The effect of microalgae chlorella vulgaris supplementation on inflammatory factors in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A doubleblind randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Background and purpose: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the chronic liver diseases. Microalgaeas, a functional food and prebiotic agent, is considered as a new approach in the treatment of NAFLD. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effect of microalgae chlorella vulgaris (C. Vulgaris) supplementation on inflammatory factors in patients with NAFLD. Materials and methods: This double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted on 70 NAFLD patients confirmed by ultrasonography and liver enzymes level. The subjects were randomly allocated into two groups: (1) "Intervention" (n = 35) who received 400 mg/d vitamin E plus four 300 mg tablets of C. vulgaris, and (2) "placebo" who received 400 mg/d vitamin E and four placebo tablets per day for eight weeks. Weight, dietary data and fasting serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), hs-CRP, and tumor necrosis factor ? (TNF-?) were assessed at baseline and after 8 weeks. Results: Weight, ALT and ALP significantly were decreased in both groups after the intervention (P < 0.001). There were significant reductions in AST and hs-CRP in the intervention group (P < 0.001). Intra-group changes in TNF-? level was statistically significant (P< 0.05). Conclusion: C. vulgaris supplementation could improve liver function through decreasing weight, liver enzymes and hs-CRP concentrations after 8 weeks.