A study to assess the effect of Iranian traditional medicine regimen for women in prevention of neonatal non-physiologic jaundice

Abstract

In Iranian traditional medicine foods of cold nature are prescribed to pregnant women in order to prevent pathologic jaundice in their newborn. This interventional study was conducted to assess the effect of diet of cold nature, during pregnancy on non-physiological jaundice occurrence in new born. The intervention group included 70 pregnant women who received diet based on food with cold nature. The control group included 70 women referred to one of hospitals in Tehran city for delivery purpose. Appearance of clinical neonatal jaundice within 24 hrs of birth was significantly more among neonates born from mothers in control group compared to neonates born from mothers in intervention group (p=0.002). This study showed some beneficiary effect of consumption of food with cold nature in reducing neonatal non-physiologic jaundice, however, further studies with larger sample size and controlled condition are required on this subject.