Sesame oil improves biomarkers of glycemic control in women with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial

Abstract

Aim This study aimed to investigate whether sesame oil (SO) consumption could improve biomarkers of glycemic control, inflammation, and oxidative stress in women with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).<br /> Methods This randomized, double-blind, controlled trial included 60 women with MASLD (aged 20-50 years, body mass index (BMI) 25-40 kg/m(2)) assigned to either SO or sunflower oil (SFO) group (n = 30 each), who consumed 30 g/day for 12 weeks alongside a 500 kcal/day calorie-restricted diet. Serum fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting serum insulin (FSI), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), homeostasis model assessment of beta-cell function (HOMA-beta), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and serum malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured at the pre- and post-intervention phases.<br /> Results Compared with the control, SO supplementation led to significant improvements in FBG (mean difference: -18.2 mg/dL; 95 confidence interval (CI): -25.0 to -11.4; Cohen's d = 0.84), FSI (-3.2 mu IU/mL; 95 CI: -4.5 to -1.9; d = 0.76), HOMA-IR (-1.4; 95 CI: -2.0 to -0.8; d = 0.81), HOMA-beta (+ 15.6; 95 CI: +7.4 to + 23.8; d = 0.67), and QUICKI (+ 0.07; 95 CI: +0.03 to + 0.11; d = 0.72) (p < 0.05 for all). The reductions in hs-CRP (-0.05 mg/dL; 95 CI: -0.15 to + 0.05; d = 0.12) and MDA (-0.6 <mu>mol/L; 95 CI: -1.4 to + 0.2; d = 0.28) were not significant (p > 0.05). Both groups presented significant weight loss, with no significant difference between them (p > 0.05).<br /> Conclusions SO consumption significantly improved glycemic control biomarkers in women with MASLD, suggesting potential metabolic benefits beyond weight loss.