Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40813743›Full record

SynthesisReproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.)2025

Effects of Carnitine and Coenzyme Q10 on Sperm Quality and Pregnancy Rates in Men with Unexplained Infertility: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Changmin Niu, Xueyu Lu, Yue Xie, Yawen Yu, Yuxin Gao, Nuo Shen, Ying Zheng

Abstract readNetwork Meta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Melatonin: A Silver Bullet for Fertility and Reproductive Health.Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) · 2026
    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

7 authors.

Changmin Niu *School of Nursing· School of Public Health, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225000, Jiangsu, China. 007524@yzu.edu.cn.ORCID 0000-0002-0918-3566
Xueyu Lu *School of Nursing· School of Public Health, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225000, Jiangsu, China.
Yue XieSchool of Nursing· School of Public Health, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225000, Jiangsu, China.
Yawen YuSchool of Nursing· School of Public Health, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225000, Jiangsu, China.
Yuxin GaoSchool of Nursing· School of Public Health, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225000, Jiangsu, China.
Nuo ShenSchool of Nursing· School of Public Health, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225000, Jiangsu, China.
Ying ZhengSchool of Nursing· School of Public Health, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225000, Jiangsu, China.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82101674
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsTo study and explore the effects of oral Carnitine and Coenzyme Q10 on the quality of sperm and the rate of pregnancy in males with unexplained infertility.

backgroundPreventing and reducing oxidative stress is essential for male infertility treatment. Antioxidants can effectively improve sperm quality and maintain sperm motility, thereby improving male fertility. At present, the most commonly used antioxidants in the clinic are carnitine and coenzyme Q10.

designA systematic review and network meta-analysis.

methodsIn this study, the effects of carnitine and coenzyme Q10 antioxidants on sperm quality and the rate of pregnancy in men with unexplained infertility were explored using a network meta-analysis method. The Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science and PubMed databases were searched for relevant studies. The observed indicators included semen concentration, progressive sperm motility, the rate of morphologically normal sperm and pregnancy rate.

results16 pieces of literature were included after rigorous screening. L-carnitine, coenzyme Q10 and L-carnitine + acetyl-L-carnitine significantly improved sperm quality parameters compared with placebo. CoQ10 induced the highest increase in sperm concentration (SMD 2.98 [95% CI: 1.13 to 7.87]). Furthermore, L-Carnitine has the greatest improvement effect on progressive sperm motility (SMD 4.19 [95% CI: 1.60 to 10.95]).

conclusionsCoQ10 was the most effective intervention measure for improving sperm concentration, and L-carnitine was regarded as the best treatment method for enhancing sperm motility. In the future, we need more high-quality and large-sample studies to verify the effectiveness of antioxidants in the treatment of male infertility.

Indexed as

AntioxidantsCarnitineInfertility, MalePregnancy RateSpermatozoaUbiquinoneFemaleHumansMalePregnancySemen AnalysisSperm MotilityAntioxidantsCarnitinecoenzyme Q10UbiquinoneCarnitineCoenzyme Q10Male infertilityNetwork meta-analysisSperm qualitySystematic review

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.