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Green cardamom supplementation improves serum irisin, glucose indices, and lipid profiles in overweight or obese non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.

  • 2019-03-12
  • BMC complementary and alternative medicine 19(1)
    • Milad Daneshi-Maskooni
    • Seyed Ali Keshavarz
    • Mostafa Qorbani
    • Siavash Mansouri
    • Seyed Moayed Alavian
    • Mahtab Badri-Fariman
    • Seyed Ali Jazayeri-Tehrani
    • Gity Sotoudeh

Study Design

Type
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Sample size
n = 87
Population
overweight or obese NAFLD patients
Methods
87 participants were randomly divided into two groups as cardamom (n=43) or placebo (n=44). The supplementation was two 500 mg capsules 3 times/day with meals for 3 months.
Duration
3 months

Background

Despite the reported health effects of cardamom on dyslipidemia, hepatomegaly, and fasting hyperglycemia, no human research has studied its potency in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as the hepatic part of metabolic syndrome. Our aim was determining the effects of green cardamom (GC) on serum glucose indices, lipids, and irisin level among overweight or obese NAFLD patients.

Methods

The place of participant recruitment was the polyclinic of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) central hospital in Tehran. Based on the ultrasonography and eligibility criteria, 87 participants were randomly divided into two groups as cardamom (n = 43) or placebo (n = 44). The supplementation was two 500 mg capsules 3 times/day with meals for 3 months. Serum irisin, fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin (FBI), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) were measured. Quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were also calculated.

Results

In comparison with placebo, GC significantly increased irisin, HDL-c, and QUICKI and decreased FBI, TG, LDL-c, HOMA-IR, and the grade of fatty liver (P < 0.05). After adjustment for confounders, the changes were similar (P < 0.05) with an exception for LDL-c which had a trend (P = 0.07). The differences in FBS, TC, and body mass index (BMI) were not significant (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

GC supplement improved the grade of fatty liver, serum glucose indices, lipids, and irisin level among overweight or obese NAFLD patients. The changes in these biomarkers may yield beneficial effects on NAFLD. Further trials on the efficacy of GC for clinical practice are suggested.

Trial registration

Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, IRCT2015121317254N4 . Registered 27/12/2015.

Research Insights

  • Cardamom→Improved Insulin Sensitivity

    In comparison with placebo, GC significantly increased... QUICKI...

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    3 g/day (two 500 mg capsules three times daily with meals)
  • Cardamom→Increased High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol

    In comparison with placebo, GC significantly increased... HDL-c...

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    3 g/day (two 500 mg capsules three times daily with meals)
  • Cardamom→Increased Irisin Level

    In comparison with placebo, GC significantly increased irisin...

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    3 g/day (two 500 mg capsules three times daily with meals)
  • Cardamom→Reduced Blood Cholesterol

    The differences in... TC... were not significant (P > 0.05).

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    3 g/day (two 500 mg capsules three times daily with meals)
  • Cardamom→Reduced Body Mass Index

    The differences in... BMI were not significant (P > 0.05).

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    3 g/day (two 500 mg capsules three times daily with meals)
  • Cardamom→Reduced Fasting Blood Glucose Levels

    The differences in FBS... were not significant (P > 0.05).

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    3 g/day (two 500 mg capsules three times daily with meals)
  • Cardamom→Reduced Fatty Liver Grade

    In comparison with placebo, GC significantly increased... and decreased... the grade of fatty liver.

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    3 g/day (two 500 mg capsules three times daily with meals)
  • Cardamom→Reduced HOMA-IR

    In comparison with placebo, GC significantly increased... and decreased... HOMA-IR...

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    3 g/day (two 500 mg capsules three times daily with meals)
  • Cardamom→Reduced Insulin Levels

    In comparison with placebo, GC significantly increased... and decreased FBI...

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    3 g/day (two 500 mg capsules three times daily with meals)
  • Cardamom→Reduced LDL Cholesterol

    After adjustment for confounders... with an exception for LDL-c which had a trend (P = 0.07).

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    3 g/day (two 500 mg capsules three times daily with meals)
  • Cardamom→Reduced Triglyceride Levels

    In comparison with placebo, GC significantly increased... and decreased... TG...

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    3 g/day (two 500 mg capsules three times daily with meals)
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