Effect of Ajwa date pits powder (Phoenix dactylifera L.) on body composition, lipid profile and blood pressure in patients with hyperlipidemia: A randomized clinical trial

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Human Nutrition, University of Agriculture Peshawar, KP Pakistan

2 Department of Health and Social Sciences, University of Bedfordshire, UK

3 Department of Environmental Design, Health and Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Allama Iqbal Open University Islamabad, Pakistan

4 Department of Biochemistry, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Pakistan

5 Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

6 Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China

7 Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi- Pakistan

8 Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, PR China

9 Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

10 Nan Shi Fu Zhong (NSFZ), Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing-China

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of Ajwa dates pit powder (ADP) on lipid profile, body composition and blood pressure in patients with hyperlipidemia.
Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled clinical study was carried out on 40 patients with total cholesterol >200 mg/dl, triglycerides >150 mg/dl and BMI >25, of either sex, aged 30-50 years, who were recruited through written consent. The patients were divided into two groups (n=20 each): the ADP and the control group (CG). All patients received the doctor’s prescribed class A statin (Rosuvastatin/ Atorvastatin) 10 mg/day, while 2.7 g ADP was given on daily basis before breakfast with lukewarm water for 40 days and the control group received the same amount of wheat flour. Body composition, blood pressure and lipid profile were determined at baseline, and after 20 and 40 days. Data were analyzed by using SPSS and GraphPad Prism.
Results: ADP significantly reduced body weight (p<0.001), BMI (p<0.001), fat mass, body fat percentage, visceral fat area and waist circumference compared to the control group. Similarly, ADP significantly (p=0.000) decreased the serum level of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein. 
Conclusion: ADP may have the potential to improve dyslipidemia and obesity.

Keywords


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