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The effects of curcumin on the metabolic parameters of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

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Abstract

Aims

Evidence 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.

Methods

We 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.

Results

Four 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)].

Conclusions

Curcumin 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.

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Abbreviations

NAFLD:

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

MD:

Mean difference

CI:

Confidence interval

SDs:

Standard deviations

RCTs:

Randomized controlled trials

BMI:

Body mass index

M:

Male

F:

Female

WC:

Waist circumference

NA:

Not available

HbA1c:

Hemoglobin A1c

HOMA-IR:

Homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index

FBS:

Fasting blood sugar

LDL-C:

Low density lipoprotein cholesterin

HDL-C:

High density lipoprotein cholesterol

ALT:

Alanine aminotransferase

AST:

Aspartate aminotransferase

GRADE:

Grading of recommendations assessment, development and evaluation

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Author notes

  1. Zhongcao Wei and Xinxing Tantai contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, No. 157, Xi Wu Road, Xi’an, Shanxi, People’s Republic of China

    Zhongcao Wei, Na Liu, Xinxing Tantai, Xin Xing, Cailan Xiao, Lirong Chen & Jinhai Wang

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  1. Zhongcao Wei
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  2. Na Liu
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Correspondence to Na Liu or Jinhai Wang.

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Conflict of interest

Zhongcao Wei, Na Liu, Xinxing Tantai, Xin Xing, Cailan Xiao, Lirong Chen, and Jinhai Wang declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation and the Helsinki Declaration. There was no interaction with patients directly, as we acquired data from already published articles.

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Wei, Z., Liu, N., Tantai, X. et al. The effects of curcumin on the metabolic parameters of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Hepatol Int 13, 302–313 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12072-018-9910-x

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