The add-on effects of Gynostemma pentaphyllum on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
BACKGROUND
Other than weight reduction by dieting or physical activity, there are no well-documented medical treatments for fatty liver disease.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of the add-on Gynostemma pentaphyllum (GP) in research subjects with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.


METHODS
A randomized, single-blind, controlled clinical trial.


METHODS
Hospital-based clinic.


METHODS
Fifty-six research subjects who were diagnosed with nonalcoholic fatty liver by abdominal ultrasound scanning.


METHODS
The treatment group and the control group followed a controlled diet for 2 months. After 2 months, the treatment group continued to diet and received 80 mL GP extraction for 4 months; the control group continued to diet and received a placebo capsule for 4 months.


METHODS
Body mass index (BMI), biochemistry data, and fatty liver score were measured at baseline, at 2 months, and at 6 months.


RESULTS
After 2 months of dieting, BMI and most biochemistry data decreased in both study groups. There were no significant differences in BMI or biochemistry data at month 2 between the 2 study groups. At month 6, BMI, triglyceride, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, insulin (ALP), insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), and fatty liver score were reduced in both groups. The treatment group saw significant reductions in BMI, AST, ALP, insulin, and HOMA-IR, however. Changes in uric acid levels in the 2 groups from month 2 to month 6 were statistically significant (P = .028)


CONCLUSIONS
GP is an effective adjunct treatment to diet therapy for patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Chou
Shuo-Chi
SC
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taiwan.
Chen
Kwang-Wen
KW
Hwang
Jaw-Shan
JS
Lu
Wen-Tsoung
WT
Chu
Yin-Yi
YY
Lin
Jen-Der
JD
Chang
Hsiu-Jene
HJ
See
Lai-Chu
LC
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D029774:Gynostemma; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss
D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts