title: The add-on effects of Gynostemma pentaphyllum on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shuo-Chi
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Kwang-Wen
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jaw-Shan
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Wen-Tsoung
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yin-Yi
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Jen-Der
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Hsiu-Jene
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Lai-Chu
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: See
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts