Efficacy of Curcumin Plus Piperine Co-Supplementation in Moderate-To-High Hepatic Steatosis: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial Publisher Pubmed

Summary: Curcumin with piperine improves cardiometabolic factors in NAFLD but not liver fibrosis or steatosis. #NAFLD #Curcumin

Sharifi S¹ ; Bagherniya M^{1, 2} ; Khoram Z³ ; Ebrahimi Varzaneh A³ ; Atkin SL⁴ ; Jamialahmadi T^{5, 6} ; Sahebkar A^{5, 7, 8, 9} ; Askari G^{1, 2}
Source: Phytotherapy Research Published:2023

Abstract

Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a global health problem that can progress to steatohepatitis and cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of curcumin + piperine on cardiometabolic risk factors, as well as hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in NAFLD patients with moderate-to-high hepatic steatosis. Patients diagnosed with moderate-to-high NAFLD by liver sonography were randomized to either curcumin + piperine (500 mg/day curcumin plus 5 mg/day piperine) for 12 weeks (n = 30) or placebo groups (n = 30). Liver fibroscan, anthropometric measurements, dietary intake, physical activity, blood pressure, lipid profile, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, fasting blood glucose (FBG), and liver enzymes were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks of follow-up. Intention-to-treat analysis was undertaken. Curcumin + piperine decreased waist circumference (p = 0.026), systolic blood pressure (p = 0.001), total cholesterol (p = 0.004), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (p = 0.006), FBG (p = 0.002), alanine transaminase (p = 0.007) and aspartate transaminase (p = 0.012) compared with placebo. However, fibroscan measurement did not differ between curcumin + piperine and placebo groups (p > 0.05). Fibroscan measurement as a marker of NAFLD improvement did not differ after 12 weeks of curcumin + piperine; however, curcumin + piperine may be considered as an adjunct therapy to improve anthropometric measures, blood pressure, lipid profile, blood glucose, and liver function in NAFLD patients. © 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.