Effects of different natural products in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

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#non-alcoholic-fatty-liver-disease #humans #randomized-controlled-trials-as-topic #plant-extracts #biological-products

Effects of different natural products in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Liu et al., 2024 | Phytother Res | Narrative Review

Citation

Liu Hongshuai, Li Yufei, ... Zhang Fengxia. Effects of different natural products in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Phytother Res. 2024-Jul;38(7):3801-3824. doi:10.1002/ptr.8182

Abstract

Due to a scarcity of appropriate therapeutic approaches capable of ameliorating or eliminating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), many researchers have come to focus on natural products based on traditional medicine that can be utilized to successfully treat NAFLD. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects exerted by seven natural products (curcumin, silymarin, resveratrol, artichoke leaf extract, berberine, catechins, and naringenin) on patients with NAFLD. For this purpose, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) exclusively. The selected studies were evaluated for methodological quality via the Cochrane bias risk assessment tool, and data analysis software was used to analyze the data accordingly. The RCTs from the earliest available date until September 2022 were collected. This process resulted in 37 RCTs with a total sample size of 2509 patients being included. The results of the network meta-analysis showed that artichoke leaf extract confers a relative advantage in reducing the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels (SUCRA: 99.1%), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels (SUCRA: 88.2%) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels (SUCRA: 88.9%). Naringenin conferred an advantage in reducing triglyceride (TG) levels (SUCRA: 97.3%), total cholesterol (TC) levels (SUCRA: 73.9%), and improving high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (SUCRA: 74.9%). High-density catechins significantly reduced body mass index (BMI) levels (SUCRA: 98.5%) compared with the placebo. The Ranking Plot of the Network indicated that artichoke leaf extract and naringenin performed better than the other natural products in facilitating patient recovery. Therefore, we propose that artichoke leaf extract and naringenin may exert a better therapeutic effect on NAFLD. This study may help guide clinicians and lead to further detailed studies.

Key Findings

This study may help guide clinicians and lead to further detailed studies.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population nafld
Sample Size 2509
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
  • Humans
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Plant Extracts
  • Biological Products
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases
  • Alanine Transaminase
  • Cynara scolymus
  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Plant Leaves

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Narrative Review
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Review, Network Meta-Analysis
  • Vertical: curcumin

Provenance

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