Comparing the efficacy of therapeutic packages in Persian Medicine with Classical Medicine in overweight patients: a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a major risk factor for many diseases. In Persian Medicine, much emphasis has been put on the balanced weight that maintains health. Therefore, the treatment of obesity is a top priority for health care in Persian and Classical Medicine. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of therapeutic packages in Persian Medicine with Classical Medicine in overweight treatment. METHODS: This randomized clinical trial was conducted at Ghaem Hospital in Mashhad, Iran, from August 22, 2016 to December 20, 2016. Sixty-nine overweight women with body mass index (BMI) of 27–29.9 and waist circumference more than 88 cm based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, were included in the study. To control bias in sampling, with considering that the age variable is an interventional factor in the process of effective treatment, in addition to using the random allocation method, the population were studied in three groups of 18–30 years old, 31–50 years old and >50 years old, who were classified by blocking method, and three types of treatment interventions were performed in each age group: Group A (Classical diet and orlistat), Group B (Persian diet and MDB) and Group C (classical diet and MDB). Calorie consumption was equivalent in the three groups. Blinding was done only for patients. The treatment period was three months in all three groups. Subsequently, we analyzed the effectiveness of the therapeutic packages on anthropometric index, body composition and laboratory parameters in the three groups. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. We used descriptive statistics, Kolmogorov–Smirnov, ANOVA, paired-samples t-test, non-parametric Wilcoxon test and regression methods for the analyses of primary and secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Although anthropometric index and fat mass decreased highly significantly in all three intervention groups (p<0.001), the B group led to a further decrease in BMI (Mean ± SD: 1.61±1.03), weight (Mean ± SD: 4.79±2.26), waist circumference (Mean ± SD: 4.25±0.59) and Fat mass (Mean ± SD: 3.24±2.70), compared with the other two groups. Lipid profile and FBS in groups B and C had significant decrease before and after the intervention, but Group A had no significant effect before or after the intervention. Other laboratory parameters did not change significantly before or after the treatment in the three groups. CONCLUSION: In this study, Classical Medicine and Persian Medicine had the same levels of effectiveness but Persian Medicine brought a greater reduction in body weight, fat mass%, lipid profile and fasting blood glucose than Classical Medicine during the study period. So Persian Medicine can be effective in weight loss as an alternative therapy, but more studies are needed. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (http://www.irct.ir) with the Irct ID: (IRCT 2016041927477N1). FUNDING: This paper is supported by a grant from the Research Council, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.