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

Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC), an acetylated form of L-carnitine, is able to influence the activity of cholinergic neurons, cell membrane stabilization and enhancing mitochondrial function. A 52-year-old woman was referred to neurology clinic for memory impairment within 1 year. She was administered ALC as dose of 1,500 mg per day for improving memory decline. After 14 days from administrating ALC, she complained vivid dreams at every night. Vivid dream was disappeared after ceasing ALC. Another patient, a 72-year-old man, visited neurology clinic for cognitive decline for 2 years. After 20 days from administering ALC with dose of 1,500 mg per day, he also suffered from vivid dreams at every night. His previous stable sleep was also restored after ceasing ALC. ALC supplementation may present vivid dreams as a side effect. Possibility of vivid dream as a side effect should be considered during the management with oral ALC.
Acetylcarnitine* ; Aged ; Carnitine ; Cell Membrane ; Cholinergic Neurons ; Dreams* ; Female ; Humans ; Memory ; Middle Aged ; Neurology

OBJETIVE: To assess the effects of progesterone and acetyl-L-carnitine used after treated with IsolateR gradient before semen cryopreservation-thawing on sperm parameters and membrane integrity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From April 2001 to July 2001, ten normal male partner of couples who were visited in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics. the semens were treated with IsolateR gradient before cryopreservation, spermatozoa was incubated with progesterone (1, 5 and 10 micrometer), acetyl-L-carnitine (2.5, 5 and 10 micrometer), or both (progesterone, 1 micrometer; and acetyl-L-carnitine, 5 micrometer) for 30 min. RESULTS: There were no differences in sperm parameters and vital stain among isolate only treated group, progesterone (1, 5 and 10 micrometer), acetyl-L-carnitine (2.5, 5 and 10 micrometer) and both (progesterone, 1 micrometer; and acetyl-L-carnitine, 5 micrometer). But, in high concentration of acetyl-L-carnitine (10 micrometer) treated group, sperm parameters and vital stain were decreased. The statistical method was used ANOVA (Kruskal-Wallis test) and p value was <0.01. CONCLUSIONS: Neither progesterone nor acetyl-L-carnitine show to be protective effect on the cryodamage assessed by sperm parameters and vital stain (eosin-Y stain) in normal sperm. High concentration of acetyl-L-carnitine (10 micrometer), however, was harmful effect on cryoprevention.
Acetylcarnitine* ; Cryopreservation ; Family Characteristics ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Membranes* ; Progesterone ; Semen ; Spermatozoa*

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) is a widely used drug for various neurodegenerative diseases including dementia. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the efficacy of ALC in dementia patients with cerebrovascular disease (vascular cognitive impairment; VCI). METHODS: Fifty-six patients were randomized to treatment with 500 mg ter in die ALC, or placebo in this 28-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The primary outcome measure was the Korean version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-K). RESULTS: Following treatment with ALC, the cognitive function measured by the MoCA-K was significantly improved in the ALC-treated groups. However, other secondary outcomes were not statistically significant between ALC- and placebo-treated groups. In MoCA-K analysis, attention and language sub-items significantly favored the ALC-treated group. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with placebo, treatment with ALC 1,500 mg/day produced significant changes in MoCA-K in dementia patients with VCI. ALC was well tolerated in this population. Despite the study limitations, the findings suggested the potential benefits associated with the use of ALC in dementia patients with VCI.
Acetylcarnitine* ; Cerebrovascular Disorders* ; Cognition ; Cognition Disorders ; Dementia* ; Humans ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care)

