Table 3.

Quality assessment of included studies according to the CONSORT checklist

Item	Asemi et al. [25]	Shargorodsky et al. [34]	Alizadeh et al. [24]	Murer et al. [32]	Jamilian et al. [30]	Faghihi et al. [27]	Farrokhian et al. [28, 40]	Bahmani [26]	Faure et al. [29]	Mohammad Hosseinzadeh et al. [35]	Mao [35]	Rayman et al. [33]
1a	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes
1b	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
2a	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
2b	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
3a	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
3b	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
4a	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
4b	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
5	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
6a	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
6b	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
7a	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
7b	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
8a	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
8b	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
9	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
10	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
11a	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes
11b	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
12a	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
12b	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
13a	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
13b	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
14a	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
14b	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
15	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
16	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
17a	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
17b	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
18	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
19	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
20	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
21	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
22	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
23	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
24	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes
25	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Total	30	25	30	29	32	26	32	31	23	28	29	33

(1a) Identification as a randomized trial in the title; (1b) Structured summary of trial design, methods, results, and conclusions; (2a) Scientific background and explanation of rationale; (2b) Specific objectives or hypotheses; (3a) Description of trial design (such as parallel, factorial) including allocation ratio; (3b) Important changes to methods after trial commencement (such as eligibility criteria), with reasons; (4a) Eligibility criteria for participants; (4b) Settings and locations where the data were collected; [5] The interventions for each group with sufficient details to allow replication, including how and when they were actually administered; (6a) Completely defined pre-specified primary and secondary outcome measures, including how and when they were assessed; (6b) Any changes to trial outcomes after the trial commenced, with reasons; (7a) How sample size was determined; (7b) When applicable, explanation of any interim analyses and stopping guidelines; (8a) Method used to generate the random allocation sequence; (8b) Type of randomization; details of any restriction (such as blocking and block size); [9] Mechanism used to implement the random allocation sequence (such as sequentially numbered containers), describing any steps taken to conceal the sequence until interventions were assigned; [10] Who generated the random allocation sequence, who enrolled participants, and who assigned participants to interventions; (11a) If done, who was blinded after assignment to interventions (for example, participants, care providers, those assessing outcomes) and how; (11b) If relevant, description of the similarity of interventions; (12a) Statistical methods used to compare groups for primary and secondary outcomes; (12b) Methods for additional analyses, such as subgroup analyses and adjusted analyses; (13a) For each group, the numbers of participants who were randomly assigned, received intended treatment, and were analyzed for the primary outcome; (13b) For each group, losses and exclusions after randomization, together with reasons; (14a) Dates defining the periods of recruitment and follow-up; (14b) Why the trial ended or was stopped; [15] A table showing baseline demographic and clinical characteristics for each group; [16] For each group, number of participants (denominator) included in each analysis and whether the analysis was by original assigned groups; 17a) For each primary and secondary outcome, results for each group, and the estimated effect size and its precision (such as 95% confidence interval); 17b) For binary outcomes, presentation of both absolute and relative effect sizes is recommended; [18] Results of any other analyses performed, including subgroup analyses and adjusted analyses, distinguishing pre-specified from exploratory; [19] All important harms or unintended effects in each group (for specific guidance see CONSORT for harms); [20] Trial limitations, addressing sources of potential bias, imprecision, and, if relevant, multiplicity of analyses; [21] Generalizability (external validity, applicability) of the trial findings; [22] Interpretation consistent with results, balancing benefits and harms, and considering other relevant evidence; [23] Registration number and name of trial registry; [24] Where the full trial protocol can be accessed, if available; [25] Sources of funding and other support (such as supply of drugs), role of funders