Benefit of Psyllium with Weight Loss Diet in Preventing Liver Dysfunction in Overweight or Obese Adults with Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: MASLD is the revised nomenclature of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) which is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide and it significantly impacts the burden of the disease. Individuals who are overweight or obese have three times higher risk of developing MASLD. Losing body weight is, therefore, recommended to manage MASLD. This study was performed to assess the effect of psyllium on liver function in overweight or obese adults with (MASLD). METHODS: We assessed 80 overweight or obese MASLD patients diagnosed by elastography. They were divided into intervention and placebo groups through randomized block design. Intervention group was given 10 grams of psyllium and the control group was given 10 grams of ground wheat as supplement. Weight loss diet and physical activity (PA) recommendations were followed by both groups for 10 weeks. Serum liver enzymes, liver function (measured by fibroscan), PA, and dietary intake were assessed pre- and post-intervention. RESULTS: Totally, 78 participants finished the RCT. After controlling confounding variables, intake of calorie (P = 0.02), carbohydrate (P = 0.01), alanine aminotransferase (P = 0.006), waist circumference (P = 0.006), BMI (P = 0.006), and liver fibrosis score (0.001) were lowered in the intervention group compared with the controls. However, serum aspartate aminotransferase reduction was not significant (P = 0.98). CONCLUSIONS: Psyllium can be introduced as a dietary supplement that exerts beneficial role in gut health, weight loss, and preventing MASLD.