OBJECTIVE: To assess the scavenging effect of carnitine derivatives on oxidative damage to sperm during sperm processing cryopreservation and thawing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fresh semen samples from 20 normal healthy volunteers were collected by masturbation after at least 48 hours abstinence. After liquefaction of semen samples at room temperature, the specimens were diluted with sperm wash media (Ham's F-10, Life technologics) to a uniform density of 20x106/ml. L-carnitine or acetylcarnitine were added with various concentration of 0 micrometer, 10 micrometer, 30 micrometer in semen sample or cryoprotectant. All specimens were cryopreservated at -196degrees C LN2 for 3 days. Sperm motility, vitality, fertilizing capacity, reactive oxygen species formation and the level of lipid peroxidation were analyzed by computer assisted semen analyzer, eosin-nigrosin stain, hypo-osmotic swelling test, chemiluminescence and thiobarbituric acid method, respectively, during sperm processing, cryopreservation and thawing. RESULTS: The sperm motility was only increased in proportion to the concentration of acetylcarnitine with no statistical significance (p>0.05). The sperm vitality was also significantly improved in proportion to the concentration of acetylcarnitine with statistical significance (p<0.05). The sperm fertilizing capacity was significantly increased in proportion to the concentration of L-carnitine and acetylcarnitine and reactive oxygen species generation and lipid peroxidation were significantly decreased with same fashion(p<0.05). On comparison of effects between L-carnitine and acetylcarnitine, acetylcarnitine was superior to L-carnitine on the improvement of sperm motility and vitality as well as the suppression of reactive oxygen species generation and lipid peroxidation. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that carnitine derivatives have a scavenging effect against oxidative damages during sperm processing, cryopreservation and thawing. Therefore, carnitine derivatives may be useful as an oral antioxidant in patients with male infertility due to increased ROS generation.
Acetylcarnitine* ; Carnitine* ; Cryopreservation ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Luminescence ; Male ; Masturbation ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Semen ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa*

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of medical treatment of Peyronie's disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 109 patients with Peyronie's disease who had been treated from January 2011 to December 2014 were retrospectively reviewed in this study. Forty-four patients (Group 1) were treated with 12 mg of potassium para-aminobenzoate daily. Sixty-five patients (Group 2) were treated with combination therapy: tamoxifen (20 mg) and acetyl-L-carnitine (300 mg) twice daily in addition to a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor. Ability to perform sexual intercourse, pain during erection, size of plaque, and penile curvature angle were assessed. RESULTS: In Group 1, 30 of 44 patients (68.2%) discontinued treatment within 12 weeks, while 5 patients (7.7%) in Group 2 discontinued treatment. Pain during erection and plaque size were improved in both groups but showed no statistical difference due to the high dropout rate in Group 1. In both groups, penile curvature was improved, but demonstrated no statistical difference between the treatment groups. However, combination therapy demonstrated a better response rate in patients whose penile curvature angle was less than 30° (44.4% vs. 79.1%, p=0.048). The rate of successful sexual intercourse was significantly higher in Group 2 (42.8% vs. 78.3%, p=0.034). The number of patients who underwent surgical correction despite medical treatment was significantly higher in Group 1 (35.7% vs. 13.3%, p=0.048). CONCLUSIONS: Early medical combination therapy in Peyronie's disease may present better results in patients whose curvature angle is less than 30°.
4-Aminobenzoic Acid ; Acetylcarnitine ; Carnitine* ; Coitus ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Male ; Patient Dropouts ; Penile Induration* ; Potassium* ; Retrospective Studies ; Tamoxifen*

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly. AD afflicts 0.3 to 0.5 million people in Korea, and the number is projected to increase to 2 million by the year of 2050. This article provides a brief overview of the most popular drug therapies in the treatment of AD including cholinesterase inhibitors (AchEIs) (donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine), NMDA receptor antagonist (memantine), acetyl-l-carnitine, antioxidant vitamins, and Ginko biloba. Based on a review of relevant papers in the literature, this article presents pharmacological and clinical safety profiles of these agents and prescribing tips as well as a final summary on the effectiveness, safety, and alerts for clinicians. AchEIs as well as memantine will continue to play an important role in the treatment armamentarium for AD, even though newer strategies are being explored. There is not enough evidence supporting the continuous use of other drugs such as acetyl-l-carnitine, antioxidant vitamins, and Ginko biloba for the treatment of AD.
Acetylcarnitine ; Aged ; Alzheimer Disease* ; Cholinesterase Inhibitors ; Dementia ; Drug Therapy* ; Galantamine ; Ginkgo biloba ; Humans ; Korea ; Memantine ; N-Methylaspartate ; Vitamins

