The effect of psyllium on anthropometric measurements and liver enzymes in overweight or obese adults with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

Abstract

Background: Overweight and obesity are two important risk factors for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Controling the weight via using dietary fiber may help to manage patients with NAFLD by diet and physical activity. Psyllium as a fiber can reduce obesity and its consequences. Methods: This was a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized clinical trial study. 80 overweight or obese patients with NAFLD (age: 18-77 years) diagnosis via elastography were enrolled. Participants assigned to intervention and placebo groups using randomized block design; which were supplemented with 10 g psyllium or 10 g ground wheat, respectively. Both groups followed weightloss diet and physical activity (PA) recommendations for 10 weeks. Serum liver enzymes (using enzymatic photometric method), dietary intake (via 3-day food record) physical activity (using physical activity questionnaire) and anthropometric measurements were assessed at baseline and the end of the study. Findings: 75 participants (mean age: 44.9 years) met the inclusion criteria, 13 men and 25 women in intervention group and 22 men and 15 women in placebo group. At the beginning, the mean body mass index (BMI) was 29.4 and 31.1 kg/m2 and the mean calorie intake was 2044.8 and 2449.7 kcal in intervention and placebo groups, respectively. Controling the confounding variables, calorie intake (P = 0.020), carbohydrate intake (P = 0.010), serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (P = 0.006), waist circumference (P = 0.006), body mass index (P = 0.006) and weight (P = 0.030) were reduced in intervention group as compared with placebo group. Waist to hip ratio reduced at a boarderline significancy (P = 0.050); and serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) reduced unsignificantly (P = 0.980). Conclusion: Weight-loss diet program supplemented with psyllium, in parallel with increasing the physical activity, can be useful in reducing NAFLD outcomes. © Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.