Effect of Chicory Extract Bath on Neonatal Bilirubin Levels: A Randomized Clinical Trial study

Jaundice is a common problem in infants, particularly premature infants (60-80%). The most common treatment of neonatal jaundice is phototherapy; however, traditional and complementary medicine is preferred due to complications of phototherapy in newborns. This study evaluates the effect of Chicory extract bath on bilirubin levels of infants with jaundice hospitalized in educational hospitals in Isfahan, Iran.
This study was a double blind randomized clinical trial in which participants included 64 mature infants with neonatal jaundice admitted to the selected hospitals of Isfahan. The infants were randomly assigned to two groups receiving phototherapy (n=32), and phototherapy with bath with 500 cc of chicory extract prepared by hydroalcoholic method and made in Iran (n=32). The infants were bathed by trained nurse with chicory extract before phototherapy as well as 24 and 48 hours after phototherapy; then, the infants received phototherapy. During treatment, serum bilirubin was measured and recorded every 24 hours continuously. Control infants only received phototherapy; during treatment, serum bilirubin was measured and recorded every 24 hours.
The results showed no significant difference in mean bilirubin levels between the two groups on admission (P=0.37), while mean bilirubin level of phototherapy infants was significantly higher than that of infants receiving phototherapy and chicory extract bath in 24 hours after (P=0.014), and 48 hours after intervention (P=0.011).
The results showed that chicory extract bath with phototherapy can be effective in reducing neonatal jaundice.