blood and milk samples for measurement of carnitine at 4 times during the first month postpartum. None were taking carnitine as a supplement. In the mothers of full-term infants, total breastmilk carnitine averaged 11.7 mg/L at 2 to 3 days postpartum
Source: NIH LactMed (National Library of Medicine).
Educational summary of an authoritative source — not medical advice. Never start, stop, or change a medicine while breastfeeding without confirming with your doctor.