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Effect of Tahneek on Hypoglycemia in Newborn Infants

Effect of Tahneek With Dates on Hypoglycemia in Newborn Infants: A Randomised Control Trial

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03726697
Acronym
THIN
Enrollment
324
Registered
2018-10-31
Start date
2018-11-01
Completion date
2019-05-22
Last updated
2019-05-23

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Infant, Small for Gestational Age, Intrauterine Growth Restriction, Macrosomia, Fetal, Neonatal Hypoglycemia, Neonatal; Hypoglycemia, Diabetes, Maternal, Premature Infant

Keywords

Tahneek, Neonatal; Hypoglycemia, Diabetes, Maternal, Neonatal Hypoglycemia, late preterm infants, Prevention, IUGR

Brief summary

Tahneek is an Arabic word which means putting something sweet such as dates, in the infant's mouth after the birth. Neonatal hypoglycemia is common in the first few days after birth. Up to 15 % of normal newborn babies will have low blood glucose concentrations. It has been demonstrated that treatment of neonatal hypoglycemia with oral dextrose gel was more effective than feeding alone in reversing the hypoglycemia, and also reduced the rate of NICU admission. investigators study is using dates to asses its effect on hypoglycemia in infants at risk.

Detailed description

Tahneek is an Arabic word which means putting something sweet such as dates, in the infant's mouth after the birth. It is a noble practice in Islam, with which the newborn is greeted upon entering into life, usually before milk feeds. It is done by rubbing a softened date on the palate of the new-born just after the birth. The tahneek also exercises the muscles of the mouth and helps with the circulation of blood in the mouth - this may help the baby to be able to suck and take mother's milk. Neonatal hypoglycemia is common in the first few days after birth. Up to 15 % but the incidence in babies with risk factors is much greater upto 50 % in infants of diabetic mothers, large and small babies and 66 % in preterm babies. Neonatal hypoglycemia is associated with brain damage, death and developmental delay in later life. Treatment of neonatal hypoglycemia with oral dextrose gel was more effective than feeding alone in reversing hypoglycemia, and thus reducing the rate of NICU admission for hypoglycemia. investigators study is using dates to asses its effect on hypoglycemia in infant at risk.

Interventions

OTHERTahneek

A single dose of soft date containing glucose equivalent to 200mg/kg at 1 h after birth will be massaged into the buccal mucosa of the palate and cheek from right to left side, until the date paste is fully absorbed

Sponsors

King Abdullah International Medical Research Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

Parents and Statistician are blinded

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
No minimum to 1 Hours
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Babies at risk of hypoglycemia less than 1 hour old admitted to the normal nursery. * Infants of diabetic mothers (any type of diabetes) * Late Preterms (34 - 37 weeks' gestation) * Low birth weight (\< 2.5 kg ) or Small for gestational age * Large for gestational age (\> 4 kg or \> 90th centile on Fenton's growth chart)

Exclusion criteria

* Major congenital abnormality including severe cleft lip and palate. * Babies requiring NICU admission immediately after birth * Babies less than 34 weeks of age. * Babies whose parents refused to consent

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Hypoglycemiafirst 48 hours of lifeinfants who meet eligibility criteria and parents have consented will receive a single dose of soft date, prepacked by the pharmacy containing glucose equivalent to 200mg/kg within 1 h after birth. Assess glucose level after 1 feed compared to controls with similar risk factors who are not received Tahneek. hypoglycemia defined as any blood glucose concentration \< 2.6 mmol/L.
Admission to NICU for hypoglycemiafirst 48 hours of lifeinfants at-risk will be followed to measure NICU admission data and glucose values during hospitalization.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Hyperglycemia48 hoursinfants at-risk who received Tahneek will be followed until hospital discharge to measure NICU admission data and glucose values during hospitalization. hyperglycemia defined as any blood glucose concentration \> 10 mmol/L.
Breastfeeding6 monthswill asses the breastfeeding rate in the study infants, compared to controls at discharge from hospital (full or exclusive) and at 6months of age.
Pain scale48 hoursPain scale as measured by Neonatal intensive pain scale during the first 48 hrs of hospital stay

Countries

Saudi Arabia

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026