AccScience Publishing / IMO / Volume 2 / Issue 1 / DOI: 10.36922/imo.5893
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ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

Exploring the dynamic impact of lemon essential oil on anthropometric measurements in a 6-week study

Sara Gonçalves1,2* ,  Cidália Barros3
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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
IMO 2025, 2(1), 71–84; https://doi.org/10.36922/imo.5893
Submitted: 12 November 2024 | Revised: 16 January 2025 | Accepted: 20 January 2025 | Published: 13 February 2025
© 2025 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution -Noncommercial 4.0 International License (CC-by the license) ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ )
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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 variables, including skinfold thickness, abdominal perimeter, weight, and body mass index (BMI), were assessed before and after each session. Statistical analyses revealed a 3.8% reduction in abdominal perimeter (P = 0.041) and significant improvements in the treatment group’s tricep skinfold thickness (P = 0.046). However, no statistically significant differences were observed in weight or BMI. Notable changes were session-specific, particularly in sessions 3, 5, and 6, suggesting variability in the effects of lemon essential oil. These findings demonstrate that lemon essential oil may enhance the effectiveness of massage-based interventions aimed at body contouring or skin condition improvement in weight management and wellness programs. However, limitations should be considered when interpreting these findings, including the small sample size and focus on female participants. Overall, these findings highlight the potential of lemon essential oil to modulate anthropometric measurements and advance the understanding of essential oils in healthcare and wellness applications.

Keywords
Lemon essential oil
Abdomen
Massage
Fat reduction
Aromatherapy
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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