Protocol summary

Study aim
Effect of Royal Jelly on Sperm Parameters and Sperm Functional Tests in Infertile Men with Increased Sperm DNA Fragmentation
Design
This study will be conducted on 12–18 infertile individuals with high sperm DNA damage. Participants will receive 1 g of royal jelly daily for 2 months, and sperm parameters, DNA damage, chromatin integrity, and oxidative stress will be evaluated before and after the intervention.
Settings and conduct
This before-and-after clinical trial investigates the effect of royal jelly on infertility in men with high sperm DNA damage. Written informed consent will be obtained from 12–18 participants who provide their sperm samples from the Shahrak Salamat Fertility Center.
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
The study included infertile men aged 35–55 years with primary infertility and high sperm DNA damage (SCSA > 20%), excluding azoospermic men and those with secondary infertility or lower DNA damage levels.
Intervention groups
Royal jelly, 1 g/day for 2 months (intervention group)
Main outcome variables
Sperm DNA integrity

General information

Reason for update
Acronym
IRCT registration information
IRCT registration number: IRCT20110804007223N13
Registration date: 2026-06-15, 1405/03/25
Registration timing: registered_while_recruiting

Last update: 2026-06-15, 1405/03/25
Update count: 0
Registration date
2026-06-15, 1405/03/25
Registrant information
Name
Mohammad Hossein Nasr-Esfahani
Name of organization / entity
Royan Institute (Royan Institute for Biotechnology)
Country
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Phone
+98 31 9501 5688
Email address
mh_nasr@med.mui.ac.ir
Recruitment status
Recruitment complete
Funding source
Expected recruitment start date
2026-06-10, 1405/03/20
Expected recruitment end date
2026-09-11, 1405/06/20
Actual recruitment start date
empty
Actual recruitment end date
empty
Trial completion date
empty
Scientific title
Effect of Royal Jelly on Sperm Parameters and Functional Tests in Infertile Men with Increased Sperm DNA Damage
Public title
Effect of Royal Jelly on Sperm Function
Purpose
Treatment
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Infertile Men with Sperm DNA Damage Over 20%
Exclusion criteria:
Azoospermic Men Infertile Men with Less Than 20% Sperm DNA Damage
Age
From 35 years old to 55 years old
Gender
Male
Phase
2
Groups that have been masked
No information
Sample size
Target sample size: 15
More than 1 sample in each individual
Number of samples in each individual: 3
Semen
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Not randomized
Randomization description
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Not blinded
Blinding description
Placebo
Not used
Assignment
Single
Other design features
Before-and-After Clinical Trial: In this study, variables in infertile men with high sperm DNA damage were examined before and after treatment with royal jelly.

Secondary Ids

empty

Ethics committees

1

Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
Ethics Committee at the Royan Institute
Street address
No. 12, Hafez St., Banihashem St., Resalat St., Tehran, Iran
City
Tehran
Province
Tehran
Postal code
8165131378
Approval date
2025-03-16, 1403/12/26
Ethics committee reference number
IR.ACECR.ROYAN.REC.1403.103

Health conditions studied

1

Description of health condition studied
Male infertility
ICD-10 code
N-46
ICD-10 code description
Diseases of male genital organs

Primary outcomes

1

Description
Sperm DNA integrity
Timepoint
Before and after using royal gelly dragee
Method of measurement
Flow cytometry

Secondary outcomes

1

Description
Sperm parameters (viability, concentration, motility, morphology)
Timepoint
Before and after useing royal jel dragee
Method of measurement
Computer-Assisted Semen Analysis

2

Description
Protamine deficiency
Timepoint
Before and after useing royal jel dragee
Method of measurement
Fluorescent microscope

3

Description
Lipid peroxidation
Timepoint
Before and after useing royal jel dragee
Method of measurement
flow cytometry

4

Description
Intracellular ROS
Timepoint
Before and after useing royal jel dragee
Method of measurement
flow cytometry

Intervention groups

1

Description
All participants received royal jelly tablets at a daily dose of 1 g for 60 days. The tablets were manufactured by the Knowledge-Based Honey Jar Company.
Category
Treatment - Drugs

Recruitment centers

1

Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
Isfahan Pooyesh Infertility Treatment Center
Full name of responsible person
Mohammad Hossein Nasr-Esfahani
Street address
No. 12, Hafez St., Banihashem St., Resalat St., Tehran, Iran.
City
Esfahan
Province
Isfehan
Postal code
8165131378
Phone
+98 31 9501 5682
Email
nasr.royan@gmail.com

Sponsors / Funding sources

1

Sponsor
Name of organization / entity
Royan Institute for Biotechnology
Full name of responsible person
Mohammad H. Nasr-Esfahani
Street address
Royan Institute for Biotechnology, End of Royan Street, Salman Street, Khourasgan, Isfahan, Iran
City
Esfahan
Province
Isfehan
Postal code
8165131378
Phone
+98 31 9501 5682
Email
nasr.royan@gmail.com
Grant name
Grant code / Reference number
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?
Yes
Title of funding source
Royan Institute for Biotechnology
Proportion provided by this source
100
Public or private sector
Private
Domestic or foreign origin
Domestic
Category of foreign source of funding
empty
Country of origin
Type of organization providing the funding
Persons

Person responsible for general inquiries

Contact
Name of organization / entity
Royan Institute for Biotechnology
Full name of responsible person
Mohammad Hossein Nasr-Esfahani
Position
Professor
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Embryology
Street address
Royan Institute for Biotechnology, End of Royan Street, Salman Street, Khourasgan, Isfahan, Iran
City
Esfahan
Province
Isfehan
Postal code
8165131378
Phone
+98 31 9501 5682
Email
nasr.royan@gmail.com

Person responsible for scientific inquiries

Contact
Name of organization / entity
Royan Institute for Biotechnology
Full name of responsible person
Mohammad Hossein Nasr-Esfahani
Position
Professor
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Embryology
Street address
Royan Institute for Biotechnology, End of Royan Street, Salman Street, Khourasgan, Isfahan, Iran
City
Esfahan
Province
Isfehan
Postal code
8165131378
Phone
+98 31 9501 5682
Email
nasr.royan@gmail.com

Person responsible for updating data

Contact
Name of organization / entity
Royan Institute for Biotechnology
Full name of responsible person
Marziyeh Tavalaee
Position
Associate Professor
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Male infertility
Street address
Royan Institute for Biotechnology, End of Royan Street, Salman Street, Khourasgan, Isfahan, Iran
City
esfahan
Province
Isfehan
Postal code
8165131378
Phone
+98 913 314 3431
Email
tavalaee.royan@gmail.com

Sharing plan

Deidentified Individual Participant Data Set (IPD)
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Study Protocol
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Statistical Analysis Plan
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Informed Consent Form
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Clinical Study Report
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Analytic Code
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Data Dictionary
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Title and more details about the data/document
After receiving and recording the data,the results can be shared
When the data will become available and for how long
The time of document publication will be after the publication of the manuscript.
To whom data/document is available
Principle investigator
Under which criteria data/document could be used
Only data that has been statistically analyzed can be used.The results of the data are probably applicabe to research and treatment.
From where data/document is obtainable
Mohammad Hossein Nasr Esfahani, Pooyesh Isfahan Infertility Treatment Center
What processes are involved for a request to access data/document
Referring the Pooyesh Esfahan Infertility Treatment Center and asking from Dr. Nasr Esfahani
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