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Research Article | 04 Nov 2026

Intramuscular L-carnitine supplementation and its effects on reproductive hormones and fresh and chilled semen quality in exercised Warmblood stallions: A preliminary randomized crossover study

Ary Setya Hernanda1,2, Erma Safitri1, Tita Damayanti Lestari1, Suzanita Utama1, Goo Jang3, Herry Agoes Hermadi1, Iwan Sahrial Hamid4, Sri Pantja Madyawati1, Kasim Sakran Abass5, Kamila Kurnia Rahma6, Staffan Ramadani Tabona6, Yosua Bayu Brahmana6, and Putri Amelia7 Show more
VETERINARY WORLD | Article No. 2 | pg no. 4934-4950 | Vol. 19, Issue 11 | DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2026.4934-4950
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ABSTRACT

                      
Background and Aim: Repeated high-intensity exercise may alter reproductive hormone concentrations and compromise semen quality in performance stallions. L-carnitine participates in mitochondrial energy metabolism and has been investigated for its potential reproductive benefits. However, evidence regarding systemic L-carnitine supplementation in exercised Warmblood stallions remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of intramuscular L-carnitine administration on reproductive hormone concentrations and the quality of fresh and chilled semen in Warmblood stallions subjected to repeated exercise.
Materials and Methods: Two clinically healthy, proven fertile Warmblood stallions were enrolled in a preliminary randomized-sequence crossover study. Each stallion underwent three experimental conditions: no exercise or supplementation (negative control), repeated exercise with saline placebo (positive control), and repeated exercise with intramuscular L-carnitine supplementation (6 mg/kg body weight, twice weekly). Each treatment period lasted 8 weeks, with an 8-week washout between periods. Serum luteinizing hormone, also termed interstitial cell-stimulating hormone, and testosterone concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Fresh semen was evaluated for macroscopic characteristics, progressive motility, viability, and plasma membrane integrity. Chilled semen was assessed at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h of storage.
Results: Exercise with placebo was associated with lower reproductive hormone concentrations and poorer fresh semen quality than the negative control. L-carnitine supplementation was associated with higher luteinizing hormone (1.79 ± 0.28 vs. 1.12 ± 0.14 ng/mL) and testosterone (1.91 ± 0.26 vs. 1.43 ± 0.12 ng/mL) concentrations than exercise with placebo. Fresh semen progressive motility (73.40 ± 4.68% vs. 60.40 ± 1.47%), viability (80.00 ± 3.74% vs. 68.50 ± 1.77%), and plasma membrane integrity (64.10 ± 3.97% vs. 55.30 ± 1.10%) were also higher during supplementation. At 72 h of chilled storage, progressive motility was 36.92 ± 1.01% with supplementation and 34.79 ± 0.95% with placebo. Semen quality declined during storage under all conditions, with broadly similar proportional reductions.
Conclusion: Intramuscular L-carnitine supplementation was associated with more favorable reproductive hormone concentrations and semen quality during repeated exercise. However, including only two stallions limits statistical inference and generalizability. Larger, controlled studies are needed before establishing practical breeding recommendations.
                      
Keywords: chilled semen, exercise-induced stress, health, L-carnitine, luteinizing hormone, sperm motility, testosterone, Warmblood stallions.
                  

                  
                  

                    
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