J Assist Reprod Genet. 2005 Dec; 22(11-12): 395–399.
PMCID: PMC3455151
PMID: 16331536
The effects of L-carnitine on sperm parameters in smoker and non-smoker patients with idiopathic sperm abnormalities
1,3 Abstract
Purpose: To determine the effects of L-carnitine on sperm parameters in patients with idiopathic sperm abnormalities.
Methods: In an academic reproductive care center, 170 patients including 48 smokers and 122 non-smokers participated in a before–after study. Men were given 1 g of L-carnitine orally 3 × daily for 3 months. Sperm assessment was done before and after the treatment. Main outcome measures were sperm concentration, motility, and morphology before and after the treatment.
Results:L-Carnitine was effective in improvement of percentile of motile sperms, grade A sperms, and normal-shaped sperms. L-Carnitine significantly improved percentile of motile and grade A sperms in non-smokers. Only the change in the median percentile of normal forms was within the significant range in smokers.
Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that smoker patients should not be excluded from the treatment with L-carnitine based on smoking alone.
Keywords: L-Carnitine, non-smokers, smokers, sperm, sperm morphology, sperm motility
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Selected References
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