Treating Erectile Dysfunction
Human Trial Concludes L-Carnitine Better Than
Testosterone in
Treating Erectile Dysfunction
and Depression in Males
The April 2004, issue of the journal Urology published the findings of Italian researchers that the amino acid L-carnitine was more active than testosterone in improving symptoms of aging in men, such as sexual dysfunction and depression, associated with the decline of androgenic hormones.
One hundred twenty men between the ages of 60 and 74 with symptoms of low testosterone were randomized to receive 160 milligrams orally administered testosterone undecanoate, 2 grams propionyl-L-carnitine plus 2 grams acetyl-L-carnitine per day, or a placebo for a six month period. Prostate-specific antigen, prostate volume, nocturnal penile tumescence, total and free testosterone, prolactin, luteinizing hormone, erectile function scores, depression, fatigue and other parameters were assessed before treatment, at three months, and after the treatment period.
Erectile function, sexual desire, sexual satisfaction and nocturnal penile tumescence increased over the course of the study in the group receiving testosterone as well as the group receiving L-carnitine. In addition, the group receiving L-carnitine experienced an increase in orgasm and general sexual well-being. Erectile function and nocturnal penile tumescence were significantly improved in this group than in those receiving testosterone. While both treatments lowered depression scores, L-carnitine's effect was greater.
Predictably, treatment with testosterone increased serum total and free testosterone and decreased luteinizing hormone levels, but L-carnitine's effect on these hormones was not significant. Treatment with L-carnitine was not associated with an increase in prostate volume as was testosterone treatment after six months. PSA levels did not increase in any of the groups.
Fatigue was likewise improved in both groups. As one negative effect, the men taking testosterone developed enlargement of their prostates, which did not occur in the L-carnitine-treated group. Although both testosterone and L-carnitine improved symptoms of male aging, there was overall superior benefit to L-carnitine with no real side effects.
L-carnitine is an essential nutrient. It has vitamin-like qualities. It is considered essential in helping to transport fatty acids into mitochondria (the power plants of the cells). A deficiency in L-carnitine can therefore result in an overall reduction in energy production by the cells. It is well known that individuals can become L-carnitine-deficient for a number of reasons. L-carnitine, aside from being an incredible anti-aging nutrient, also has shown benefit for multiple medical conditions, including cardiovascular disease such as angina and congestive heart failure, liver and kidney disease, obstructive lung disease, and many others. L-carnitine has actually even shown benefit in AIDS patients. Although it is unusual to see physicians prescribing vitamins in the hospital, Acetyl l-Carnitine is routinely prescribed by kidney specialists for their patients, since the kidney is a major site of L-carnitine synthesis.
Although tissue L-carnitine levels have been found to be positively associated with sex hormone levels, the findings of this study show that the compound's action is not strictly linked to sex hormone blood levels. L-carnitine's mechanism of action against reactive oxygen species (ROS) is different than conventional anti-ROS compounds tried for conditions associated with male aging, which may help explain its effectiveness.
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