Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of combined L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine on idiopathic asthenospermia.
Methods: Thirty patients with idiopathic asthenospermia were treated by combined L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine for 3 months after failure to respond to the integrated therapy of Chinese and Western medicine. Semen samples were obtained, analyzed and graded according to the WHO laboratory manual before and after the treatment. Twenty-five of the patients completed the whole study.
Results: Combined L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine statistically improved the sperm vitality (24.89 +/- 12.28)%, grade a + b sperm motility (16.04 +/- 8.33)% and the total sperm count per ejaculate (76.79 +/- 43.14) x 10(6), with a significant difference from pre-treatment (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Combined L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine has a supplementary effect in the treatment of idiopathic asthenospermia and improves the semen quality of the patient.