• Zhongcao Wei, Na Liu, Xinxing Tantai, Xin Xing, Cailan Xiao, Lirong Chen, and Jinhai Wang.
• Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 157, Xi Wu Road, Xi'an, Shanxi, People's Republic of China.
• Hepatol Int. 2019 May 1; 13 (3): 302-313.

AimsEvidence indicates that curcumin seems to improve outcomes in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the effects of curcumin inNAFLD.MethodsWe searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library from inception through March 2018 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the role of curcumin inNAFLD. The mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated.ResultsFour RCTs with a total of 229 NAFLD patients were included. Curcumin was more likely to lower LDL-C, triglycerides, FBS, HOMA-IR, weight and AST levels compared with placebo, and the difference was statistically significant [MD = - 27.02, 95% CI (- 52.30, - 1.74); MD = - 33.20, 95% CI (- 42.30, - 24.09); MD = - 5.63, 95% CI (- 10.36, - 0.90); MD = - 0.53, 95% CI (- 1.00, - 0.05); MD = - 2.27, 95% CI (- 3.11, - 1.44); MD = - 7.43, 95% CI (- 11.31, - 3.54), respectively]. However, the beneficial effect of curcumin did not achieve statistical significance in lowering total cholesterol, HDL-C, HbA1c, ALT or insulin levels [MD = - 30.47,95% CI (- 60.89. - 0.06); MD = - 0.98, 95% CI (- 2.88, 0.92); MD = - 0.41, 95% CI (- 1.41, 0.59); MD = - 6.02, 95% CI (- 15.61, 3.57); MD = - 0.92, 95% CI (- 2.33, 0.49)].ConclusionsCurcumin is effective in lowering LDL-C, triglycerides, FBS, HOMA-IR, weight, and AST levels in NAFLD patients, and it is well tolerated. Further RCTs are required to confirm our findings.

12 keywords...

hide…