The effect of berberine supplementation on obesity indices: A dose- response meta-analysis and systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: and purpose: Clinical studies investigating the effects of berberine supplementation on anthropometric indices in humans have generated inconsistent results. Thus, the objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to clarify the effects of berberine supplementation on obesity indices in human subjects. METHODS: Several online medical databases were systematically searched up to February 2019. All clinical trials exploring the effects of berberine supplementation on indices of obesity were included. The combined weighted mean difference (WMD) of eligible studies was assessed using a random-effects model. We evaluated publication bias by using the Egger's test. RESULTS: Overall, 10 studies were included. The combined outcomes suggested a significant influence of berberine administration on body mass index (BMI) (WMD: -0.29 kg/m2, 95% CI: -0.51 to -0.08, p = 0.006) and waist circumference (WC) (WMD: -2.75 cm, 95% CI: -4.88 to -0.62, p = 0.01). However, berberine supplementation yielded no significant decline in body weight (BW) (WMD: -0.11 kg, 95% CI: -0.99 to 0.76, p = 0.79). Following the dose-response evaluation, berberine intake was found to significantly reduce BMI (r = -0.02) and WC (r = -0.72) based on treatment duration. CONCLUSION: The results of the current study support the use of berberine supplementation for the improvement of obesity indices.

Whole-grain consumption and its effects on hepatic steatosis and liver enzymes in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomised controlled clinical trial.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a considerable challenge to public health across the globe. Whole grain is highly recommended as an inseparable part of a healthy diet and has been proposed as an effective way to manage NAFLD. The objective in the present study was to evaluate the effects of whole-grain consumption on hepatic steatosis and liver enzymes as primary outcomes in patients with NAFLD. Over the 12 weeks of this open-label, randomised controlled clinical trial, 112 patients (mean age 43 (sd 8·7) years; BMI 32·2 (sd 4·3) kg/m2) were randomly assigned to two groups to receive dietary advice, either to obtain at least half of their cereal servings each day from whole-grain foods or from usual cereals. By the end of the study, the grades of NAFLD showed a significant decrease in the intervention group (P < 0·001). In addition, a significant reduction in serum concentration of alanine aminotransferase (P < 0·001), aspartate aminotransferase (P < 0·001), γ-glutamyltransferase (P = 0·009), systolic blood pressure (P = 0·004) and diastolic blood pressure (P = 0·008) was observed in the intervention group compared with the control group. After adjusting, however, no significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of lipid profile, glycaemic status and anthropometric measurements. Overall, our study demonstrated that consumption of whole grains for 12 weeks had beneficial effects on hepatic steatosis and liver enzymes concentrations in patients with NAFLD.