The therapeutic effects of chicory seed aqueous extract on cardio-metabolic profile and liver enzymes in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; a double blind randomized clinical trial

Introduction: As diabetes and obesity increase worldwide, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) becomes a more worrying health threat. Objectives: This study was designed to assess the impacts of chicory seed aqueous extract on the treatment of NAFLD. Patients and Methods: Around 60 patients with NAFLD who referred to Zanjan Metabolic Disease Research Center between March 2016 and April 2017 were allocated into treatment and placebo groups, randomly. The participants in the treatment group (n=30) were scheduled to consume 8 ml of chicory seed syrup (made by soaking 100 g of dried seeds in one liter of boiling water) twice daily for 12 weeks. The control group’s patients received placebo syrup with an identical figure and flavor and also with the same prescript. The analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) test, chi-square test, independent t-test and paired t test were applied for analysis of data. From the point of statistical view, P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The body mass index (BMI), liver enzymes, fasting blood sugar test (FBS), HbA1c, fatty liver grading and all the indices of lipid profile decreased significantly (all P values < 0.001) in the chicory group. The shifting change in fatty liver grading was also striking in treatment group’s patients compared to controls. Conclusion: The findings of this study support the application of chicory seed in the treatment of NAFLD due to the ameliorative effects on the metabolic indices of the disease. Trial Registration: This clinical trial protocol has been registered in Iranian Registry of Clinical Trial (identifier: IRCT2016061228411N1; https://en.irct.ir/trial/23063, ethical code #IR.ZUMS.REC.1395.195).