The Effect of Pomegranate Paste on Neonatal Jaundice Incidence: A Clinical Trial in Women during Pregnancy

Abstract

Purpose: Some topics such as women’s life style and nutrition and using some special medicines during pregnancy have been discussed and demonstrated as effective factors on infant’ health. Based on recommendations in Iranian traditional medicine, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of pomegranate paste consumed by women during their pregnancy on the neonatal jaundice incidence. Methods: In this single-blinded controlled clinical trial, 80 healthy pregnant women were randomly divided into 2 groups, as treatment and control. The treatment group members added pomegranate paste to their daily diet from the 34 th week of the pregnancy to birth, as administered. The levels of neonates’ bilirubin were checked in the 5 th day of the delivery. Results: Both the need of phototherapy and the mean level of neonates’ bilirubin in the group fed with pomegranate paste were significantly lesser compared to control group. The number of neonates who were undergone phototherapy in the pomegranate paste receiving group was significantly lesser than that in the control group ( P value = 0.029). By measuring the total bilirubin, statically significant difference between the treatment group and the control group was seen ( P value = 0.021). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest the possible effect of adding pomegranate paste to pregnant women’s diet on the incidence of neonatal jaundice.