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Elevated levels of liver enzymes are the main markers of liver dysfunction. Liver enzymes are the important indicators of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the general population. Previous randomised clinical trials (RCT) investigated the effects of Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) as a plant-based diet on features of NAFLD like liver enzymes, but their results are contradictory. This study aimed to systematically review and meta-analyse RCT investigating the effect of MedDiet on liver enzymes. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar were searched until December 2020. A total of ten RCT (n 705 participants) evaluating the effect of MedDiet on liver enzymes including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) were included. A random effects model was used to estimate the pooled effect size. To evaluate the heterogeneity among the included studies, the Cochran's Q-test and I-squared test were used. The MedDiet significantly reduced AST (weighted mean difference (WMD) = −0·38 IU/l; 95 % CI − 0·73, −0·03 IU/l; P = 0·03) and GGT (WMD = −0·16 IU/l; 95 % CI − 0·32, −0·006 IU/l; P = 0·04) but had no significant effect on ALT (WMD = −0·55 IU/l; 95 % CI − 1·25, 0·13 IU/l; P = 0·11). However, sensitivity analysis revealed that the overall effects of MedDiet on AST, GGT and ALT were significantly influenced by removing some studies. There was no publication bias based on Begg's and Egger's tests. Generally, MedDiet can improve liver enzymes. To better conclusion, further RCT investigating the effect of MedDiet on liver enzymes, especially in patients with NAFLD, are still required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: Obesity is an important factor in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Patients with NAFLD are at increased risk for hypertension. The investigations have hypothesized that Cornus mas L. (cornelian cherry) fruit can improve blood pressure and obesity. We investigated the effect of cornelian cherry fruit extract on blood pressure variables, anthropometric and body composition indices in patients with NAFLD. Methods: This double-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted on fifty patients with NAFLD. Patients received 20 cc/d cornelian cherry fruit extract or placebo for 12 weeks. We measured diastolic blood pressure (DBP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), weight, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), body fat mass (BFM), body fat percent (BFP) and fat free mass (FFM). Results: The treatment group compared to the control group showed a significant reduction in DBP (-8.62 ± 11.86 vs. 0.53 ± 8.53; P = 0.009), SBP (-8.63 ± 14.37 vs. 0.0 ± 12.67; P = 0.04), BFM (- 0.2 ± 3.9 vs. 0.7 ± 2.4; P = 0.02) and BFP (-0.2 ± 4.9 vs. 0.8 ± 2.8; P = 0.05) after adjusting for confounding factors. However, we found no significant difference between groups in weight, WC, HC, WHR and FFM (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Cornelian cherry can improve blood pressure. Further studies with higher dosages of extract are needed to clarify its effects on obesity. Trial registration: Registered on 30 September 2018 at Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20180419039359N1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder among reproductive-age women, and is associated with cardiovascular diseases as well as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The recent evidence suggested the beneficial effects of L-carnitine in women with PCOS. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of L-carnitine supplementation on liver fat content and cardiometabolic outcomes in overweight/obese women with PCOS. Methods: The present study was designed as a 12-week double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial. Sixty-two overweight/obese women with PCOS were assigned into the treatment (received 1000 mg/d L-carnitine capsule) and the control (received placebo capsule) groups. The outcomes included lipid accumulation product (LAP), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), atherogenic coefficient (AC) and Castelli II indices. Results: At the end of the trial, there was no significant difference between the treatment and the control groups in terms of LAP (-1.1 vs. -4.0; P = 0.45), AIP (0.0 vs. -0.09; P = 0.14), AC (-0.2 vs. -0.8; P = 0.06) and Castelli II index (-0.2 vs. -0.6; P = 0.07) after controlling the mean change of waist circumference. Conclusions: L-carnitine supplementation for 12 weeks has no beneficial effect on liver fat content and cardiometabolic outcomes in overweight or obese women with PCOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as the most common chronic liver disease is closely linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Omega-3 supplementation has been proposed as a strategy to manage T2DM and NAFLD. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of omega-3 supplementation on fatty liver index, lipid accumulation product and visceral adiposity index in diabetic patients with NAFLD. Methods: In this 12-week double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial, sixty diabetic patients with NAFLD were randomly assigned into the omega-3 and placebo groups for 12 weeks. The omega-3 group received 2000 mg/d omega-3 as capsule. Results: Fifty-six participants completed the study. No significant difference was found between the two groups in the terms of fatty liver index, lipid accumulation product and visceral adiposity index at the baseline. Omega-3 supplementation compared with the placebo led to a significant improvement in fatty liver index (-3.6 ± 12.1 vs. 0.9 ± 8.9; P = 0.04), lipid accumulation product (-14.2 ± 27.9 vs. 8.0 ± 26.3; P = 0.002) and visceral adiposity index (-0.5 ± 0.9 vs. 0.0 ± 0.8; P = 0.01). Conclusions: Omega-3 supplementation for 12 weeks improves fatty liver index, lipid accumulation product and visceral adiposity index. The study protocol was registered under Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials identifier number IRCT2016102530489N1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is closely associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Growing body of evidence hypothesized that resveratrol can decrease the risk of hepatic steatosis and CVD in patients with T2DM. We aimed to evaluate the effect of resveratrol supplementation on hepatic steatosis indices (Lipid accumulation product (LAP) and visceral adiposity index (VAI)), and cardiovascular indices (Castelli risk index I (CRI-I), CRI-II and atherogenic coefficient (AC)) in patients with T2DM. Methods: In this double-blind, randomized controlled trial, seventy-six patients with T2DM were assigned into the resveratrol (received 1000 mg/d resveratrol) or placebo groups for 8 weeks. Results: A total of 71 patients completed the intervention. We found no significant difference between the resveratrol group and the placebo group in LAP, VAI, CRI-I, CRI-II and AC at the baseline and the end of intervention. Resveratrol supplementation compared to the placebo showed a non-significant decreasing trend in LAP (-2.61 (- 12.83 to 3.50) vs. -1.37 (-6.48 to 7.87); P=0.15), and VAI (-0.31 (-0.62 to 0.19) vs. -0.02 (-0.44 to 0.25); P=0.11). Moreover, resveratrol compared to the placebo had no effect on CRI-I, CRI-II and AC. Conclusions: 1000 mg/d resveratrol supplementation for 8 weeks could not significantly improve steatosis indices, and had no effect on cardiovascular risk. Further studies with longer intervention durations are needed to reach a firm conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]