Flaxseed, hesperidin supplements shine in NAFLD trial

Supplementation with hesperidin and flaxseed leads to better glucose and lipid metabolism, while simultaneously easing inflammation and hepatic steatosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a recent study reports.

The randomized, controlled, open-label trial included 100 NAFLD patients, who were assigned to one of four groups: control, 30-g whole flaxseed powder, 1-g hesperidin supplementation, and a combination of both flaxseed and hesperidin. All groups also participated in a lifestyle modification programme. Outcomes included changes in anthropometric measurements, glucose and lipid profiles, inflammatory markers, hepatic steatosis, and fibrosis.

After 12 weeks of intervention, hepatic steatosis dropped by at least 40 percent in all three intervention, groups, as opposed to the 22-percent reduction in controls. Similarly, the number of patients with normal liver fat content was highest in the combination intervention (n=9) and lowest in controls (n=2); among-group difference was not significant (p=0.149).

All intervention groups also saw improvements in liver function biomarkers, with significant changes in alanine aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transferase by the end of the trial. Liver fat content also dropped to a greater extent when lifestyle modification was combined with either or both supplements. Flaxseed, alone or when used with hesperidin, significantly reduced liver fibrosis.

The researchers also found significant beneficial effects of the test supplements on other factors such as blood glucose, insulin, insulin resistance, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and tumour necrosis factor α.

“In the current study, we assessed the superiority of two dietary supplements to common lifestyle modifications in NAFLD management,” the researchers said. “The results showed that taking hesperidin or flaxseed or a combination can increase the effectiveness of lifestyle modifications in NAFLD management.”