Comparison of the Effect of Ceratonia siliqua Fruit Extract and Vitamin E on Semen Parameters in Idiopathic Infertile Men: A Triple Blind Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

Introduction: Infertility refers to the absence of pregnancy after one year of unprotected sex. Infertility is a medical problem and a social crisis that has devastating effects on social life, interpersonal and marital relationships. Methods: In this triple-blind randomized controlled trial study in the years of 1396- 97, fifty 20-45 year old infertile men with idiopathic abnormal sperm parameters were selected among men referring to the infertility clinic of Alzahra-Iran Hospital, and randomly allocated into two groups. The first group received Carob capsules, 500mg, and the second group received vitamin E capsules three times a day for 90 days. Sperm analysis was performed once at the beginning of the study and second time three months after treatment. The primary outcomes of this study were the sperm parameters (count, motility and morphology). Independent t-test, Mann Whitney, ANCOVA and paired t-test were used to analyze the data. Results: After intervention, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of social and demographic characteristics, mean of sperm count, percentage of sperm with normal morphology and mean overall score of sexual performance (P>0.05). In terms of sperm motility, there was a significant difference between the two groups and Carob versus vitamin E improved the sperm motility parameter (aMD = 17.22%, 95% CI: 8.53 to 25.92) (P<0.001). However, in both groups, the percentage of progressive and slow sperm motility after intervention was significantly increased (P<0.001) that the increase in progressive mobility between the two groups did not differ significantly (P=0.159). But in the case of slow mobility, this difference was significant (aMD = 7.53%, 95% CI: 2.81 to 24.12) (P<0.002). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the consumption of Carob capsule for 3 months had a significant statistical effect on sperm motility, but this effect was not significant for two parameters of count and morphology.