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Innovative Medicines & Omics Impact of lemon essential oil on anthropometrics

Another limitation is that the study included only confounding effects. While this study did not actively
female participants, restricting the generalization of the control or monitor these factors, several strategies can be
findings to males or other demographic groups. Including implemented to minimize their impact in future research.
a more diverse participant pool in future research would One way is by requiring participants to maintain daily
enhance the applicability of the results. The control group food diaries during the study period, documenting all
received a massage with sweet almond oil but did not meals, snacks, and beverages consumed. This provides
receive a placebo essential oil, which could introduce insights into caloric intake and dietary composition,
bias if participants perceived differences between the which could affect fat metabolism. Participants can
interventions. This represents a limitation in the study be provided with a standardized meal plan to ensure
design, as sweet almond oil has beneficial skin properties. uniform caloric intake and macronutrient distribution
To mitigate this in future studies, it is recommended that across the study cohort. In addition, participants can
a neutral carrier oil, such as jojoba oil, be used for the be asked to log their daily physical activities, including
control group. exercise, work-related activities, and leisure-time
Measurement variability is another concern, as skinfold movements, to estimate overall energy expenditure.
measurements and other anthropometric assessments Participants can be equipped with wearable activity
can be subject to inter- and intra-observer variability. trackers to objectively measure physical activity levels,
Despite efforts to standardize the measurements, some such as step counts, energy expenditure, and sedentary
degree of variability is inevitable. Several strategies can time. Standardized questionnaires to assess lifestyle
be implemented in future research to mitigate this issue, factors, such as sleep patterns, stress levels, and smoking
such as ensuring all observers undergo rigorous and or alcohol consumption, that could influence results
standardized training in anthropometric measurement can be administered, while baseline data on lifestyle
techniques. This includes repeated practice sessions using habits can be collected to include these variables as
standardized protocols and cross-validation exercises covariates in statistical analyses, adjusting for their
to minimize individual variability. Furthermore, potential confounding effects. Moreover, randomization
advanced and automated tools, such as digital calipers can be enhanced by stratifying participants based
with integrated software for skinfold analysis or three- on key confounders, such as baseline activity levels
dimensional body scanning technologies, can be or dietary habits, ensuring balanced distribution
integrated into the analysis. These methods reduce across intervention groups. Other measures include
human error, enhance precision, and provide more conducting subgroup analyses to assess whether specific
reliable data across sessions and participants. Regular baseline characteristics influence the effectiveness of the
audits and recalibration of manual measurement devices intervention, scheduling weekly or bi-weekly check-ins
can be conducted to ensure accuracy. to review adherence to dietary and activity guidelines,
as well as addressing any deviations or concerns. These
In addition, periodic inter-observer reliability tests
can help identify and correct inconsistencies during the measures would help improve participant compliance
and data accuracy. Blinded outcome assessments
study. Multiple measurements at each site can be taken, can be implemented to minimize observer bias and
and the average can be calculated to minimize the impact standardizing pre-assessment conditions, such as fasting
of outliers or observer inconsistencies. This approach is status, hydration, and timing of measurements, could
particularly important for variables with high inherent reduce variability introduced by uncontrolled factors.
variability, such as skinfold thickness. Employing blinded
measurement protocols where the observer is unaware of Self-reporting bias is also a consideration, as some
the participant’s group assignment reduces the potential data, including lifestyle habits and physical activity levels,
for unconscious bias in data collection. Detailed logs of may have been self-reported by participants, potentially
environmental conditions, participant hydration levels, leading to inaccuracies. The scope of the anthropometric
and other variables that could influence measurements measurements was limited, focusing primarily on
can be maintained, as adjusting for these factors in the skinfold thickness and related parameters. Incorporating
analysis could provide a clearer picture of the intervention more advanced techniques, such as dual-energy X-ray
effects. absorptiometry scans, could provide a more comprehensive
Furthermore, potential confounding variables, such body composition assessment.
as diet, physical activity, and lifestyle habits, were not The study did not investigate the underlying biological
controlled or monitored throughout the study. These mechanisms by which lemon essential oil might
factors could influence the outcomes and introduce affect anthropometric measurements. Future studies

Volume 2 Issue 1 (2025) 79 doi: 10.36922/imo.5893