Fertility and Sterility
Volume 81, Issue 6 , Pages 1578-1584 , June 2004

A placebo-controlled double-blind randomized trial of the use of combined l-carnitine and l-acetyl-carnitine treatment in men with asthenozoospermia

  • Andrea Lenzi, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Seminology and Reproductive Immunology Unit, Training Center in Andrology of the European Academy of Andrology, Department of Medical Physiopathology, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Andrea Lenzi, M.D., Laboratory of Seminology and Reproductive Immunology, Andrology Unit, Department of Medical Physiopathology, University of Rome “La Sapienza,” Policlinico Umberto I–00161 Rome, Italy (FAX: 39-06-4469663)
    • ,
  • Paolo Sgrò, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Seminology and Reproductive Immunology Unit, Training Center in Andrology of the European Academy of Andrology, Department of Medical Physiopathology, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
    • ,
  • Pietro Salacone, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Seminology and Reproductive Immunology Unit, Training Center in Andrology of the European Academy of Andrology, Department of Medical Physiopathology, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
    • ,
  • Donatella Paoli, B.Sc.

      Affiliations

    • Seminology and Reproductive Immunology Unit, Training Center in Andrology of the European Academy of Andrology, Department of Medical Physiopathology, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
    • ,
  • Barbara Gilio, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Seminology and Reproductive Immunology Unit, Training Center in Andrology of the European Academy of Andrology, Department of Medical Physiopathology, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
    • ,
  • Francesco Lombardo, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Seminology and Reproductive Immunology Unit, Training Center in Andrology of the European Academy of Andrology, Department of Medical Physiopathology, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
    • ,
  • Maria Santulli, B.Sc.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Cell Biotechnology and Hematology, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
    • ,
  • Ashok Agarwal, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Center for Advanced Research in Human Reproduction, Infertility, and Sexual Function, Urological Institute, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
    • ,
  • Loredana Gandini, B.Sc.

      Affiliations

    • Seminology and Reproductive Immunology Unit, Training Center in Andrology of the European Academy of Andrology, Department of Medical Physiopathology, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy

Received 23 July 2003 ,Revised 22 October 2003 ,Accepted 22 October 2003.

References 

  1. Bremer J. Carnitine—metabolism and functions. Physiol Rev. 1983;63:1420–1480
  2. Jeulin C, Lewin LM. Role of free l-carnitine and acetyl-l-carnitine in post-gonadal maturation of mammalian spermatozoa. Hum Reprod Update. 1996;2:87–102
  3. Jeulin C, Dacheux JL, Soufir JC. Uptake and release of free l-carnitine by boar epididymal spermatozoa in vitro and subsequent acetylation rate. J Reprod Fertil. 1994;100:263–271
  4. Arduini A. Carnitine and its acyl esters as secondary antioxidants?. Am Heart J. 1992;123:1726–1727
  5. Peluso G, Nicolai R, Reda E, Benatti P, Barbarisi A, Calvani M. Cancer and anti-cancer therapy induced modifications on metabolism mediated carnitine system. J Cell Physiol. 2000;182:339–350
  6. Bohmer T, Johansen L. Carnitine-binding related suppressed oxygen uptake by spermatozoa. Arch Androl. 1978;1:321–324
  7. Radigue C, Es-Slami S, Soufir JC. Relationship of carnitine transport across the epididymis to blood carnitine and androgens in rats. Arch Androl. 1996;37:27–31
  8. Enomoto A, Wempe MF, Tsuchida H, Shin HJ, Cha SH, Anzai N, et al.  Molecular identification of a novel carnitine transporter specific to human testis. J Biol Chem. 2002;39:36262–36271
  9. Costa M, Canale D, Filicori M, D'Iddio S, Lenzi A. l-carnitine in idiopathic asthenozoospermia, a multicenter study. Andrologia. 1994;26:155–159
  10. Vicari E, Calogero AE. Effects of treatment with carnitines in infertile patients with prostato-vesiculo-epididymitis. Hum Reprod. 2001;16:2338–2342
  11. Lenzi A, Lombardo F, Sgrò P, Salacone P, Caponecchia L, Dondero F, et al.  Use of carnitine therapy in selected cases of male factor infertility (a double-blind crossover trial). Fertil Steril. 2003;79:292–300
  12. Vicari E, La Vignera S, Calogero AE. Antioxidant treatment with carnitines is effective in infertile patients with prostato-vesiculo-epididymitis and elevated seminal leukocyte concentrations after treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory compounds. Fertil Steril. 2002;78:1203–1208
  13. World Health Organization . Laboratory manual for the examination of human semen and semen-cervical mucus interaction. 4th ed. New York: Cambridge University Press; 1999;
  14. Soufir JC, Marson J, Jouannet P. Free l-carnitine in human seminal plasma. Int J Androl. 1981;4:388–397
  15. Aitken RJ, Clarkson JS, Fishel S. Generation of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation and human sperm function. Biol Reprod. 1989;40:183–187
  16. Gandini L, Menditto A, Chiodo F, Lenzi A. Italian pilot study for an external quality control scheme in semen analysis and antisperm antibodies detection. Int J Androl. 2000;23:1–3
  17. Dondero F, Gandini L, Lombardo F, Salacone P, Caponecchia L, Lenzi A. Antisperm antibody detection, 1. Methods and standard protocol. Am J Reprod Immunol. 1997;38:218–223

☆ Supported by the Italian Ministry of University and Research, the University of Rome “La Sapienza,” and the Rome University Hospital of the Faculty of Medicine through grants from Sigma Tau srl (Pomezia–Italy).

PII: S0015-0282(04)00209-2

doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2003.10.034

Fertility and Sterility
Volume 81, Issue 6 , Pages 1578-1584 , June 2004

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