title: The effects of Nigella sativa on thyroid function, serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) - 1, Nesfatin-1 and anthropometric features in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disorder and the most common cause of hypothyroidism. The use of Nigella sativa, a potent herbal medicine, continues to increase worldwide as an alternative treatment of several chronic diseases including hyperlipidemia, hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effects of Nigella sativa on thyroid function, serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) - 1, Nesfatin-1 and anthropometric features in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, aged between 22 and 50 years old, participated in the trial and were randomly allocated into two groups of intervention and control receiving powdered Nigella sativa or placebo daily for 8 weeks. Changes in anthropometric variables, dietary intakes, thyroid status, serum VEGF and Nesfatin-1 concentrations after 8 weeks were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with Nigella sativa significantly reduced body weight and body mass index (BMI). Serum concentrations of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies decreased while serum T3 concentrations increased in Nigella sativa-treated group after 8 weeks. There was a significant reduction in serum VEGF concentrations in intervention group. None of these changes had been observed in placebo treated group. In stepwise multiple regression model, changes in waist to hip ratio (WHR) and thyroid hormones were significant predictors of changes in serum VEGF and Nesgfatin-1 values in Nigella sativa treated group (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data showed a potent beneficial effect of powdered Nigella sativa in improving thyroid status and anthropometric variables in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Moreover, Nigella sativa significantly reduced serum VEGF concentrations in these patients. Considering observed health- promoting effect of this medicinal plant in ameliorating the disease severity, it can be regarded as a useful therapeutic approach in management of Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Iranian registry of clinical trials (registration number IRCT2015021719082N4 - Registered March-15-2015).
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Research Center, Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. abbasalizad_m@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mahdieh Abbasalizad
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Farhangi
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Research Center, Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Parvin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dehghan
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Siroos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tajmiri
authors.affiliation: Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehran Mesgari
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Abbasi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001835:Body Weight; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D050031:Hashimoto Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D031881:Nigella sativa / Q000737:chemistry*; D000080866:Nucleobindins; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C000630650:NUCB2 protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000080866:Nucleobindins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
keywords: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis; Nesfatin-1; Nigella sativa; VEGF