Comparative Clinical Study of Nabayas Louha: An Ayurvedic HaematinicPreparation and a Conventional Iron Preparation in Female Anemic Patients

Abstract

Anemia is common nutritional disorder and it affects one third of population around the globe. Assessing nutritional status of human is an inevitable process to lead a healthy life. Females are affected significantly by anemia compare to male. According to WHO report, developing herbs-based formulation to treat anemic patients is safe and less toxic. In this study a double-blind, cross group comparative clinical trial of Nabayas Louha (NBL) a Ayurvedic haematinic preparation with G-Iron Folic Acid (IFA) was undertaken on 66 female anemic volunteers with age between 20-30 years. It was seen that NBL after being administered at a daily dose of 500 mg for 30 days significantly increased the hemoglobin content of the treated volunteers. It produced an increase in serum iron content and decreases total iron binding capacity. The ESR level was also decreased. These effects of NBL were found to be comparable with IFA. There was a marked decrease in WBC count noticed, however statistically significant increase in the lymphocytes count was seen. Furthermore, the level of toxicity related enzymes SGOT and SGPT was not altered significantly in the NBL treated group which vividly confirm that supplementation of NBL is not toxic. In conclusion, these findings recommend use of NBL as supplement in the treatment of iron deficiency anemia and WBC disorders Keywords: Anemia; Ayurvedic; Haematinic; Nabayas louha Abbreviations: World health organization (WHO); Nabayas louha (NBL); Iron folic acid (IFA); Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR); White blood cell (WBC); Glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT); serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT); Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT); Total iron binding capacity (TIBC); Iron deficiency anemia (IDA)