The effects of curcumin supplementation on liver function, metabolic profile and body composition in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease worldwide. Curcumin is the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-diabetic and also anti-hyperlipidemia agent and uses as herbal medicine for treating liver diseases. Objective: The present systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the effects of curcumin supplementation on metabolic markers and anthropometric parameters in patients with (NAFLD). Methods: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Library were systematically searched to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of curcumin supplementation on the arms of this study in patients with NAFLD up to September 2019. Mean difference (MD) was pooled using a random effects model. Potential publication bias was assessed using Egger's weighted regression tests. Results: After excluding irrelevant records, 9 RCTs included in this meta-analysis. Pooled results of included studies indicated a significant reduction in alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), serum total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL), fasting blood sugar (FBS), HOMA-IR, serum insulin and waist circumference (WC), but not in serum triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), HbA1c, body weight and body mass index (BMI) following curcumin supplementation. Additionally, age- and baseline TC-based subgroup analysis indicated a significant reduction in TG and also duration- and dosage-based showed a significant change in BMI. Conclusion: The current study revealed that curcumin supplementation has favorable effect on metabolic markers and anthropometric parameters in patients with NAFLD.