Efficacy of Resveratrol Supplementation against Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials

Zhang et al., 2016 | PLoS One | Meta Analysis

Citation

Zhang Chongyang, Yuan Weigang, ... Wang Chunxu. Efficacy of Resveratrol Supplementation against Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials. PLoS One. 2016;11(8):e0161792. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0161792

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease with rising prevalence. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that resveratrol, a dietary phytochemical, is capable of attenuating NAFLD development and progression; however, results from clinical studies are inconsistent and inconclusive. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of resveratrol on NAFLD, using several parameters to provide new insights for clinical application. We systematically searched EMBASE, PubMed, Science Citation Index, Elsevier, and Cochrane Library databases for studies published up to date (July 2016), in English, to identify and screen eligible, relevant studies. Either a fixed-effect model or random model was used to estimate mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the effect of resveratrol on NAFLD. Four randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trials involving 156 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Levels of low-density lipoprotein (MD = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.21, 0.74, P < 0.05) and total cholesterol (MD = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.18, 0.80, P < 0.05) were higher in the resveratrol treatment groups than in placebo control groups, whereas other parameters were not altered. Overall, this study indicates that resveratrol treatment has negligible effects on attenuating NAFLD, given the small improvement in NAFLD features. More high-quality clinical trials of resveratrol for NAFLD are required to confirm these results.

Key Findings

More high-quality clinical trials of resveratrol for NAFLD are required to confirm these results.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size 156
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Cholesterol
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lipoproteins
  • Male
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Resveratrol
  • Stilbenes

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis
  • Vertical: resveratrol

Provenance


Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09