The Effects of Herbs-Infused Water on Body Weight and Waist Circumference in Patients With Metabolic Syndrome

Abstract

— Adults with metabolic syndrome have higher risks to suffer non communicable diseases like diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. In daily life, some Indonesian communities have routinely drunk spices and herbs-infused water instead of drinking pure water. However, the efficacy of this mixed water for patients with metabolic syndrome has not been established. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the effects of herbs-infused water (HIW) on body weight and waist circumference in patients with metabolic syndrome. This study used a quasi-experiment with pre-posttests control group design. A number of 24 patients who had metabolic syndrome and visited to Cakranegara Health Centre was participated in this study. They were randomly divided into two groups: control group drank water as usual whilst treatment group drank water as usual + 250 ml herbs-infused water for 14 days. Their body weight and waist circumference were measured before and after intervention. There were only 23 research participants who completed this study. Herbs-infused water contained 12,769 ppm of total antioxidant activity. After 14 days treatment, the body weight mean (56.7±9.3 kg) in the treatment group reduced significantly, compared with body weight mean (59.8±10.2 kg) before treatment and (68.1±18 kg) in the control group. In addition, a slightly reduction of waist circumference occurred in the treatment group but not in the control group. In conclusion, regular drinking of 250 ml herbs-infused water for 14 days is able to reduce by 3 kg body weight in patients with metabolic syndrome. This finding may provide an alternative nutrition therapy for metabolic syndrome in future.