The Effect of oral Administration of Cichorium Intybus on Reduction of Liver Enzymes in Patients with Major Thalassemia: Randomized Clinical Trial Study

Beta-thalassemia is a common hematological disorder. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of oral administration of Cichorium intybus on reduction of liver enzymes in patients with major thalassemia. This study was randomized clinical trial study that was conducted on 100 patients with age over 2 years and major thalassemia referred to Mohammad Kermanshahi Hospital of Kermanshah city (Iran) in 2019-2020. Eligible patients were randomly divided into two intervention (n=50), and control (n=50)groups.The intervention group received 0.028mg/kg/day Cichorium intybus as a medicinal supplement and control group received placebo for 3 months. All patients were evaluated and followed up for 6 months. The Liver enzymes levels (AST and ALT) were measured at four time periods (baseline, 1.5, 3 and 6 months after intervention). Ferritin was also measured at three time periods (baseline, 3, and 6 months after the intervention).The SPSS software version 24.0 was used to data analysis. The results of Repeated Measure ANOVA test showed that therewere significant statistical differencebetween the two groups of intervention and control in term of ALT and AST at different time periods, so that the means of ALT and AST after the interventionwere lower in intervention group than control group(p <0.05). However, there wasno significant statistical differencebetween the two groups of intervention and controlin term of ferritin at different time periods (P>0.05).  Oral administration of Cichorium intybus can reduce liver enzyme levels (ALT and AST) in patients with thalassemia major. Therefore, Chicory administration in patients with major thalassemia is suggested.