Summary
| Direction in Gulf War Illness | ↑ Elevated — higher than in the comparison group |
|---|---|
| Category | Metabolic |
| Also described as | Fatty acid oxidation — ME/CFS overlap |
| Compared against | HGV (healthy Gulf War veteran controls) |
| Associated symptoms | Fatigue, mitochondrial dysfunction |
| Test type | Blood test (serum / plasma / whole blood) |
| Source | Gean et al. 2021 — doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119456 |
| Condition atlas | Gulf War Illness Biomarker Atlas |
Other conditions where Acylcarnitines (composite) is reported
- Acylcarnitines (composite) in ME/CFS — ↑ elevated vs HC
See the cross-condition hub: Acylcarnitines (composite) across conditions.
Trials, interventions and tests
Also sold as a nutrient or supplement
L-Carnitine / Acylcarnitines (supplement). Includes ALCAR and acylcarnitine complexes. This tag means the analyte is also available orally; it is not a product endorsement and a low or high level does not by itself justify supplementation.
Related Metabolic markers in Gulf War Illness
- Lactate ↑
- Vitamin D (25-OH) ↕
- Coenzyme Q10 ↓
- 8-isoprostane ↑
- GSH:GSSG ratio ↓
- Glutathione (GSH) ↓
- Homocysteine ↑
Full list: Gulf War Illness Biomarker Atlas.
Frequently asked questions
Is Acylcarnitines high or low in Gulf War Illness?
Elevated. Studies summarised in the OSMF atlas report higher Acylcarnitines in Gulf War Illness than in healthy Gulf War veteran controls. Source: Gean et al. 2021.
What symptoms is Acylcarnitines associated with in Gulf War Illness?
The cited literature associates this marker with Fatigue, mitochondrial dysfunction. These are population-level associations and do not mean the marker causes the symptoms.
Which test measures Acylcarnitines?
It is measured as a blood test (serum / plasma / whole blood). Many of the cited studies used research-grade assays, so clinical availability may vary.
Is one abnormal Acylcarnitines result diagnostic of Gulf War Illness?
No. No single biomarker is diagnostic of Gulf War Illness. Acylcarnitines findings come from group comparisons, overlap considerably between patients and controls, and vary with study design, timing and comparison group. A result should be interpreted by a clinician alongside symptoms, history and other tests.
Is Acylcarnitines specific to Gulf War Illness?
No. The same marker is also reported in ME/CFS in this atlas, so it reflects shared biology (for example inflammation or vascular stress) rather than a condition-specific signature.
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-29 · Page generated from gulf-war-illness.json · Browse: Gulf War Illness atlas · Biomarker Index · All marker pages
Disclaimer: This page is an educational synthesis of published, peer-reviewed research and is not medical advice. Biomarker findings vary across studies with case definitions, comparison groups, timing and assay methods. Direction of change reflects the predominant finding in the cited source and does not establish a diagnostic threshold. Discuss any test result with a qualified clinician.