The Effect of a Persian Herbal Medicine Compound on the Lipid Profiles of Patients with Dyslipidemia: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

INTRODUCTION: It has been well established in the world that lipid disorders promote the development of atherosclerosis and its clinical consequences. This study aimed to assess the impacts of a Persian medicinal (PM) compound on lipid profile. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 21 to October 21, 2020, a randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial was conducted with 74 dyslipidemic patients, who were randomly divided into two equally populated groups: one prescribed with a Persian medicinal herbal compound (n = 37) and a placebo group (n = 37). A Persian herbal medicine including fenugreek, sumac, and purslane is introduced. Biochemical parameters including 12-hour fasting serum levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and triglyceride (TG) were measured before the initiation and after the completion of study protocol. RESULTS: Percent changes of biochemical parameters include the following: intervention group = cholesterol: 35.22, Tg: 45.91, LDL: 24.81, HDL: 2.05, VLDL: 8.94 and placebo group = cholesterol: 6.94, Tg: -7.3, LDL: 7.37, HDL: 2.88, VLDL: -0.14. The serum levels of total cholesterol (p=0.01) and LDL (p=0.01) significantly decreased and no increase was recorded in HDL (p=0.03) levels over time in the intervention group. Furthermore, between-group analysis showed a statistically significant difference between the intervention and placebo groups in this regard. VLDL (p=0.2) and TG (p=0.2) levels also decreased, however not significantly. CONCLUSION: This study showed that a Persian medicinal herbal compound could be safe and beneficial to decrease the levels of serum cholesterol and LDL in dyslipidemic patients. However, larger long-term studies are recommended to clarify this effect.

Determining the TSH reference range in national newborn screening program for congenital hypothyroidism.

Objective: Since the initiation of the thyroid screening program in Iran in 2005, 5 mIU/L has been selected as the threshold for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) for screening for congenital hypothyroidism. Given the specific disease pattern in the region and current controversies of the TSH cutoff point, a new cutoff point has been proposed in this study.Methods: This study was conducted on the existing database of the screening program consisting of 127,112 neonates in Markazi Province, center of Iran, during 2006-2012. Data on 614 referred neonates consisting of 414 neonates diagnosed of having hypothyroidism and 200 screened healthy neonates, were analyzed. The heel prick test had been done on the studied neonates to determine the TSH levels. The receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve and diagnostic values were used for data analysis.Results: The 5-mIU/L cutoff point in the study had a sensitivity and specificity and AUC of 86.5, 10 and 47%, respectively. Among the eleven selected cutoff points, 6.5 mIU/L had the appropriate sensitivity, specificity and AUC (58.9, 56.5 and 57%, respectively), negative and positive likelihood ratios (0.73 and 1.35, respectively).Conclusion: Given the very low specificity of the 5-mIU/L cutoff point for referral and with respect to the high rate of referrals and many false positive cases, we suggest to use the 6.5-mIU/L cutoff point which is more suitable.