Coenzyme Q10 treatment in infertile men with idiopathic asthenozoospermia: a placebo-controlled, double-blind randomized trial.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of coenzyme Q(10) treatment in improving semen quality in men with idiopathic infertility.


METHODS
Placebo-controlled, double-blind randomized trial.


METHODS
Andrology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, Italy.


METHODS
Sixty infertile patients (27-39 years of age) with the following baseline sperm selection criteria: concentration >20 x 10(6)/mL, sperm forward motility <50%, and normal sperm morphology >30%; 55 patients completed the study.


METHODS
Patients underwent double-blind therapy with coenzyme Q(10), 200 mg/day, or placebo; the study design was 1 month of run-in, 6 months of therapy or placebo, and 3 months of follow-up.


METHODS
Variations in semen parameters used for patient selection and variations of coenzyme Q(10) and ubiquinol concentrations in seminal plasma and spermatozoa.


RESULTS
Coenzyme Q(10) and ubiquinol increased significantly in both seminal plasma and sperm cells after treatment, as well as spermatozoa motility. A weak linear dependence among the relative variations, baseline and after treatment, of seminal plasma or intracellular coenzyme Q(10) and ubiquinol levels and kinetic parameters was found in the treated group. Patients with a lower baseline value of motility and levels of coenzyme Q(10) had a statistically significant higher probability to be responders to the treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The exogenous administration of coenzyme Q(10) increases the level of the same and ubiquinol in semen and is effective in improving sperm kinetic features in patients affected by idiopathic asthenozoospermia.
Balercia
Giancarlo
G
Department of Internal Medicine and Applied Biotechnologies, Andrology Unit, Endocrinology, Umberto I Hospital, School of Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy. g.balercia@ao-umbertoprimo.marche.it
Buldreghini
Eddi
E
Vignini
Arianna
A
Tiano
Luca
L
Paggi
Francesca
F
Amoroso
Salvatore
S
Ricciardo-Lamonica
Giuseppe
G
Boscaro
Marco
M
Lenzi
Andrea
A
Littarru
GianPaolo
G
D000328:Adult; D053627:Asthenozoospermia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014451:Ubiquinone