AUTHOR=Milkarizi Narges , Barghchi Hanieh , Belyani Saba , Bahari Hossein , Rajabzade Farnood , Ostad Andisheh Norouzian , Goshayeshi Ladan , Nematy Mohsen , Askari Vahid Reza 

TITLE=Effects of Portulaca oleracea (purslane) on liver function tests, metabolic profile, oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1371137

DOI=10.3389/fnut.2024.1371137

ISSN=2296-861X

ABSTRACT=<sec id="sec1"><title>Background</title><p>Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent chronic liver disease. <italic>Portulaca oleracea</italic> exhibits anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective effects. This clinical trial aimed to investigate the potential benefits of <italic>Portulaca oleracea</italic> in improving NAFLD.</p></sec><sec id="sec2"><title>Methods</title><p>This double-blind, randomized clinical trial enrolled 70 patients with NAFLD assigned to either the intervention group (<italic>n</italic> = 35) or placebo group (<italic>n</italic> = 35) using stratified block randomization. The intervention group received 700 mg <italic>Portulaca oleracea</italic> supplement for eight weeks, while the control group received placebo capsules. In addition, all participants received a calorie-restricted diet. Liver steatosis and fibrosis were assessed using elastography along with liver function and metabolic tests, blood pressure measurements, body composition analysis and dietary records pre-and post-intervention.</p></sec><sec id="sec3"><title>Results</title><p>The average age of the participants was 44.01 ± 8.6 years, of which 34 (48.6%) were women. The group receiving <italic>Portulaca oleracea</italic> showed significant weight changes, body mass index, fat mass index, and waist circumference compared to the placebo (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001). In addition, blood sugar, lipid profile, liver enzymes aspartate and alanine transaminase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and systolic blood pressure were significantly improved in the intervention group compared to those in the placebo (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05). During the study, inflammatory and oxidative stress indicators, improved significantly (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05). Based on the elastography results, the hepatorenal ultrasound index and liver stiffness decreased significantly in the <italic>Portulaca oleracea</italic> group compared to the placebo (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001).</p></sec><sec id="sec4"><title>Conclusion</title><p>The present clinical trial showed that receiving <italic>Portulaca oleracea</italic> supplement for eight weeks can improve the condition of liver steatosis and fibrosis in patients with NAFLD.</p></sec>