A placebo-controlled double-blind randomized trial of the use of combined l-carnitine and l-acetyl-carnitine treatment in men with asthenozoospermia.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the efficacy of combined l-carnitine and l-acetyl-carnitine therapy in infertile males with oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia.

DESIGN:

Placebo-controlled double-blind randomized trial.

SETTING:

University tertiary referral center.

PATIENT(S):

Sixty infertile patients (aged 20-40 years) with the following baseline sperm selection criteria: concentration, 10 to 40 x 10(6)/mL; forward motility, <15%; total motility, 10% to 40%; and atypical forms, <80%. Fifty-six patients completed the study.

INTERVENTION(S):

Patients were submitted to a combined treatment of l-carnitine (2 g/d) and l-acetyl-carnitine (1 g/d) or of placebo; the study design was 2 months' wash-out, 6 months of therapy or of placebo, and 2 months' follow-up.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S):

Variation in the semen parameters that were used for patient selection.

RESULT(S):

Even though increases were seen in all sperm parameters after combined carnitine treatment, the most significant improvement in sperm motility (both forward and total) was present in patients who had lower initial absolute values of motile sperm (<4 x 10(6) forward or <5 x 10(6) total motile spermatozoa per ejaculate).

CONCLUSION(S):

Combined treatment with l-carnitine and l-acetyl-carnitine in a controlled study of efficacy was effective in increasing sperm motility, especially in groups with lower baseline levels.

• Authors: Andrea Lenzi, Paolo Sgrò, Pietro Salacone, Donatella Paoli, Barbara Gilio, Francesco Lombardo, Maria Santulli, Ashok Agarwal, Loredana Gandini
• Journal: Fertility and sterility (Fertil Steril) Vol. 81 Issue 6 Pg. 1578-84 (Jun 2004) ISSN: 0015-0282 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15193480 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Placebos
• Acetylcarnitine
• Carnitine

Topics

• Acetylcarnitine (therapeutic use)
• Adult
• Carnitine (therapeutic use)
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Humans
• Male
• Oligospermia (drug therapy, pathology, physiopathology)
• Placebos
• Sperm Motility (drug effects)
• Spermatozoa (pathology)
• Treatment Outcome