The effects of Nigella Sativa oil extract supplementation on plasma levels of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, metabolic and oxidative parameters and nutritional status in patients with coronary artery

Abstract

Abstract Background and aims: Coronary artery disease (CAD), as the most common cardiovascular disease, is responsible for the number one cause of death worldwide. Various modifiable risk factors, such as impaired glycemic and lipid metabolism, obesity, chronic inflammation, and oxidation, are closely associated with CAD initiation and progression. Thus, an antioxidant compound like Nigella sativa (NS) with beneficial health effects might be a potential therapeutic agent in controlling these risk factors. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effect of NS on CAD patients. Methods: In this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-control clinical trial, 49 patients with coronary artery disease were recruited from Shahid Madani Hospital and randomly divided into two groups receiving either black seed extract oil supplements (two 1000 mg capsules) or sunflower oil as the placebo (two 1000 mg capsules) for eight weeks. At the beginning and end of the study, fasting blood samples were taken from all subjects to assess biochemical parameters, including lipid profile, glycemic index, oxidative stress markers, intercellular adhesion molecules-1 (sICAM-1), and vascular adhesion molecules-1 (sVCAM-1). Further, anthropometric indices were measured at the beginning and end of the supplementation. Data were analyzed using independent sample t-test, paired t-test, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Results: NS supplementation showed a significant reduction in weight (P< 0.001), BMI (P< 0.001), waist (P= 0.001) and hip (P= 0.005) circumference. Further reduction was observed in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (P= 0.001) after the intervention, compared to the placebo group. Also, serum levels of sICAM-1 (P= 0.006), sVCAM-1 (P= 0.044), MDA (P= 0.026), and FBS (P= 0.008) were declined compared to the placebo. Although TAC increased significantly, SOD, insulin, HOMA-IR, and lipid parameters did not change substantially compared to the placebo group. Conclusion: Results showed a potential therapeutic effect of NS on cardiometabolic risk factors via affecting obesity, blood pressure, oxidative and inflammatory markers in CAD patients. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to examine the underlying mechanisms and effect of NS on other oxidative markers in the endothelium. Keywords: Nigella sativa, Coronary artery diseases, lipid profile, glycemic index, anthropometric parameters, inflammation.