Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29373970›Full record

ReviewReproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E2018

Role of L-carnitine in female infertility.

Ashok Agarwal, Pallav Sengupta, Damayanthi Durairajanayagam

Registry-linked trialOpen access · goldAbstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07266259 (Effects of Levocarnitine and Myoinositol in Comparison to Myoinositol Alone on Hormonal and Insulin Resistance Parameters in Subfertile Women With Insulin Resistant Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), which is not on this map. Cited by 44 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
44citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
6.0field-weighted citation impact, top 3% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT07266259 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

Effects of Levocarnitine and Myoinositol in Comparison to Myoinositol Alone on Hormonal and Insulin Resistance Parameters in Subfertile Women With Insulin Resistant Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

TypeinterventionalSponsorMst.Sumyara KhatunRan2025 to 2027Enrolled72ConditionsPolycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)ArmsMyoinositol, Levo-Carnitine
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

44 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 109 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Trial
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Review
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  9. Article
  10. Effects of L-Carnitine on the Developmental Competence of Bovine Oocytes.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2025
    Article
  11. Article
  12. Article
  13. Review
  14. Article
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  20. Ovarian aging: energy metabolism of oocytes.Journal of ovarian research · 2024
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Ashok AgarwalAmerican Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Mail Code X-11, 10681 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA. agarwaa@ccf.org.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0585-1026
Pallav SenguptaDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, MAHSA University, Jalan SP2, Bandar Saujana Putra, 42610, Jenjarum, Selangor, Malaysia.
Damayanthi DurairajanayagamFaculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Jalan Hospital, 47000, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia.
Cleveland Clinic · USHospital Sungai Buloh · MYMahsa University · MY

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundL-carnitine (LC), and its acetylated form, acetyl L-carnitine (ALC), have immense functional capabilities to regulate the oxidative and metabolic status of the female reproductive system. The vulnerability of this system to free radicals demand for advanced strategies to combat them. For this purpose, the 'quasi vitamins' LC and ALC can be used either individually, or in combination with each other or with other antioxidants. MAIN BODY: This review (a) summarizes the effects of carnitines on female fertility along with the findings from various in vivo and in vitro studies involving human, animal and assisted reproductive technology, and (b) proposes their mechanism of actions in improving female fertility through their integrated actions on reducing cellular stress, maintaining hormonal balance and enhancing energy production. They reportedly aid β-oxidation in oocytes, maintain its cell membrane stability by acetylation of phospholipids and amphiphilic actions, prevent free radical-induced DNA damage and also stabilize acetyl Co-A/Co-A ratio for adequate acetyl storage as energy supply to maintain the robustness of reproductive cells.

conclusionWhile both LC and ALC have their applications in improving female fertility, ALC is preferred for its better antioxidant properties and LC for amelioration of energy supply to the cells. These beneficial effects show great promise in its application as a treatment option for women facing infertility disorders.

Indexed as

AcetylcarnitineAnimalsAntioxidantsCarnitineFemaleFree RadicalsHumansInfertility, FemaleOxidative StressVitaminsAcetylcarnitineAntioxidantsCarnitineFree RadicalsVitaminsAcetyl-L-carnitineAntioxidantsAssisted reproductive technologyFemale fertilityIn vitro fertilizationL-carnitineOocyte quality

Identifiers

PMID29373970
PMCPMC5785901
OpenAlexW2795629322

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.