Taking selenium or N-acetyl-cysteine for 6 months doesn't seem to help men with certain types of infertility have babies, even though it improves sperm quality.
Scientific Claim
Oral selenium and N-acetyl-cysteine supplementation for 26 weeks does not improve pregnancy rates or live birth rates in infertile men with idiopathic oligo-asthenoteratospermia.
Original Statement
“The conclusion 'We advocate their use for male infertility treatment' overreaches. The study shows improvement in semen parameters, but not improved pregnancy or live birth rates. Clinical guidelines require patient-centered outcomes, not surrogate markers.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
definitive
Can make definitive causal claims
Assessment Explanation
The study did not measure pregnancy or live birth rates, so it is accurate to state that it does not show improvement in these outcomes. This is a factual statement about what was measured in the study.
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.