The Effects of Ajwa Dates Consumption (Phoenix dactylifera L), on Ovarian Follicular Features with Transvaginal Ultrasound in Perimenopausal Women

doi:10.26599/AUDT.2026.250060

Advanced Ultrasound in Diagnosis and Therapy ›› 2026, Vol. 10 ›› Issue (1): 69-73.doi: 10.26599/AUDT.2026.250060

The Effects of Ajwa Dates Consumption (Phoenix dactylifera L), on Ovarian Follicular Features with Transvaginal Ultrasound in Perimenopausal Women

Syahril Erlina, Abdullah Nusratuddinb, Ilyas Muhammadc, As’ad Suryanid, Choridah Linae, Natzir Rosdianaf, Kurniawan Liong Boyg, Bahar Burhanuddinh, Mappaware Nasrudin A.i,*(), Mulyadi Farah Ekawatij, Yacca Susdiaman Sudink

^aDepartment of Radiology, Universitas Muslim Indonesia, Makassar, Indonesia
^bDepartment of Obstetric and Gynecology, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
^cDepartment of Radiology, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
^dDepartment of Clinical Nutrition, University of Hasanuddin, Makassar, Indonesia
^eDepartment of Radiology, Gajah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
^fDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
^gDepartment of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
^hFaculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
ⁱDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Muslim Indonesia, Makassar, Indonesia
^jDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Muslim Indonesia, Makassar, Indonesia
^kFaculty of Medicine, Universitas Muslim Indonesia, Makassar, Indonesia

Received:2025-07-17 Revised:2025-09-05 Accepted:2025-10-18 Online:2026-03-31 Published:2026-03-30
Contact: Faculty of Medicine Universitas Muslim Indonesia, Makassar, Indonesia, Urip Sumoharjo Street No.KM. 5, Makassar, South Sulawesi. (Erlin Syahril), e-mail: nasrudin.nasrudin@umi.ac.id,

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Abstract

Abstract:

Objective Perimenopause is the transition from the reproductive period to menopause, marked by a decline in the number and function of oocytes. Transvaginal ultrasound is a reliable method for assessing ovarian reserve. Ajwa dates (Phoenix dactylifera L.) contain macro- and micronutrients, phenolics, and flavonoids, which have antioxidant potential that may improve ovarian condition in perimenopausal women. This study aims to determine the effect of ajwa date consumption on ovarian follicle characteristics assessed by transvaginal ultrasound in perimenopausal women.

Methods This quasi-experimental pre-post control group study was conducted at RSIA Sitti Khadijah I Muhammadiyah Makassar, Indonesia, from February to August 2023. A total of 44 perimenopausal women aged 42-48 years were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 28) or control groups (n = 16). Ovarian follicle changes were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test.

Results The intervention group showed a decrease in follicle number with an increase in follicle size, while the control group showed an increase in follicle number and a decrease in size. These differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Conclusion Consumption of ajwa dates as an exogenous antioxidant can influence the number and size of antral follicles, which serve as predictive indicators of menopausal transition.

Key words: Ajwa dates; Antral follicle; Perimenopause; Transvaginal ultrasound

Syahril Erlin, Abdullah Nusratuddin, Ilyas Muhammad, As’ad Suryani, Choridah Lina, Natzir Rosdiana, Kurniawan Liong Boy, Bahar Burhanuddin, Mappaware Nasrudin A., Mulyadi Farah Ekawati, Yacca Susdiaman Sudin. The Effects of Ajwa Dates Consumption (Phoenix dactylifera L), on Ovarian Follicular Features with Transvaginal Ultrasound in Perimenopausal Women. Advanced Ultrasound in Diagnosis and Therapy, 2026, 10(1): 69-73.

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References 13

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Group	Number of follicles ^a		Average Δ number of follicles ^a	P value ^b
Group	Before	After	Average Δ number of follicles ^a	P value ^b
^a Mean ± Deviation standard, ^b Mann - whitney U-test
Intervention	10.11 ± 2.18	5.96 ± 1.99	↓ 4.14 ± 2.27
				< 0.001
Control	9.31 ± 2.73	11.44 ± 3.46	↑ 2.12 ± 3.5

Group	Size of follicles (cm) ^a		Average Δ size of follicles (cm) ^a	P value ^b
Group	Before	After	Average Δ size of follicles (cm) ^a	P value ^b
^a Mean ± Deviation standard, ^b Mann-whitney U-test
Intervention	0.55 ± 0.15	0.76 ± 0.18	↑ 0.21 ± 0.20
				0.014
Control	0.74 ± 0.39	0.73 ± 0.29	↓ 0.01 ± 0.46

The Effects of Ajwa Dates Consumption (Phoenix dactylifera L), on Ovarian Follicular Features with Transvaginal Ultrasound in Perimenopausal Women

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