Effectiveness of the pomegranate extract in improving hepatokines and serum biomarkers of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A randomized double blind clinical trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Pomegranate as a functional food has various properties and effects on health. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of pomegranate extract on serum levels of liver enzymes, hepatokines, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and total antioxidant capacity in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

METHODS

In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 44 patients with NAFLD were divided into two groups: pomegranate extract tablets and placebo. The intervention period was 12 weeks. At the beginning and end of the study, serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), fetuin-A, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and total antioxidant capacity were assessed in both groups.

RESULTS

Pomegranate extract reduced the level of ALT (P < 0.001), AST (P < 0.001), GGT (P < 0.001), fetuin-A (P < 0.001), FGF-21(P < 0.001) and IL-6 (P = 0.04) compared to the placebo. Pomegranate extract also led to an increase in total antioxidant capacity (P˂0.001) but had no effect on ALP.

CONCLUSION

It seems that the pomegranate extract improves several markers of NAFLD, and can be useful as a treatment supplement. The clinical trial approved by Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences (grant No. NRC-9811).

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT), IRCT20140107016123N14, https://www.irct.ir/trial/42739.