ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECT OF SAFFRON (CROCUS SATIVUS) ON THE LIVER FUNCTION AND LIPID PROFILE IN PATIENTS WITH NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE

Background and Aim: The aim of this study was to Assessment of the effect of saffron on the serum levels of liver enzymes and Lipid Profile in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).Methods: In this double-blind clinical trial,60 patients with the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease were randomly recruited to consume either 15 mg saffron extract (n = 30) or placebo capsules (n = 30) once a day for 8 weeks. aspartate and alanine aminotransferase, triglycerides, HDL-C and LDL-C were measured.Results: Statistical analysis showed that serum levels of triglyceride (p= 0.0008), aspartate aminotransferase (p= 0.03) and alanine aminotransferase (p= 0.0001) were significantly decreased in the saffron group. Moreover, changes in HDL-C and LDL-C levels were not statistically significant in the two groups.Conclusion: Saffron extract considerably improve liver functions and triglycerides levels in NAFLD patients in an 8-week randomized clinical trial. This might be considered as an adjunctive therapy alongside other treatments for NAFLD patients.

Keywords:

non-alcoholic fatty liver disease , saffron , lipid profile , liver enzymes