Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

LIVE: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)
Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 1/2020

Open Access 01-12-2020 | Sectio Ceasarea | Research article

Effects of date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L.) on labor and delivery outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Authors: Alireza Bagherzadeh Karimi, Asghar Elmi, Mojgan Mirghafourvand, Roghaiyeh Baghervand Navid

Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth | Issue 1/2020

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

The rate of cesarean section is increasing in all over the world with different drafts in various countries. This growth increases unpleasant outcomes of delivery. Recent studies explained the benefits of date palm fruit on labor process improvement. Date fruit can be considered as a factor for increasing vaginal delivery and also reducing the frequency of caesarean section in order to prevent its great complications. This systematic review has been designed to review clinical studies that investigate the effects of date palm fruit on labor outcomes (duration of labor stages, bishop score, and frequency of cesarean section) compared with routine cares.

Methods

This study was performed in 2019. Required data has been collected from electronic databases and manual searches. All randomized clinical trials evaluating the effects of date palm fruit on labor and delivery that were published from January 2000 to August 2019 in English and Persian languages, were incorporated in this systematic review. The methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated according to the risk of bias assessment of Cochrane handbook of systematic reviews, and were then reported using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement.

Results

Eight studies were included in the qualitative and quantitative synthesis. Meta-Analysis showed that date fruit consumption can significantly reduce active phase of labor (three trials with 380 participants; (MD = − 109.3, 95%CI (− 196.32, − 22.29; I2 = 89%), P = 0.01), and also it can significantly improve the bishop score (two trials with 320 participants; MD = 2.45, 95%CI (1.87, 3.04; I2 = 0%), P < 0.00001). Date fruit consumption had no effects on the duration of first, second, and third stages of labor, and the frequency of cesarean section.

