THE EFFECT OF AJWA DATES (Phoenix dactylifera L) CONSUMPTION ON TOTAL CHOLESTEROL SERUM LEVELS OF PERIMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Farah Ekawati Mulyadi; Berry E. Hasbi; Nasruddin A. Mappaware; Ida Royani; Erlin Syharil; Muhammad Yusuf Ashadin Ahmad; Raisha Apriliani

Farah Ekawati Mulyadi Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Muslim Indonesia, Indonesia
Berry E. Hasbi Departement of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Muslim Indonesia, Indonesia
Nasruddin A. Mappaware Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Muslim Indonesia, Indonesia
Ida Royani Department of Nutritional Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Muslim Indonesia, Indonesia
Erlin Syharil Department of Nutritional Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Muslim Indonesia, Indonesia
Muhammad Yusuf Ashadin Ahmad Graduate School, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Muslim Indonesia
Raisha Apriliani Graduate School, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Muslim Indonesia

Keywords: Ajwa dates, Total Cholesterol Levels, Perimenopause

Abstract

Abstract Objective: This study aimed to analyze the effect of daily consumption of Ajwa dates on the total cholesterol serum levels of perimenopausal women Method: This experimental study with pre-post control design was conducted in Sitti Khadijah I Muhammadiyah Hospital, Makassar, Indonesia, from May until July 2024. This study involved 32 perimenopausal subjects aged 43- 48 years divided into 2 groups randomly (16 subjects as the intervention group, and 16 subjects as the control group). Subjects in the intervention group consumed 7 pieces of Ajwa dates every morning for 8 weeks, while subjects in the control group did not consume dates. Blood samples were taken twice for all subjects, first at the beginning of the study and the second at 8 weeks after the first blood sampling. Total cholesterol (TC) was analyzed using standard methodologies. Collected data was statistically analyzed using SPSS Statistics 26. Results: Consuming 7 pieces of Ajwa dates daily for 8 weeks significantly (p<0.05) lower total cholesterol (TC) serum levels. The changes in total cholesterol levels in the intervention and control groups were significantly different (p 0.001). Total cholesterol levels in the intervention group decreased by 11,12 ± 28,38% compared to those in the control group which increased by 6,41±20,85%. Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed the nutritional and health potentials of Ajwa dates as an alternative to herbal medicine to manage hypercholesterolemia, particularly in perimenopause women.