Eslamian 2013.
Methods | Randomised controlled triple‐blinded trial Duration of study: 12 weeks |
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Participants | Country: Iran Population: asthenozoospermic infertile men, N = 50 Mean age: unclear Inclusion criteria: patients interest in contribution aged 20‐45 who have passed at least one year from the date they have decided to have a baby, not to using pregnancy protection methods, affected by idiopathic asthenozoospermia based on WHO criteria, normal serum gonadotropin, testosterone and prolactin values Exclusion criteria: affected by genital system infection or taking drug for the infection during past three months, affected by anatomical anomalies in genital system such as varicocoele, surgical history on testicles and vasdeferane |
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Interventions | Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) 465 mg + vitamin E 600 IU (n = 25) versus Placebo (n = 25) Duration of treatment: 12 weeks |
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Outcomes | Sperm parameters, serum fatty acid concentration and sperm membrane fatty acid concentration | |
Notes | In Arabic, translated. Tried multiple times to contact authors for further study details with no response. Last tried to contact Feburary 2014: janati@avicenna.ac.ir | |
Risk of bias | ||
Bias | Authors' judgement | Support for judgement |
Random sequence generation (selection bias) | Low risk | Stratified blocked randomisation |
Allocation concealment (selection bias) | Low risk | Cans containing capsules marked as A1, A2, B1, B2 and patients, researchers and physician were unaware of the types of drugs |
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes | Low risk | Quote: "Cans containing capsules marked as A1, A2, B1, B2 and patients, researchers and physician were unaware of the types of drugs" |
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes | Low risk | Quote: "Triple‐blinded" "Cans containing capsules marked as A1, A2, B1, B2 and patients, researchers and physician were unaware of the types of drugs" |
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes | Low risk | Withdrawals and exclusions: Intervention group (3 withdrawals): one man could not refer to the clinic in sixth week, the wife of the other one got pregnant, and another one was excluded because he have not taken more than 10% of the capsules Control group (6 withdrawals): two men could not refer to the clinic in sixth week, one man could not refer to the clinic in 12th week. One man used complementary Coenzyme Q10, and another one was excluded because he have not taken more than 10% of the capsules |
Selective reporting (reporting bias) | Unclear risk | Sperm parameters reported. No protocol available. |