Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Science Communicator Platform

Stay connected! Follow us on X network (Twitter):
Share this content! On (X network) By
Effectiveness of Acupuncture and a Cumin-Based Herbal Formula on Anthropometric Indices of Overweight Patients: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial Publisher



Adelmehraban MS1, 2 ; Karimi M1 ; Alipour R3 ; Mirali Z4 ; Ghaem H5 ; Zargaran A6 ; Mirzaei K7 ; Kazemi AH1, 8
Authors
Show Affiliations
Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Persian Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Traditional Persian Medicine and Complementary Medicine (PerCoMed) Student Association, Students’ Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Traditional Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Department of Nutrition, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
  5. 5. Epidemiology Department, School of Health, Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
  6. 6. Department of Traditional Pharmacy, School of Persian Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  7. 7. Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  8. 8. International School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China

Source: Journal of Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders Published:2024


Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of a Persian Medicine herbal formula and a Traditional Chinese Medicine intervention (acupuncture) on the improvement of weight and anthropometric indices of overweight patients. Methods: This study was a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind clinical trial. A total of 200 overweight patients were randomly divided into 4 groups receiving either (1) Herbal capsule, (2) placebo capsule, (3) acupuncture, or (4) sham acupuncture. Herbal capsules were filled with hydroethanolic extract of Cuminum cyminum L. seed, Apium graveolens L. seed, Ruta graveolens L. seed, Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague seed, Origanum majorana L. leaf, and sodium tetraborate and placebo capsules with avicel. Patients received two 500mg capsules or 12 acupuncture sessions over 8 weeks. Study outcomes, consisted of weight, body mass index (BMI), anthropometric indices including chest, arm, wrist, waist, hip, and leg circumferences, and waist/hip ratio (WHR), were evaluated 3 times: before treatment, after 4 weeks, and after 8 weeks. Results: The herbal formula significantly reduced weight, BMI, WHR, and chest and waist circumferences compared to the placebo capsule (P < 0.05). Furthermore, acupuncture improved all study outcomes, except WHR, compared to sham acupuncture (P < 0.05). Despite the effects of herbal formula and acupuncture were the same on WHR and chest, waist, and leg circumferences (P < 0.05), acupuncture reduced weight, BMI, and arm, wrist, and hip circumferences more than herbal formula (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Complementary and alternative therapeutic methods, such as herbal treatments and acupuncture, show promising effects in improving weight and anthropometric indices of overweight patients. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Tehran University of Medical Sciences 2024.
Related Docs
1. Non-Invasive Body Contouring Technologies: An Updated Narrative Review, Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (2024)
2. Effects of Komouni Formulation (Herbal Product of Persian Medicine) With a Low-Calorie Diet on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Overweight and Obese Women: A Triple-Blinded Randomized Clinical Trial, Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research (2023)
3. The Effects of an Anti-Inflammatory Diet Alone or in Combination With Acupuncture on Mental Health, Anthropometric Indices, and Metabolic Status in Diabetic Patients With Depression: A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial, Nutrition and Diabetes (2025)
Experts (# of related papers)
View all Related Experts
Nazli Namazi (2)
Mohammad Hossein Ayati (2)