title: 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.
  
  
  METHODS
  Placebo-controlled double-blind randomized trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  University tertiary referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  Variation in the semen parameters that were used for patient selection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.affiliation: Department of Medical Physiopathology, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy. andrea.lenzi@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lenzi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sgrò
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salacone
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paoli
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gilio
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santulli
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gandini
mesh_terms: D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D002331:Carnitine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010919:Placebos; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D000108:Acetylcarnitine; D002331:Carnitine