Comparative study of Majun-e-khabsul hadeed and standard treatment for iron deficiency anemia in women of reproductive age

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is prevalent among women of reproductive age, leading to adverse effects on health and quality of life. IDA affects an estimated 30% of the global population. While iron supplementation remains the standard treatment, adherence to therapy and side effects often limit its effectiveness. Majun e Khabsul Hadeed, a traditional Unani formulation, is believed to have therapeutic effects on anemia. However, scientific evidence on its efficacy remains sparse. The objective of the study is to evaluate the effect of Majun e Khabsul Hadeed in comparison with standard therapy on iron deficiency anemia in women of reproductive age. A randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 120 women of reproductive age diagnosed with Iron Deficiency Anemia. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: one receiving Majune Khabsul Hadeed 5gms twice daily and the other receiving standard oral iron supplementation, Tab Orofer XT 1 BD. The primary outcomes will include changes in hemoglobin levels and serum ferritin, while secondary outcomes include changes in RBC indices. All parameters were assessed before and after treatment. Significant changes were observed in primary outcome measures i.e. both Hb% and serum ferritin with p0.05 in both primary and secondary outcome measures. Majune khabsul hadeed group experienced a significant increase in Hb from baseline but had a lower post-treatment haemoglobin compared to the control group, hence demonstrating non-inferiority trend towards Tab Orofer in improving hemoglobin levels and managing iron deficiency anemia. However, since no non-inferiority margin was specified a priori, the results should be interpreted as exploratory rather than confirmatory.Both treatments were well-tolerated, with Majune khabsul hadeed showing a slightly better safety profile. Majune khabsul hadeed can provide comparable efficacy with potentially fewer side effects, supporting its use in iron-deficiency anemia treatment protocols.