{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,30]],"date-time":"2025-07-30T16:08:58Z","timestamp":1753891738129,"version":"3.41.2"},"reference-count":54,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,26]],"date-time":"2025-03-26T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1742947200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Nutr."],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Background and aim<\/jats:title><jats:p>Beta-thalassemia major patients often require regular blood transfusions, leading to iron overload, oxidative stress, and disturbances in lipid metabolism. The common use of vitamins and iron chelators helps mitigate some of these effects, but lipid profile abnormalities persist. The oak fruit (<jats:italic>Quercus brantii<\/jats:italic>) is rich in antioxidant compounds, such as flavonoids and polyphenols, which may help address these issues. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the aqueous extract of Iranian oak on the lipid profile and liver enzymes in beta-thalassemia major patients.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Materials and methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial included 60 beta-thalassemia major patients (29 males, 31 females; age 10\u201360\u202fyears) who regularly received blood transfusions and deferoxamine. Participants were divided into two groups: the intervention group received Iranian oak extract capsules (300\u202fmg\/day), and the control group received placebo capsules for 3\u202fmonths. Lipid profiles (cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL) and liver enzymes (ALT, AST) were measured before and after the intervention.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>The control group exhibited a significant increase in triglyceride levels (from 167 to 184\u202fmg\/dL, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.03), while no significant changes were observed in the intervention group. In contrast, total cholesterol significantly decreased in the oak extract group (from 125 to 112\u202fmg\/dL, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.003). HDL levels decreased in both groups (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f=\u202f0.008 for the intervention group; <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u202f=\u202f0.016 for the control group). No significant differences were found in LDL, ALT, or AST levels between the two groups.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>The aqueous extract of Iranian oak demonstrated potential lipid-modulating effects by preventing triglyceride increases and reducing cholesterol levels in beta-thalassemia major patients. These findings suggest that the antioxidant properties of the oak extract may help manage lipid abnormalities associated with iron overload, improving cardiovascular risk profiles in these patients. Further studies with larger sample sizes and extended follow-up are recommended to confirm these benefits.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Clinical trial tegistration<\/jats:title><jats:p><jats:ext-link>http:\/\/www.irct.ir<\/jats:ext-link>, identifier IRCT2015101411819N4.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fnut.2025.1537420","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,26]],"date-time":"2025-03-26T05:13:02Z","timestamp":1742965982000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["The effect of aqueous extract of Iranian oak (Quercus brantii) on lipid profile and liver enzymes in beta-thalassemia patients: a randomized controlled trial, double-blind, placebo-controlled"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Mahdi Babamir","family":"Satehi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Mahdi","family":"Karimi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ataollah","family":"Eskandari","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Hamid","family":"Mahmoodi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,26]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"954","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jopr.2013.10.002","article-title":"Therapeutic role of natural agents in beta-thalassemia: a review","volume":"6","author":"Kukreja","year":"2013","journal-title":"J Pharm Res"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"25","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ctim.2017.08.007","article-title":"The impact of silymarin on antioxidant and oxidative status in patients with \u03b2-thalassemia major: a crossover, randomized controlled trial","volume":"35","author":"Darvishi-Khezri","year":"2017","journal-title":"Complement Ther Med"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"486","DOI":"10.1309\/LMS0EOOUZSII2BNE","article-title":"Evaluation of serum insulin, glucose, lipid profile, and liver function in \u03b2-thalassemia major patients and their correlation with iron overload","volume":"41","author":"Shams","year":"2010","journal-title":"Lab Med"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"427","DOI":"10.3109\/03630269308997497","article-title":"\u03b2-Thalassemia in southwestern Iran","volume":"17","author":"Merat","year":"1993","journal-title":"Hemoglobin"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"285","DOI":"10.1081\/HEM-100105221","article-title":"The \u03b2-thalassemia mutation spectrum in the Iranian population","volume":"25","author":"Najmabadi","year":"2001","journal-title":"Hemoglobin"},{"key":"ref6","first-page":"e2009006","article-title":"Iron metabolism in thalassemia and sickle cell disease","volume-title":"Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis","author":"Mariani","year":"2009"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"24","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bcmd.2017.08.002","article-title":"Prevalence and predictors of cardiac and liver iron overload in patients with thalassemia: a multicenter study based on real-world data","volume":"66","author":"Krittayaphong","year":"2017","journal-title":"Blood Cell Mol Dis"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"98","DOI":"10.1016\/j.phoj.2017.12.005","article-title":"Growth and endocrine issues in children with thalassemia","volume":"2","author":"Singh","year":"2017","journal-title":"Pediatr Hematol Oncol J"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"679","DOI":"10.1007\/s00277-017-3223-3","article-title":"Increased levels of advanced glycation end products positively correlate with iron overload and oxidative stress markers in patients with \u03b2-thalassemia major","volume":"97","author":"Mirlohi","year":"2018","journal-title":"Ann Hematol"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"304","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cbpa.2011.01.004","article-title":"Ferritin protein nanocages use ion channels, catalytic sites, and nucleation channels to manage iron\/oxygen chemistry","volume":"15","author":"Theil","year":"2011","journal-title":"Curr Opin Chem Biol"},{"volume-title":"Harrison\u2019s principles of internal medicine","year":"2005","author":"Kasper","key":"ref11"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"405","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jacl.2008.10.008","article-title":"Plasma lipid profile and lipid peroxidation in beta-thalassemic children","volume":"2","author":"Nasr","year":"2008","journal-title":"J Clin Lipidol"},{"key":"ref13","first-page":"93","article-title":"Lipid profile in Jordanian children with \u03b2-thalassemia major","volume":"18","author":"Mansi","year":"2008","journal-title":"Int J Hematol Oncol. 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