title: [A controlled randomized trial of the use of combined L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine treatment in men with oligoasthenozoospermia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the efficacy and safety of combined L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine therapy in infertile males with oligoasthenozoospermia.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred fifty patients with oligoasthenozoospermia were randomized selected into treatment and control groups. The treatment group with 90 patients were given L-carnitine (2 g/d) and acetyl-L-carnitine (1 g/d) orally, twice a day. The patients in control group were given Vitamin E 100 mg plus Vitamin C 100 mg, tid. The oral therapy lasted three months and patients accepted sperm analysis every one month. The L-carnitine level in seminal plasma was examined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPC). Side effects as well as pregnant rate were observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the treatment group, 85 patients out of 90 finished the three month treatment. Female spouses of 10 patients (11.6%) achieved pregnancy. Moreover, their forward motile sperm per ejaculation, total motile sperm, as well as the concentration of L-carnitine in seminal plasma were increased significantly (P < 0.01). In control group, 53 patients out of 60 completed three months therapy. Two pregnancy (3.7%) was observed. Though some increase was seen in number of forward motile sperm and total motile sperm per ejaculation, the changes were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The difference of the pregnant rate between two groups was statistically significant. No side effects were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined treatment with L-carnitine and acetyl-L-calmitine can be an effective and safe option for treating oligoasthenozoospermia by means of significantly improving forward motile sperm and total motile sperm per ejaculation, as well as increasing pregnant rates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Renji Hospital of Shanghai Second Medical Univesity, Shanghai 200001, China. lizhengboshi@163.com
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Guo-wu
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xue-jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.forename: Wen-jun
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Yin-fa
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiao-ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.forename: Fan-hui
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: De-ning
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ji-hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xin-min
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Xiao-rong
authors.initials: XR
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiao-bin
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Yi-xin
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate
chemical_list: D000108:Acetylcarnitine; D002331:Carnitine