Oral carnitine supplementation increases sperm motility in asthenozoospermic men with normal sperm phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase levels

Garolla, Andrea; Maiorino, Matilde; Roverato, Alberto; Roveri, Antonella; Ursini, Fulvio; Foresta, Carlo

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2004.10.010

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Volume 83, Issue 2 , Pages 355-361, February 2005

Oral carnitine supplementation increases sperm motility in asthenozoospermic men with normal sperm phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase levels

Andrea Garolla, Ph.D.
- Histology, Microbiology and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
Matilde Maiorino, Ph.D.
- Biological Chemistry, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
Alberto Roverato, Ph.D.
- Department of Social, Cognitive and Quantitative Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
Antonella Roveri, Ph.D.
- Biological Chemistry, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
Fulvio Ursini, Ph.D.
- Biological Chemistry, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
Carlo Foresta, Ph.D.
- Histology, Microbiology and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Reprint requests: Carlo Fresta, Ph.D., Center for Male Gametes Cryopreservation, Via Modena 9, Padova I-35128, Italy (FAX: 39-49-8213222

Received 7 August 2002; received in revised form 21 February 2003; accepted 21 February 2003.

Objective

To clarify the role of carnitine supplementation in idiopathic asthenozoospermia and to look for a rationale for its use in asthenozoospermic patients.

Design

Blind clinical study.

Setting

Academic.

Patient(s)

Thirty asthenozoospermic patients divided in two groups according to phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) levels.

Intervention(s)

Placebo for 3 months, then oral L-carnitine (2 g/day) for 3 months; semen samples were collected at baseline, after placebo, after carnitine administration, and again after 3 months with no drugs.

Main outcome measure(s)

Evaluation of seminal parameters and determination of seminal PHGPx levels, measured as rescued activity.

Result(s)

When asthenozoospermic subjects were divided in two groups on the basis of PHGPx levels, we observed an improvement of mean sperm motility only in the group of patients with normal PHGPx levels.

Conclusion(s)

Phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase has an important role in male infertility, and carnitine treatment might improve sperm motility in the presence of normal mitochondrial function.

Key words: Asthenozoospermia , carnitine , mitochondrial function , phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase , sperm motility