Conclusion

Date can reduce the duration of active phase and improve the bishop score; however, due to from the low to mediate quality of the studies; it seems that the other studies are needed to prove these results better than this.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Bick D. Caesarean section. Clinical guideline. National Collaborating Centre for Women's and Children's health: commissioned by the National Institute for clinical excellence. Worldviews Evid-Based Nurs. 2004;1(3):198–9..PubMedCrossRef
2.
Althabe F, Sosa C, Belizan JM, Gibbons L, Jacquerioz F, Bergel E. Cesarean section rates and maternal and neonatal mortality in low, medium, and high-income countries: an ecological study. Birth. 2006;33:270–7.PubMedCrossRef
3.
Omani-Samani R, Almasi-Hashiani A, Safiri S, Rezaeinejad M, Shokri F, Morasae EK, et al. Why caesarean is more unequally concentrated among better-off people in Tehran? A concentration index decomposition approach. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2019;73(2):182–7.PubMedCrossRef
4.
5.
Pirjani R, Afrakhteh M, Sepidarkish M, Nariman S, Shirazi M, Moini A, et al. ‘Elective caesarean section at 38–39 weeks gestation compared to> 39 weeks on neonatal outcomes: a prospective cohort study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2018;18(1):140.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
6.
Linton A, Peterson MR, Williams TV. Effects of maternal characteristics on cesarean delivery rates among U.S. Department of Defense healthcare beneciaries, 1996–2002. Birth. 2004;31:3–11.PubMedCrossRef
7.
Al-Mufti R, McCarthy A, Fisk NM. Obstetrician’s personal choice and mode of delivery. Lancet. 1996;347:544.PubMedCrossRef
8.
Wu JM, Hundley AF, Visco AG. Elective primary cesarean delivery: attitudes of urogynecology and maternal-fetal medicine specialists. Obstet Gynecol. 2005;105:301–6.PubMedCrossRef
9.
Cotzias CS, Paterson-Brown S, Fisk NM. Obstetricians say yes to maternal request for elective cesarean section: a survey of current opinion. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2001;97:15–6.PubMedCrossRef
10.
Porreco RP, Thorp JA. The cesarean birth epidemic: trends, causes, and solutions. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1996;175:369–74.PubMedCrossRef
11.
Hammamy E, Arulkumarans S. Poor progress of labour. Curr Obstet Gynaecol. 2005;15(1):1–8.CrossRef
12.
Simkin P, Ancheta RS. The labor progress handbook: early interventions to prevent and treat dystocia. 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell; 2005.
13.
14.
15.
Dowswell T, Kelly A, Livio S, Norman J, Alfirevic Z. Different methods for the induction of labour in outpatient settings. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010;8:CD007701.
16.
Tranmer JE, Hodnett ED, Hannah ME, Stevens BJ. The effect of unrestricted oral carbohydrate intake on labor progress. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2005;34(3):319–28.PubMedCrossRef
17.
18.
19.
Sleutel M, Golden SS. Fasting in labor: relic or requirement. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 1999;28(5):507–12.PubMedCrossRef
20.
Scheepers HC, Thans MC, de Jong PA, Essed GG, Le Cessie S, Kanhai HH. Eating and drinking in labor: the influence of caregiver advice on women behavior. Birth. 2001;28(2):119–23.PubMedCrossRef
21.
Al-Farsi MA, Lee CY. Nutritional and functional properties of dates: a review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2008;48(10):877–87.PubMedCrossRef
22.
Al-Shahib W, Marshall RJ. The fruit of the date palm: it's possible use as the best food for the future? Int J Food SciNutr. 2003;54(4):247–59.
23.
Alaei H, Pakdaman M. The nutrition therapy from the holy Quran and science perspective. Specialized J Quran and Sci. 2009;3(5):83–112.
24.
25.
26.
Baliga MS, Baliga BRV, Kandathil SM, Bhat HP, Vayalil PK. A review of the chemistry and pharmacology of the date fruits (Phoenix dactylifera L.). Food Res Int. 2011;44:1812e1822.
27.
Odent M. Laboring women are not marathon runners. Midwifery Today Childbirth Educ. 1994;31:23e25.
28.
Makarem SN. Tafsirenemooneh, vol. 13. Ghom: Darolketabe Al-Eslamiyeh; 2008.
29.
Jorjani ME. Zakhireye Kharazm Shahi Qom. Iran: Ehya’e tibbe tabiee; 2012.
30.
Briggs JP. Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Health Practice. In: Kasper DL, Fauci AS, Hauser SL, Longo DL, Jameson JL, Loscalzo J, editors. Harrison's principles of internal medicine. 1. New York: Mcgraw-hill; 2015. p. 14e–1.
31.
Moini, Jazani A, Hamdi K, Tansaz M, Nazemiyeh H, Sadeghi Bazargani H, Fazljou SMB, Nasimi Doost R. Herbal Medicine for Oligomenorrhea and Amenorrhea: A Systematic Review of Ancient and Conventional Medicine. Biomed Res Int. 2018;2018:1–22.
32.
Nasiri M, Gheibi Z, Miri A, Rahmani J, Asadi M, Sadeghi O, et al. Effects of consuming date fruits (Phoenix dactylifera Linn) on gestation, labor, and delivery: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials. Complement Ther Med. 2019;45:71–84.
33.
Kordi M, Aghaei Meybodi F, Tara F, Nemati M, Taghi SM. The effect of late pregnancy consumption of date fruit on cervical ripening in nulliparous women. Midwifery Reprod Health. 2014;2(3):150–6.
34.
Kordi M, Meybodi FA, Tara F, Fakari FR, Nemati M, Shakeri M. Effect of dates in late pregnancy on the duration of labor in nulliparous women. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2017;22(5):383.PubMedPubMedCentral
35.
Kordi M, Aghaei Meybodi F, Tara F, Nematy M, Shakeri MT. The effect of date consumption in late pregnancy on the onset of labor in nulliparous women. Iranian J Obstetrics Gynecol Infertil. 2013;16(77):9–15.
36.
