A placebo-controlled double-blind randomized trial of the use of combined l-carnitine and l-acetyl-carnitine treatment in men with asthenozoospermia.
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.
Lenzi
Andrea
A
Department of Medical Physiopathology, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy. andrea.lenzi@uniroma1.it
Sgrò
Paolo
P
Salacone
Pietro
P
Paoli
Donatella
D
Gilio
Barbara
B
Lombardo
Francesco
F
Santulli
Maria
M
Agarwal
Ashok
A
Gandini
Loredana
L
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
D010919:Placebos; D000108:Acetylcarnitine; D002331:Carnitine