Randomized Placebo Controlled Trial Comparing the Efficacy of Satawar (Asparagus racemosus) & Zeera sufaid (Cuminum cyminum) in Qillat-ul-laban (Oligogalactia)

Abstract

A state when the production of milk in lactating mother is too scanty to be sufficient for the infant is called “Oligogalactia”. Its prevalence is 45–53.6% in India and is increasing nowadays. Present study was aimed to see the efficacy of satawar and zeera sufaid for improvement in lactation in the patients of oligogalactia. In this prospective randomized controlled trial, all apparently normal mothers delivered a single full term baby weighing not less than 2500 g at birth and between 10 and 90 days of age were included in the study. 60 patients of oligogalactia were divided into two groups. 30 received test drug and 30 patients received placebo. Main outcome measure was reduction in supplement milk. It was observed that before treatment the mean volume of supplemental milk in test group was 273.33±119.43 which reduced to 112.5±195.06 and is significant, while in control group it was 258.33±99.0 which increased and was 360±286.3. It indicates the efficacy of test drug is significant (P <0.001). This study showed that the drug is helpful in improving milk but did not evaluate long-term milk production because most of the mothers initiated breastfeeding successfully, and it was not practical to follow-up beyond the study period.