Introduction Allergic rhinitis (AR) is the most common non-infectious rhinitis and is associated with sneezing, cough, and flu-like symptoms. The exact pathophysiology of AR remains uncertain. The deficiency of vitamin D 3 has been documented as a probable cause of allergic conditions due to its role in immunomodulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of vitamin D 3 deficiency in allergic rhinitis. Methods This case-control study was conducted with 50 patients of AR and 50 healthy individuals. Serum immunoglobulin (Ig) E and vitamin D 3 levels were measured in all study participants. Data were analyzed using SPSS v. 21.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results Mean serum IgE levels in the AR group were 553.5 ± 53.9 IU/L as compared to 219.4 ± 32.1 IU/L in the control group (p <0.0001). AR patients had mean serum vitamin D levels of 14.8 ± 7.4 ng/mL as compared to 19.1 ± 6.6 ng/mL in the control group (p=0.002). Only 10% of participants in the AR group had adequate serum vitamin D levels as compared to 26% in the controls (p=0.08). Conclusion Vitamin D deficiency was present in both study groups. The AR group had significantly lower mean levels of serum vitamin D than the control group. However, upon stratification, the differences were insignificant.

Introduction: Hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia are main risk factors for coronary artery disease like syndrome leading to morbidity, and mortality. This syndrome may be prevented by allopathic as well as herbal medicines like Nigella sativa and fibrates. Conventional allopathy related drugs have unwanted effects. Herbal therapy for hyperlipidemia well as diabetes mellitus type-2 (DMT2) is getting attention due to their less frequent side effects. In this study we have compared hypolipidemic effects of Fenofibrate 40 mg with Nigella sativa. Sample size and study area: Seventy five hyperlipidemic and DM type-2 patients from National Hospital Lahore were enrolled for study. Consent, grouping in sample size and Advise to patients: After getting consent all patients were divided in three groups comprising 25 patients in each group. Group 1 was on Nigella sativa, group 2 was on Gemfibrozil 600 mg BD plus Glibenclamide 5 mg BD and third group was on placebo therapy. They were advised to take drugs for two months. Results: After completion of study pretreatment and post treatment values of LDL cholesterol were analyzed statistically. In Nigella sativa group LDL cholesterol decreased from 191.14±3.45 to 159.40±2.98 mg/dl, means 31.7 mg/dl LDL reduction was observed when compared with placebo group. Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) in this group decreased from 210 mg/dl to 180 mg/dl in two months which is significant change in this parameter. In Fenofibrate group of patients LDL cholesterol decreased from 197.77±3.91 mg/dl to 159.62±2.20 mg/dl, means LDL reduction in mean values was 38.2 mg/dl, when compared with placebo group. These changes are highly significant with p-values of <0.001. FBS in this group decreased from 219.65±1.10 to 171.76±2.04 mg/dl which is highly significant change in the parameter. Conclusion:We concluded from this study that herbal medicine Nigella sativa is as effective hypoglycemic/hypolipidemic agent as traditionally used hypolipidemic drug Fenofibrate, and hypoglycemic drug Glibenclamide.