title: Effects of cumin on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: A double blind, randomised, controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was designed to evaluate the effect of cumin on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in compare to placebo.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred patients with histopathological diagnosis NASH in two groups of case and control received oral cumin capsule or placebo thrice daily for 6 months. Clinical and laboratory data were body mass index (BMI), serum triglyceride, serum total cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), fasting blood sugar (FBS), steatosis grade, and side-effects and were measured at baseline and after treatment period using standard clinical chemistry techniques. The grade of steatosis was assessed by liver sonography in 3 stages (mild, moderate and severe).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 100 eligible patients during follow-up 10/50 cases and 9/50 controls were excluded. At baseline and after treatment BMI, triglyceride, cholesterol, ALT, AST, HDL, LDL, and FBS were not statistically significant between groups (P ≥ 0.5). BMI, triglyceride, cholesterol, ALT, AST, LDL, and FBS after treatment decreased compare to baseline but were not statistically significant (P ≥ 0.5). The mean of changes in the level of BMI, triglyceride, cholesterol, ALT, LDL and FBS were not statistically significant (P ≥ 0.5). The mean of changes in AST and HDL between groups was significant (P < 0.05). The grade of steatosis before and after treatment between studied groups was not statistically significant (P ≥ 0.5). Side-effects were not statistically significant among the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings show that there the effect of cumin in in the treatment of NASH was not significantly different in compare to placebo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shavakhi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoumeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torki
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahsa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khodadoostan
authors.affiliation: Medical Students' Research Centre, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shavakhi
keywords: Cumin; herbal medicines; nonalcoholic steatohepatitis