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Abstract The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of L-carnitine and zinc medication on the DNA fragmentation of ejaculated sperm using the sperm chromatin dispersion test. Twenty five patients seeking fertility were recruited from KasrElEini andrology clinic. Their age ranged from 20 to 46 yrs old and infertility period ranging from a 4 months period up to 19 years. The first semen samples were collected, processed for the sperm chromatin dispersion test, then stained with DAPI & read by fluorescent microscope. Fifteen patients continued their follow-up and their second semen samples were collected and processed in the same manner after completing one month treatment with L-carnitine 3gm/day and Zinc gluconate 150 mg/d. The mean for DNA fragmentation index before treatment was 39.17 %, (± SD 36.99%). The mean for DFI after treatment was 45.5% ( ± SD 28.47%). The Wilcoxon signed ranks test showed a very high p-value of 0.65 implying that there was no difference in the level of DFI before and after the treatment. By selecting the patients with an initial DFI above 30 we would find that their DFI improved after treatment from a mean of 71.01% (± SD 22.63%) to 48.14% (± SD 26.59%) , yet this trend in the improvement was also statistically insignificant according to the Wilcoxon signed ranks test. No correlations were found between DFI and either sperm count, abnormal forms, motility and progressive motility. |