Fertility and Sterility
Volume 85, Issue 5 , Pages 1409-1414 , May 2006

Carnitine for the treatment of idiopathic asthenospermia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Presented at the 59th annual meeting of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, San Antonio, Texas, October 11–15, 2003.

  • Mark Sigman, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Division of Urology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Mark Sigman, M.D., Division of Urology, Suite 174, 2 Dudley Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02905 (FAX: 401-444-6947)
    • ,
  • Stacy Glass, R.N.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Urology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
    • ,
  • Janice Campagnone, M.S.

      Affiliations

    • Division of Urology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
    • ,
  • Jon L. Pryor, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Urology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Received 21 February 2005 ,Revised 25 October 2005 ,Accepted 25 October 2005.

References 

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  2. Zopfgen A , Priem F , Sudhoff F , Jung K , Lenk S , Loening SA , et al.   Relationship between semen quality and the seminal plasma components carnitine, alpha-glucosidase, fructose, citrate and granulocyte elastase in infertile men compared with a normal population . Hum Reprod . 2000;15:840–845
  3. Lewin LM , Beer R , Lunenfeld B . Epididymis and seminal vesicle as sources of carnitine in human seminal fluid (the clinical significance of the carnitine concentration in human seminal fluid) . Fertil Steril . 1976;27:9–13
  4. Menchini-Fabris GF , Canale D , Izzo PL , Olivieri L , Bartelloni M . Free L-carnitine in human semen (its variability in different andrologic pathologies) . Fertil Steril . 1984;42:263–267
  5. Bartellini M , Canale D , Izzo PL , Giorgi PM , Meschini P , Mechini-Fabris GF . L-carnitine and acetylcarnitine in human sperm with normal and reduced motility . Acta Eur Fertil . 1987;18:29–31
  6. Campaniello E , Petrarolo N , Meriffiola MC , Valdiserri A , Pareschi A , Ucci N , et al.   Carnitine administration in asthenospermia . IV International Congress of Andrology . 1989;18:14; May 14–18
  7. Moncada ML , Vicari E , Cimino C , Calogero AE , Mongioi A , D’Agata R . Effect of acetylcarnitine treatment in oligoasthenospermic patients . Acta Eur Fertil . 1992;23:221–224
  8. Arnaud A , Schved JF , Gris JC , Costa P , Navratil H , Humeau C . Tissue-type plasminogen activator level is decreased in human seminal plasma with abnormal liquefaction . Fertil Steril . 1994;61:741–745
  9. Vitali G , Parente R , Melotti C . Carnitine supplementation in human idiopathic asthenospermia (clinical results) . Drugs Exp Clin Res . 1995;21:157–159
  10. Longo A , Bruno G , Curti S , Mancinelli A , Miotto G . Determination of L-carnitine, acetyl-L-carnitine and propionyl-L-carnitine in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography after pre-column derivatization with 1-aminoanthracene . J Chromatogr B Biomed Appl . 1996;686:129–139
  11. WHO laboratory manual for the examination of human semen and sperm-cervical mucus interaction . New York: World Health Organization; 1999;
  12. Vaz FM , Wanders RJ . Carnitine biosynthesis in mammals . Biochem J . 2002;361:417–429
  13. Li B , Lloyd ML , Gudjonsson H , Shug AL , Olsen WA . The effect of enteral carnitine administration in humans . Am J Clin Nutr . 1992;55:838–845
  14. Stanley CA . New genetic defects in mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation and carnitine deficiency . Adv Pediatr . 1987;34:59–88
  15. Golan R , Soffer Y , Katz S , Weissenberg R , Wasserzug O , Lewin LM . Carnitine and short-chain acylcarnitines in the lumen of the human male reproductive tract . Int J Androl . 1983;6:349–357
  16. Golan R , Weissenberg R , Lewin LM . Carnitine and acetylcarnitine in motile and immotile human spermatozoa . Int J Androl . 1984;7:484–494
  17. Hinton BT , Brooks DE , Dott HM , Setchell BP . Effects of carnitine and some related compounds on the motility of rat spermatozoa from the caput epididymidis . J Reprod Fertil . 1981;61:59–64
  18. Tanphaichitr N . In vitro stimulation of human sperm motility by acetylcarnitine . Int J Fertil . 1977;22:85–91
  19. Bornman MS , Du TD , Otto B , Muller  , Hurter P , du Plessis DJ . Seminal carnitine, epididymal function and spermatozoal motility . S Afr Med J . 1989;75:20–21
  20. Costa M , Canale D , Filicori M , D’lddio S , Lenzi A  Italian Study Group on Carnitine and Male Infertility . L-Carnitine in idiopathic asthenozoospermia (a multicenter study) . Andrologia . 1994;26:155–159
  21. Lenzi A , Lombardo F , Sgro 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
  22. Lenzi A , Sgro P , Salacone P , Paoli D , Gilio B , Lombardo F , et al.   A placebo-controlled double-blind randomized trial of the use of combined L-carnitine and L-acetyl-carnitine treatment in men with asthenozoospermia . Fertil Steril . 2004;81:1578–1584
  23. Vicari E , Calogero AE . Effects of treatment with carnitines in infertile patients with prostato-vesiculo-epididymitis . Hum Reprod . 2001;16:2338–2342

 Financial support was provided by SDF Consultants, New York, New York.

PII: S0015-0282(06)00099-9

doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.10.055

Fertility and Sterility
Volume 85, Issue 5 , Pages 1409-1414 , May 2006

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