Korean J Fertil Steril.  2004 Sep;31(3):177-182.

Nonspecific Empirical Medical Therapy with Acetylcarnitine Effective in Oligoasthenospermic Men?

• Kim JW
• Lee JS
• Park JS
• Kim WT
• Seo JT

Abstract

PURPOSE
To determine the efficacy of CarnitilR (acetylcarnitine, Hanmi, Korea) therapy in idiopathic oligoasthenospermic men.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Forty-four subfertile men with abnormal semen parameters were treated between March, 2003 and March, 2004 with 3 g of CarnitilR daily for 3 months. Changes in semen parameters were evaluated 3 months after this therapy.
RESULTS
The mean age was 34.2 years and the mean follow-up duration was 3.7 months. In asthenospemic patients (n=28), semen analysis before and after CarnitilR treatment showed an increase in volume (2.64+/-1.65 ml vs. 3.10+/-1.60 ml), motility (35.1+/-17.7% vs. 45.9+/-20.4%) and viability (51.4+/-20.3% vs. 59.3+/-13.6%) respectively. In oligoasthenospermic patients (n=16), semen analysis before and after CarnitilR treatment showed an increase in sperm count (10.7+/-54.4 million/ml vs. 38.4+/-32.5 million/ml) respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggested that in idiopathic oligoasthenospermic men the empirical medical therapy with acetylcarnitine may be considered as primary treatment.

Keyword

Carnitine; Acetylcarnitine; Male infertility

MeSH Terms

Acetylcarnitine*
Carnitine
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Infertility, Male
Male
Semen
Semen Analysis
Sperm Count
Acetylcarnitine
Carnitine