Comparison of the Effect of Cumin Cyminum and Nettle Oral Drops on the Breast Milk Sufficiency Indicators in the New Mother

Abstract

Objective: Due to the presence of phytoestrogens in the combinations of cumin and nettle, they may have milk increasing properties. The present study compared the effects of Cuminum cyminum and nettle oral drops on the indicators of breast milk adequacy in lactating mothers. Methods: A triple-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted on 117 lactating mothers with healthy 10-15 days infants who received cumin oral drops (n = 39), nettle oral drops (n = 39), or placebo (n = 39) from August 2020 to March 2021. Three study groups received 15 drops three times a day for four weeks. Infant weight, breastfeeding frequency, number of wet diapers, diaper weight and frequency of infant defecation were evaluated before and after the intervention. ANOVA and chi-square tests were carried out with SPSS software version 22. Results: At the beginning of the trial, there were no statistically significant differences between the three groups in infant weight (p = 0.891) breastfeeding frequency (p = 0.921), number of wet diapers (p = 0.783), diaper weight (p = 0.841) and frequency of infant defecation (p = 0.898) However, following the intervention, the mean scores of all the indicators were significantly more in the experimental groups than the placebo (p <0.001). In addition, all the indicators in the cumin group increased significantly compared to the nettle group (p <0.001). Conclusion: Considering the effectiveness of cumin and nettle in increasing milk and the availability of these native plants in Iran, it is suggested that they, especially cumin, be used postpartum to increase breast milk production. Keywords: Green Cumin; Nettle; Breastfeeding; Growth Parameters.