<p>Therapeutic Effects of Garlic on Hepatic Steatosis in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial</p>

Abstract

Background and Aims: Emerging evidence suggests that garlic (Allium sativum L.) and its bioactive components can mitigate hepatic steatosis by the modulation of hepatic lipid metabolism. We aimed to assess the efficacy of the garlic administration on hepatic steatosis in patients with NAFLD. Patients and Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on adult patients with ultrasounddiagnosed NAFLD. Eligible participants were randomly assigned, with the use of the stratified blocked procedure, to receive 800 mg garlic or placebo for 15 weeks. The primary outcome was the improvement in the hepatic steatosis diagnosed by ultrasound technique after 15 weeks of intervention. Results: A total of 110 patients underwent randomization, and 98 patients completed the trial. Twenty-four (51.1%) patients in the garlic group achieved improvement in the hepatic steatosis compared to eight (15.7%) patients in the placebo group with the relative risk of 5.6 (95% CI: 2.17 to 14.5; P=0.001), which remained significant after adjusting for baseline value of hepatic steatosis. There were significant reductions in weight and serum ALT, AST, FBS, Hb A1C, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and TG concentration with the garlic intake compared to placebo (P<0.05). The results were also significant after adjusting for weight change, energy intake, and physical activity. No serious adverse effects were observed with the garlic intake. Conclusion: The intake of garlic powder was accompanied by a significant improvement in the hepatic steatosis and comorbidity related to this condition among subjects with NAFLD.

Plant-Based Foods and Their Bioactive Compounds on Fatty Liver Disease: Effects, Mechanisms, and Clinical Application

“…Moreover, an 8-week single-arm trial on 36 NAFLD patients showed that the consumption of the curcumin-phospholipid complex at a dose of 1,500 mg per day could ameliorate NAFLD severity and none of the severe adverse events were reported [ 190 ]. Besides, a clinical trial based on 98 NAFLD patients showed that the intake of 800 mg garlic for 15 weeks could improve hepatic steatosis compared with the placebo group (RR: 5.6; 95%CI: 2.17, 14.5) with no serious adverse effects [ 191 ]. Allicin is a common phytochemical from garlic, and a previous high-quality article summarized the safety assessment of allicin application and emphasized that the high-dose consumption of allicin (30 to 59 mg) could cause stomach irritation, especially when people were in a fasting state or ingested too fast [ 192 ].…”

Effects of garlic powder supplementation on metabolic syndrome components, insulin resistance, fatty liver index, and appetite in subjects with metabolic syndrome: A randomized clinical trial

“…Garlic as a prebiotic increases the growth and activity of health‐promoting bacteria in the gut (Filocamo, Nueno‐Palop, Bisignano, Mandalari, & Narbad, 2012; Ried, Travica, & Sali, 2018). Furthermore, garlic improves inflammation, dyslipidemia, obesity, insulin concentrations, and hepatic steatosis (Chen et al, 2019; Maeda et al, 2019; Ried, Travica, & Sali, 2016; Soleimani, Paknahad, & Rouhani, 2020; Trio et al, 2014). In addition to lifestyle modification (adherence to healthy diets, weight loss, and physical activity) as the main strategy in the management of NAFLD (Zelber‐Sagi, Godos, & Salomone, 2016), prebiotics can stimulate satiety hormones and decrease food intake, and reduce body fat accumulation as well as hepatic steatosis (Hume, Nicolucci, & Reimer, 2017; Parnell & Reimer, 2012).…”

Protective effects of propolis on hepatic steatosis and fibrosis among patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) evaluated by real‐time two‐dimensional shear wave elastography: A randomized clinical trial

“…Nonetheless, this goal is not feasible and poses a major challenge for many patients (Vilar‐Gomez et al, 2015). Emerging evidence suggested the use of some of the functional foods and nutriceuticals as potential therapeutic agents for NAFLD because of their potential to interfere with signaling pathways in NAFLD pathogenesis (Cicero, Colletti, & Bellentani, 2018; Mahmoodi et al, 2020; Najafpour Boushehri et al, 2020; Soleimani, Paknahad, & Rouhani, 2020).…”