L-Carnitine Improves Sperm Quality, Pregnancy Rates

L-Carnitine Improves Sperm Quality, Pregnancy Rates

BOLOGNA, ItalySupplementationwith L-carnitine and acetyl-Lcarnitine appears to benefit idiopathic infertilityin men, according to a study published in the Journalof Andrology (25, 5:761-70, 2004). According to the study, nearly 22 percent of infertile menwith enlarged varicose veins in the scrotum who took L-carnitine andacetyl-L-carnitine (supplied by Sigma-Tau) achieved a pregnancy with theirpartner within nine months, compared to only 2 percent of men taking a placebo;the pregnancy rate increased to 38 percent for men taking a non-steroidal,anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) in conjunction with the supplement.

The double blind, placebo-controlled, single-center study wascarried out at the Italian Society of Reproductive Medicine Research andinvolved 325 men between the ages of 27 and 40. Supplemental treatment included2 g/d of L-carnitine and 1 g/d of acetyl-L-carnitine, with or without a 30 mgcinnoxicam suppository every four days. Sigma- Tau (www.st-hs.com) produces themens health product ProXeed, which contains its L-carnitine andacetyl-L-carnitine.