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Innovative Medicines & Omics

ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Exploring the dynamic impact of lemon

essential oil on anthropometric measurements
in a 6-week study

Sara Gonçalves * and Cidália Barros 3
1,2
1 Academic Clinical Center of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro-Professor Doctor Nuno Grande
(CACTMAD), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal
2 School of Health, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal
3 Clínica Áurea - Esthetic Biomedicine Clinic, Vila Real, Portugal

Abstract
Bioactive compounds in lemon essential oil possess antioxidant and antimicrobial
properties. Although traditional uses of lemon essential oil are well-documented,
scientific research evaluating its effects on anthropometric parameters remains
limited. This study examines the impact of lemon essential oil on anthropometric
measurements, specifically focused on skinfold thickness and body composition.
Participants (n = 26) were divided into treatment and control groups using a
randomized and double-blinded design. The treatment group received a 5-min
abdomen exfoliation and a 30-min modeling massage using sweet almond and
lemon essential oils, while the control group underwent an identical procedure
without the lemon essential oil. The study spanned 6 weeks, and anthropometric
*Corresponding author: variables, including skinfold thickness, abdominal perimeter, weight, and body mass
Sara Gonçalves index (BMI), were assessed before and after each session. Statistical analyses revealed
(sgoncalves@utad.pt) a 3.8% reduction in abdominal perimeter (P = 0.041) and significant improvements in
Citation: Gonçalves S, Barros C. the treatment group’s tricep skinfold thickness (P = 0.046). However, no statistically
Exploring the dynamic impact significant differences were observed in weight or BMI. Notable changes were session-
of lemon essential oil on
anthropometric measurements in specific, particularly in sessions 3, 5, and 6, suggesting variability in the effects of
a 6-week study. Innov Med Omics. lemon essential oil. These findings demonstrate that lemon essential oil may enhance
2025;2(1):71-84. the effectiveness of massage-based interventions aimed at body contouring or skin
doi: 10.36922/imo.5893
condition improvement in weight management and wellness programs. However,
Received: November 12, 2024 limitations should be considered when interpreting these findings, including the
Revised: January 16, 2025 small sample size and focus on female participants. Overall, these findings highlight
Accepted: January 20, 2025
Published online: February 13, the potential of lemon essential oil to modulate anthropometric measurements and
2025 advance the understanding of essential oils in healthcare and wellness applications.
Copyright: © 2025 Author(s).
This is an Open Access article
distributed under the terms of the Keywords: Lemon essential oil; Abdomen; Massage; Fat reduction; Aromatherapy
Creative Commons Attribution
License, permitting distribution,
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is
properly cited. 1. Introduction
Publisher’s Note: AccScience In recent years, natural remedies and alternative therapies have gained increasing
Publishing remains neutral with attention for their potential health benefits and therapeutic applications. Among the
1
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional vast array of natural substances, essential oils derived from aromatic plants have shown
2-5
affiliations. promise in aromatherapy, skincare, and wellness. Essential oils consist of volatile
Volume 2 Issue 1 (2025) 71 doi: 10.36922/imo.5893