title: Safety and efficacy of clomiphene citrate and L-carnitine in idiopathic male infertility: a comparative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effects of L-carnitine with clomiphene citrate in idiopathic infertile men.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two men with idiopathic infertility were recruited in this randomized controlled trial. They were randomly assigned into 2 treatment groups, group 1 (n = 20) and group 2 (n = 32), who received L-carnitine 25 mg/day and clomiphene citrate 2 gr/day, respectively, for a period of 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparing the effect of L-carnitine and clomiphene on sperm parameters before and after the treatment, both medications had influence on sperm count and motility (P = .01). L-carnitine significantly increased the semen volume (P = .001), while clomiphene citrate was significantly associated with the motility percentage and normal morphology (P = .008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It seems that the use of clomiphene citrate and L-carnitine, either individually or in combination, as the first step of idiopathic male infertility treatment is reasonable, safe, and effective.
authors.affiliation: Fertility-Infertility Research Center, Urology and Nephrology Research Center, Imam Reza Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran. drmrmoradi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mahmoudreza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moradi
authors.forename: Asaad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moradi
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alemi
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahmadnia
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abdi
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmadi
authors.forename: Shahrzad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bazargan-Hejazi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002996:Clomiphene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D002996:Clomiphene; D002331:Carnitine