Jujubes and Rosuvastatin: Comparison of Two Hypolipidemic Agents in Primary and Secondary Hyperlipidemic and Hypertensive Patients

Biotransformation in human body results accumulation of free radicals (reactive oxygen species or ROS). If patients LDL particles are more than normal in systemic circulation, get interacted with free radicals and form foamy cells; initial stage of coronary artery disease (CAD). Hyperlipidemia may be primary (genetic reason) or secondary which is acquired type of dyslipidemia. Free radicle formation in human body is very much normal phenomenon. Just reducing LDL or raising HDL may prevent interaction of LDL with reactive oxygen species (free radicals), escaping patient to develop CAD. Commonly used drugs in prophylaxis or treatment of dyslipidemia include statins (HMGCo-A reductase inhibitors), niacin, bile resins and fibric acids. There are alternative therapies for dyslipidemia including use of fibers, fruits, and vegetables. In Pakistan there are huge number of fruits and herbs which are getting popularity as hypolipidemic agents. One of the important fruit in Pakistan having hypolipidemic potential is JUJUBES (in urdu called Bair). In this study we have compared hypolipidemic effects of Bair with statin in hyperlipidemic patients. This study was conducted at Begum Jan hospital, Islamabad-Pakistan. Sixty hyperlipidemic patients were selected and divided in two groups. Their lipid profile (LP) was determined in the hospital and blood pressure (BP) was recorded at start of treatment. Group-1 was advised to take 10 mg tablet Rosuvastatin in divided doses, and group-2 was advised to use 500 mg Bair (JUJUBES) in divided times per day for the period of 2 months. RESULTS: after two months therapy their lipid profile and BP was re-determined and analyzed statistically by using SPSS version 22.00.01. It was observed that Rosuvastatin decreased systolic BP and LDL-c highly significantly (p-value < 0.001), while diastolic BP was reduced significantly (p-value <0.01) and HLD-c was increased significantly with p-value <0.01. In group-2 JUJUBES (Bair) reduced systolic BP and LDL-c significantly (p-value <0.01) but no significant changes were observed in diastolic BP and HDL-c in this group. CONCLUSION: It was concluded from the research study that Jujubes reduce LDL-c and systolic BP in hyperlipidemic patients, but lesser than statin group of antihyperlipidemic agents.