Assessment of the potential effects of l-carnitine and cinnamon supplementation on weight loss and body composition.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To assess efficacy of L-carnitine and cinnamon alone and in combination on body composition parameters in addition to compare between them. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: Sample of 28 obese and overweight adults in Babylon city, sample collection includes patients in places, or by internet, where interview take place according to specialize questionnaire height, weight, and body mass index were measured. RESULTS: Results: A significant differences P<0.05 among gender distribution between male and female. A significant difference between (150-160 cm, 160-170 cm) as compared with (170-180 cm, 180-190 cm). A significant difference between 170-180 cm as compared with 180-190 cm but non-significant differences between 150-160 cm as compared with 160-170 cm. A significant difference between 26-35 as compared with 36-45, 46-55, but non-significant differences between 36-45 as compared with 46-55. A significant difference between body weight, body fat, water content, skeletal muscle, and body mass index after treatment, but non-significant differences between protein, and inorganic salt after treatment and at baseline. A significant difference between body weight, water content, skeletal muscle, and body mass index in group treated with cinnamon as compared with negative control group, but non-significant differences between body fat, protein, and inorganic salt as compared with negative control group. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The prevalence of overweight and obesity within accepted range of that reported in Iraq, important relationship was reported between several life style risk factor, as soon as diagnose increase in weight and education health program for behavior of life style were high recommended.

Study of the spread of medicinal herbs use among patients suffering from chronic diseases in Iraq.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To assess the prevalence of medicinal plants, use among Iraqi patients with chronic disease and compare it with another study in same or different countries. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: A randomized Internet and social media questionnaire was used. In this cross-sectional study, peoples with chronic diseases from different age group were recruited. Participants had an internet questionnaire to answer. This questionnaire embraced age, gender, occupation, marital status, education level and some lifestyle details as demographic data, a large proportion of the questionnaire was related to herbs, both prescribed and OTC ones. RESULTS: Results: Gender distribution: about 70% of patients were female and 30% male. Education level: uneducated - 35%, primary school - 30%, secondary school - 25%, academic - 10%. Place of residence: 30% lived in urban and 70% in rural areas. Diseases distribution: 30% hypertension, 20% diabetes, 10% asthma, 10% migraine, 15% hyperlipidemia and 15% rheumatoid arthritis. Medicinal plants: 10% green tea, 5%fish oil, 15% anise 25% castor oil and 15% spirulina. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The study reported a high prevalence of medicinal herbs use among patients with chronic disease in Iraq. Several factors (rural residence, education, age, multiple chronic conditions and low quality of life) associated with medicinal herbs use. This knowledge will help policy makers and health care providers for decision making on the safe use of herbal medicine.

EVALUATION OF THE ANTIHYPERTENSIVE EFFECT OF THE THYME AMONG PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM HYPERTENSION IN IRAQ.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: of research is to test effectiveness of thyme on patients with high blood pressure and comparing between blood pressure of patients who took thyme and patients who did not among different ages. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: This study concerning patients with high blood pressure, (3/2022 to 3/2023). Collecting data was depend on interviewed patients directly to get information. A questionnaire paper includes several questions. Interview included convincing patients to take thyme for 15 days to know how could thyme effect on their blood pressure and over different patients. RESULTS: Results: A significant difference in distribution between male and female within control and treated groups. A significant difference between all age groups when compared control and treated group, and decrease in systolic blood pressure when patients taking own drug plus thyme compared with patients taking own drug alone, but non-significant decrease in systolic blood pressure when compared with control group, a non-significant decrease in systolic blood pressure in patients taking own drug when compared with control group. A significant decrease in diastolic blood pressure when patients taking own drug plus thyme in comparison with patients taking own drug alone, but non-significant reduction in diastolic blood pressure when compared with group which considered control, non-significant decrease in diastolic blood pressure in patients taking own drug when compared with control group. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Thyme herbs induce normalization hypertension and keeps blood pressure in usual range. The available clinical trial data provide evidence for the safe utilization of herbal preparations containing Thyme in the treatment of hypertension.