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Background: The relationship between dietary components and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) needs to be further investigated. The potential health benefits of cardamom have been found in some studies. Cardamom showed beneficial effect on hepatomegaly, dyslipidemia, and fasting hyperglycemia in animals. However, some adverse effects of cardamom have been reported in animals. No previous human study had been conducted on the effects of cardamom in NAFLD. This study aims to determine the effects of green cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) supplementation on blood glucose indices, lipids, inflammatory profiles, and liver function, especially by examining irisin, paraxonase-1 (PON1) and sirtuin-1 (Sirt1) in obese patients with NAFLD.Methods: This trial is to be conducted at the polyclinic of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) Central Hospital, Tehran. Eighty obese patients with NAFLD will be selected according to the eligibility criteria. The NAFLD diagnosis method is ultrasonography. Patients will be randomly divided into two groups by a random-number table (cardamom and placebo groups, two 500-mg capsules, three times/day, taken with meals for 3 months, follow-up monthly). General characteristics, dietary intakes (at the beginning, middle, and end), and physical activity (at the beginning and end) will be assessed using a general, 24-h food recall, and short-form International Physical Activity Questionnaires (IPAQ), respectively. Lifestyle advice will be presented to both groups identically. At the beginning and the end, anthropometrics (weight, height, and waist circumference), blood pressure, extent of fatty liver, and blood biomarkers, including serum glucose indices (fasting blood sugar (FBS)) and insulin (FBI), homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI)), lipids (triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c), total cholesterol (TC)), inflammatory markers (highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6)), liver enzymes (alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST)), irisin, PON1, and Sirt1, will be determined.Discussion: This trial would be the first to assess the effects of green cardamom on several blood factors, including glucose indices, lipids, inflammatory markers, liver enzymes, irisin, PON1, and Sirt1, and blood pressure and anthropometry in obese patients with NAFLD. Further study of cardamom's potential in improving NAFLD is suggested.Trial Registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT), ID number: IRCT2015121317254N4 . Registered on 27 December 2015. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Although several experimental models have suggested promising pharmacological effects of naringenin in the management of obesity and its related disorders, the effects of naringenin supplementation on cardiovascular disorders as one of the main complications of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are yet to be examined in human. Methods: In this double-blind placebocontrolled randomized clinical trial, 44 overweight/obese patients with NAFLD were equally allocated into either naringenin or placebo group for four weeks. Cardiovascular risk factors including atherogenic factors, hematological indices, obesity-related parameters, blood pressure, and heart rate were assessed pre-and post-intervention. Results: AIP value, serum non-HDL-C levels as well as total cholesterol/HDL-C, triglyceride/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, and non HDLC/HDL-C ratios were significantly reduced in the intervention group, compared to the placebo group post-intervention (P<0.05). Moreover, there was a significant reduction in BMI and visceral fat level in the intervention group when compared with the placebo group (P=0.001 and P=0.039, respectively). Furthermore, naringenin supplementation could marginally reduce systolic blood pressure (P=0.055). Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) increased significantly in the naringenin group compared to the placebo group at the endpoint (P=0.023). Supplementation with naringenin also resulted in marginally significant increase in mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) when compared with the placebo group (P=0.050). There were no significant betweengroup differences for other study outcomes, postintervention. Conclusion: In conclusion, these data indicate that naringenin supplementation may be a promising treatment strategy for cardiovascular complications among NAFLD patients. However, further trials are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the hepatic component of metabolic syndrome. Despite the beneficial health effects of cardamom on dyslipidemia, hepatomegaly, and fasting hyperglycemia, no previous human study has been conducted on the efficacy of cardamom in NAFLD. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of green cardamom (GC) on serum Sirtuin-1 (Sirt1), inflammatory factors, and liver enzymes in overweight or obese NAFLD patients. Methods: The recruitment of subjects was conducted at the polyclinic of the central hospital of National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), Tehran. Eighty-seven patients who participated were divided randomly into two groups according to the ultrasonography and eligibility criteria as cardamom (n = 43) or placebo (n = 44). The intervention involves taking two 500 mg capsules three times per day with meals for 3 months. General characteristics, dietary intake and physical activity status, weight and height were determined. In addition, serum Sirt1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), high sensitive c-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST) were measured. The degree of fatty liver was determined at beginning and end of the study. Results: In comparison with placebo, GC significantly increased Sirt1 and decreased hs-CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, ALT, and the degree of fatty liver (P < 0.05). The differences in weight, BMI, and AST were not significant (P > 0.05). Conclusion: GC supplementation could improve some biomarkers related to fatty liver including inflammation, ALT, and Sirt1 in overweight/obese NAFLD patients. Further trials on cardamom's potential are suggested. Trial registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, IRCT2015121317254N4. Registered 27/12/2015. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]