Effect of green coffee extract supplementation on metabolic status, serum leptin level and anthropometric measurements in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

Abstract

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common form of chronic liver disease in the world and including a range of diseases from steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis with varying degrees of fibrosis, which can eventually develop to cirrhosis. At the current, limited evidence is avaliable about benefical effects of green coffee as a functional foods in NAFLD. This study aimed to investigate the effect of green coffee extract (GCE) on metabolic status, serum leptin level and anthropometric messurments in subjects with NAFLD. Methods: This double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted on 45 patients with NAFLD (males aged 20-60 years & females aged 20-50 years( and body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 34.99 kg/m2. Individuals randomally assigned to one of intervention (n = 22) or control (n = 23) groups. Subjects in the intervention group received two capsules contained 200 mg of GCE daily for 8 weeks and the control group consumed two placebo capsules for the same dose and period. General and physical activity questionnaires were completed at the beginning of the study. Anthropometric indexes (including height, weight, BMI, waist circumference (WC) and waist to hip ratio (WHR)) and blood pressure measurements were performed. Fasting blood samples were collected from each subjects for assseing biochemical variables (including serum lipid profile, fasting blood glucose (FBS), insulin, leptin and liver enzymes (ALT, AST)). All measurements were repeated at the end of the study. Dietary intakes of subjects were evaluated by dietary record method for 3 days, at the beginning, fourth week, and at the end of the study. Statistical analyzes were performed using independent t-test, paired t-test, sign test, and covariance analysis. Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of the studied variables at the beginning of the study. Significant decrease in serum total cholesterol, FBG, serum leptin, weight, BMI, WC and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were observed in the GCE group after the intervention compared to theXIII baseline values (P >0.05). There was a significant increase in serum HDL-C (5/86%, P = 0.042), significant decrease in FBS (13.56% and P = 0.006), HOMAIR (9.5% and P = 0.028), weight (1/91% and P <0.001), BMI (1/99% and P <0.001), WC (1.74%, P = 0.001) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) (10.41% and P =0.001) at the end of the study compared to placebo group. No significant changes were observed in serum level of insulin, triglyceride, LDL-C, AST, ALT and WHR in either groups (P <0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that GCE supplementation has beneficial effects on FBS, HOMA-IR, body weight, BMI, WC, and SBP in patients with NAFLD and maybe useful in controlling of some NAFLD risk factors.