Background and Objective: Given the high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and the limitations of conventional pharmacological treatments, this study aimed to investigate the effect of a combination of amaranth leaf extract and licorice root extract on the lipid profile and to analyze its relationship with the temperament of patients with hyperlipidemia.
Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in 2024 on 74 adult patients with hyperlipidemia attending clinics affiliated with Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran. Participants completed a study-specific questionnaire and a temperament assessment questionnaire and provided written informed consent. Convenience sampling was employed, and participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (receiving a combination capsule of amaranth [500 mg/kg BW] and licorice [380 mg/kg BW] for 42 days) or a control group (receiving a placebo). Data were collected using questionnaires and laboratory protocols and analyzed using SPSS software (version 22) via correlation and analysis of variance.
Results: In the intervention group, significant reductions were observed in total cholesterol (-45.8 ± 22.1), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-32.4 ± 18.5), and triglycerides (-38.6 ± 26.4), alongside a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, compared to the control group (+2.1 ± 12.4, +1.8 ± 18.6, +8.5 ± 85.3, and -0.5 ± 4.2, respectively). Additionally, the most common temperament pattern among patients was "cold and moist" (37.7%), which aligns with the concepts of Iranian medicine.
Conclusion: Consumption of a combination of amaranth and licorice extracts over 42 days significantly improves the lipid profile. These findings support the clinical application of this herbal formulation in the management of hyperlipidemia and its alignment with temperament-based therapies (based on Avicenna's temperament indices and validated by Iranian medicine specialists).