title: [Clinical efficacy of combined L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine on idiopathic asthenospermia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical efficacy of combined L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine on idiopathic asthenospermia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients with idiopathic asthenospermia were treated by combined L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine for 3 months after failure to respond to the integrated therapy of Chinese and Western medicine. Semen samples were obtained, analyzed and graded according to the WHO laboratory manual before and after the treatment. Twenty-five of the patients completed the whole study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Combined L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine statistically improved the sperm vitality (24.89 +/- 12.28)%, grade a + b sperm motility (16.04 +/- 8.33)% and the total sperm count per ejaculate (76.79 +/- 43.14) x 10(6), with a significant difference from pre-treatment (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine has a supplementary effect in the treatment of idiopathic asthenospermia and improves the semen quality of the patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Andrology, International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China. lilych@online.sh.cn
authors.forename: Huai-Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D053627:Asthenozoospermia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000108:Acetylcarnitine