ED and L-Carnitine Article

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I found this on the net. Someone may have already posted. Anyway,

here it is again.

Human Trial Concludes L-Carnitine Better Than Testosterone in

Treating Erectile Dysfunction and Depression in Males

Journal of Urology, April, 2004

The April 2004 issue of the journal Urology published the findings

of Italian researchers that the amino acid 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 thing though - participants received over 4

grams of L-Carnitine which is a bunch.

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

carnitine. In addition, the group receiving carnitine experienced an

increase in orgasm and general sexual well-being. Erectile function

and nocturnal penile tumescence were significantly more improved in

this group than in those receiving testosterone. While both

treatments lowered depression scores, carnitine's effect was

greater.

Predictably, treatment with testosterone increased serum total and

free testosterone and decreased luteinizing hormone levels, but

carnitine's effect on these hormones was not significant. Treatment

with 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 carnitine-treated group.

Although both testosterone and carnitine improved symptoms of male

aging, there was overall superior benefit to carnitine with no real

side effects.

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

carnitine can therefore result in an overall reduction in energy

production by the cells. It is well-known that individuals can

become 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

carnitine synthesis.

Although tissue 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. 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