Kariman N, Jadidi MY, Sang SJB, Rahbar N, Afrakhteh M, Lary H. The effect of consumption date fruit on cervical ripening and delivery outcomes. Pajoohande. 2015;20(2):72–7.
37.
Jadidi MY, Sang SJB, Kariman N, Lari H. The effect of date fruit consumption on spontaneous labor. J Res Religion Health. 2015;1(3):4–10.
38.
Kordi M, Nasiri N, Safarian M, Esmaili H, Shadjuo K. The effect of oral honey-date syrup intake during labor on labor progress of nulliparous women. Iranian J Obstetrics Gynecol Infertil. 2010;13(2):23–30.
39.
Ahmed IE, Mirghani HO, Mesaik MA, Ibrahim YM, Amin TQ. Effects of date fruit consumption on labour and vaginal delivery in Tabuk, KSA. J Taibah Univ Med Sci. 2018;13(6):557–63.
40.
Razali N, Mohd Nahwari SH, Sulaiman S, Hassan J. Date fruit consumption at term: effect on length of gestation, labour and delivery. J Obstet Gynaecol. 2017;37(5):595–600.PubMedCrossRef
41.
Hayes EJ, Weinstein L. Improving patient safety and uniformity of care by a standardized regimen for the use of oxytocin. Am J Obstetrics Gynecol. 2007;198:622 e1–e7.
42.
Svardby K, Nordstrom L, Sellstrom E. Primiparas with or without oxytocin augmentation: a prospective descriptive study. J Clin Nurs. 2007;16:179–84.PubMedCrossRef
43.
Jeffery P, Das A, Dasgupta J, Jeffery R. Unmonitored intrapartum oxytocin use in home deliveries: evidence from Uttar Pradesh, India. Reprod Health Matters. 2007;15:172–8.PubMedCrossRef
44.
Khalil K, Cherine M, Elnoury A, Sholkamy H, Breebaart M, Hassanein N. Labor augmentation in an Egyptian teachinghospital. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2004;85:74–80.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
45.
Asgarisafdar A, DaghighKia H, Farhadi R. Physiology of parturition. Int J Adv Biol Biomed Res. 2013;1(3):214–21.
46.
Speroff L, Fritz MA. Clinical gynaecologic endocrinology and infertility. New York: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2005.
47.
Al-Dossari AR, Ahmad ER, Al Qahtani NH. Effect of eating dates and drinking water versus IV fluids during labor on labor and neonatal outcomes. IOSR J Nurs Health Sci. 2017;6(4):86e94.
48.
Khadem N, Sharaphy A, Latifnejad R, Hammod N, Ibrahimzadeh S. Comparing the efficacy of dates and oxytocin in the management of postpartumhemorrhage. Shiraz EMed J. 2007;8:64e71 http://​emedicalj.​portal.​tools.
49.
Ricci SS, Kyle T. Maternity and Pediatric Nursing. 2nd ed. Philadelpia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2009. p. 654–6.
50.
Tan TC, Yan SY, Chua TM, Biswas A, Chong YS. A randomised controlled trial of lowdose misoprostol and dinoprostone vaginal pessaries for cervical priming. BJOG Int J Obstet Gynaecol. 2010;117(10):1270–7.CrossRef
51.
Pennell CE, Henderson JJ, O’Neill MJ, McCleery S, Doherty DA, Dickinson JE. Induction of labour in nulliparous women with an unfavorable cervix: a randomized controlled trial comparing double and single balloon catheters and PGE gel. BJOG Int J Obstet Gynaecol. 2009;116(11):1443–52.CrossRef
52.
Guerra GV, Cecatt JG, Souza JP, Faundes A, Morais SS, Gulmezoglu AM, et al. Factors and outcomes associated with the induction of labour in Latin America. Bull World Health Organ. 2011;89:657–65.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
53.
Al-Shaikh GK, Wahabi HA, Fayed AA, Esmaeil SA, Al-Malki. Factors associated with successful induction of labor. Saudi Med J. 2012;33(3):298–303.PubMed
54.
Cunningham GF, Kenneth LJ, Steven BL, John HC, Gilstrap III, Larry C, Katharine WD. Williams obstetrics. 23 nded. New York: Mc Graw Hill; 2010.
55.
Kashanian M, Parashi Sh, Nikfarjam S. Comparison the effect of two methods of intracervical Foley catheter insertion and Low-dose oxytocin infusion to improve Bishop Score in term pregnancies. Urmia Med J. 2007;18(3):562–66.
56.
Mojahed Sh, Aflatoonian A, Khadem N, Dehghani Firoozabadi R, Karimi M. The evaluation of the effect of half-ripe date on bleeding after vaginal delivery. Scientific Research Journal of Yazd Shahid Sadooghi University of Medical Sciences. 2012;20(2):159–66.
57.
Yazdani Sh, Javadian  M, Boozari Z, Ghanbari S. Comparing the efficacy ofintracervical Foley catheter with vaginal prostaglandin  suppository for cervicalripening before delivery induction. Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. 2010;20(79):56–61.
Metadata
Title
Effects of date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L.) on labor and delivery outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors
Alireza Bagherzadeh Karimi
Asghar Elmi
Mojgan Mirghafourvand
Roghaiyeh Baghervand Navid
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2393
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-02915-x

Other articles of this Issue 1/2020

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 1/2020 Go to the issue

Research article

Maternal satisfaction among vaginal and cesarean section delivery care services in Bahir Dar city health facilities, Northwest Ethiopia: a facility-based comparative cross-sectional study

Research article

Burden of pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy among women attending ante-natal clinic, Ethiopia:a cross-sectional study

Research article

Exploring the use and experience of an infant feeding genogram to facilitate an assets-based approach to support infant feeding

Research article

Factors associated with the uptake of immediate postpartum intrauterine contraceptive devices (PPIUCD) in Rwanda: a mixed methods study

Research article

Incidence and determinants of neonatal near miss in south Ethiopia: a prospective cohort study

Research article

Addressing ethnic disparity in antenatal care: a qualitative evaluation of midwives’ experiences with the MAMAACT intervention