THE EFFECT OF NIGELLA SATIVA ON LIVER ENZYMES, INFLAMMATORY FACTORS AND HEPATIC STEATOSIS IN PATIENTS WITH NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE) NAFLD)

Background and Aim: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Nigella sativa consumption on liver enzymes, and inflammatory status and hepatic steatosis in NAFLD patients.Methods: This randomized, double blind, placebo controlled clinical trial was conducted on 50 patients with NAFLD. Participants were assigned to receive a lifestyle modification (LM) + 2 g/d starch powder as placebo group, or LM + 2 g/d Nigella sativa powder as intervention group for 12 weeks. Dietary intake and physical activity were evaluated at the beginning and at the end of the study. Anthropometric evaluation and the analysis of liver enzymes, inflammatory markers and hepatic steatosis were performed at the beginning and the end of the intervention Results: Twenty two patients in supplement group, and 21 patients in placebo group completed the study protocol. After 12 weeks treatment with Nigella sativa, inflammatory biomarkers and steatosis percentage reduced significantly compared with placebo group (P<0.05), while liver enzymes did not change significantly during the study in any group (p > 0.05).Conclusion: Nigella sativa consumption combined with lifestyle modification is more effective than lifestyle modification alone for NAFLD management at least partially through amelioration of hepatic steatosis, and inflammatory markers attenuation. Further studies with different dosages, larger sample sizes and longer duration are needed to examine whether these effects will be sustained with longer treatment durations.

کلیدواژه ها:

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease ، Nigella sativa ، hepatic steatosis ، liver enzymes