A possible therapeutic effect of acetyl-L carnitine (ALCAR) on peripheral nerve injuries and the expression of Jun, the protein products of immediate-early genes(IEGs), in the spinal cord were investigated after sciatic nerve injury in Sprague-Dawley rats. Experimental animals were divided into 3 groups: intact sciatic nerve as a control group, surgical repair alone, and surgical repair with ALCAR treatment. Toe-spreading response, pinprick response, and compound action potential were measured to evaluate the recovery of sciatic nerve injury. Recovery of behavioral function and electrophysiological function both improved in the surgical repair with ALCAR treatment group. Weak basal expression of Jun was shown in the ventral horn the of spinal cord in the control group. In the surgical repair alone group or the surgical repair with ALCAR treatment group, Jun expression persisted until 28 days after injury in the ventral horn of the spinal cord. Moreover, the surgical repair with ALCAR treatment group showed more increased expression of Jun than the surgical repair alone group. These results suggest that ALCAR facilitates the functional recovery after peripheral nerve injury.
Acetylcarnitine ; Action Potentials ; Animals ; Carnitine* ; Horns ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sciatic Nerve* ; Spinal Cord

OBJECTIVETo determine the levels of carnitine in plasma and daily excretion of carnitine in urine of healthy adults so as to provide the reference standard for studying the changes of carnitine in patients.

METHODSCarnitine in plasma and urine was assayed with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The levels of total carnitine (TC), free carnitine (FC) and acetyl-carnitine (AC) in fasting plasma and the daily excretion of TC, FC and AC in urine were assayed in 40 healthy adults (20 men and 20 women) with standard diet.

RESULTSGood linearity (r 2 > or = 0.999) was observed in assaying TC, FC and AC. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was lower than 9.1% and bias lower than 5.6%. It was showed that the plasmatic levels of TC, FC and AC in healthy men [(53.1 +/- 8.5), (41.2 +/- 6.1), (6.2 +/- 0.6) mumol/L] were significantly higher than those in healthy women [(45.4 +/- 5.6), (35.2 +/- 4.9), (5.7 +/- 0.7) mumol/L] (P = 0.002, 0.002, 0.035). The daily urinary excretion of TC, FC and AC in healthy men [(386.1 +/- 22.9), (180.5 +/- 31.8), (33.8 +/- 3.3) mumol] were also significantly higher than those in healthy women [(240.1 +/- 35.6), (112.7 +/- 22.6), (29.3 +/- 4.3) mumol] (P < 0.0005, < 0.0005, < 0.0005) when the adults were given standard diet. Both the plasmatic levels and the daily urinary excretion of TC, FC and AC were of significantly positive correlation with lean body mass (LBM) (r = 0.501-0.856). The (TC-FC)/FC ratios in plasma were 0.29 +/- 0.05 for male and 0.29 +/- 0.04 for female.

CONCLUSIONGood precision and accuracy were observed in assaying carnitine with HPLC. After standard diet, both the level of carnitine in fasting plasma and the daily urinary carnitine excretion of healthy adults were positively correlated with LBM.

Acetylcarnitine ; blood ; urine ; Adult ; Carnitine ; blood ; urine ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Reference Values ; Sex Factors

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) treatment may have beneficial effects on Alzheimer's disease (AD), its underlying neural correlates remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate cerebral perfusion changes after ALC treatment in AD patients using technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). METHODS: A total of 18 patients with early AD were prospectively recruited and treated with ALC at 1.5 g/day for 1.4±0.3 years. At baseline and follow-up, brain SPECT, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), Global Deterioration Scale (GDS), and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) were used to assess participants. After ALC administration, changes in brain perfusion, severity of dementia, cognitive performance, and neuropsychiatric disturbances were examined. RESULTS: After ALC administration, changes in scores of MMSE, CDR, GDS, and NPI were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Voxel-wise whole-brain image analysis revealed that perfusion was significantly (p<0.001) increased in the right precuneus whereas perfusion was reduced in the left inferior temporal gyrus (p<0.001), the right middle frontal gyrus (p<0.001), and the right insular cortex (p=0.001) at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Although previous studies have suggested that AD patients generally demonstrate progressive deterioration in brain perfusion and clinical symptoms, this study reveals that the perfusion of the precuneus is increased in AD patients after ALC administration and their cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms are not aggravated. Further studies are warranted to determine the potential association between perfusion increase in the precuneus and clinical symptoms after ALC treatment in AD patients.
Acetylcarnitine* ; Alzheimer Disease* ; Brain ; Cerebral Cortex ; Cognition ; Dementia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Parietal Lobe ; Perfusion* ; Prospective Studies ; Temporal Lobe ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*