After taking selenium or N-acetyl-cysteine for 6 months, men with certain types of infertility have lower levels of a hormone called FSH but higher levels of testosterone and inhibin B, which are important for sperm production.
Scientific Claim
Serum follicle-stimulating hormone levels decrease while serum testosterone and inhibin B levels increase in infertile men with idiopathic oligo-asthenoteratospermia following 26 weeks of oral selenium and/or N-acetyl-cysteine supplementation.
Original Statement
“In response to selenium and N-acetyl-cysteine treatment serum follicle-stimulating hormone decreased but serum testosterone and inhibin B increased.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
definitive
Can make definitive causal claims
Assessment Explanation
This is a randomized controlled trial with direct measurement of hormone levels before and after intervention, which can establish causal relationships for these specific outcomes in the studied population.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Efficacy of selenium and/or N-acetyl-cysteine for improving semen parameters in infertile men: a double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized study.