Combined cranberry supplementation and weight loss diet in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial

• Published in: International journal of food sciences and nutrition Vol. 71; no. 8; pp. 991 - 1000
• Main Authors: Hormoznejad, Razie, Mohammad Shahi, Majid, Rahim, Fakher, Helli, Bijan, Alavinejad, Pezhman, Sharhani, Asaad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 16.11.2020; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Alanine; Alanine transaminase; Body weight loss; clinical trial; Clinical trials; Cranberries; Cranberry; Diet; Dietary supplements; Disease control; Double-blind studies; Fatty liver; Food science; Insulin; Liver; Liver diseases; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Quality; Steatosis; Weight loss; clinical trial; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Cranberry
• ISSN: 0963-7486; 1465-3478
• DOI: 10.1080/09637486.2020.1746957

A double-blind placebo-controlled randomised clinical trial was conducted on 41 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Participants were randomly allocated to receive either a cranberry supplement or a placebo for 12 weeks. Both groups were assigned to follow a weight loss diet. At the end of the study, alanine aminotransferase and insulin decreased significantly in both groups (p < .05); however, this reduction was significantly greater in the cranberry group than in the placebo group (p < .05). Significant improvements in insulin resistance were observed in the cranberry group and between the two groups (p < .001 and p = .020, respectively). Also, there was an improvement in steatosis grade and anthropometric measurements in both groups (p < .05), and there was no significant difference between the two groups in regard to these factors (p > .05). It seems that 288 mg of cranberry extract might improve managing NAFLD, which is equivalent to 26 g of dried cranberry.