Therapeutic effects of curcumin supplementation on liver enzymes of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized clinical trials

Abstract

Curcumin, as an antioxidant agent, has been proposed as a potential treatment for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim of the current systematic review and meta‐analysis was to summarize earlier findings regarding the effect of curcumin supplementation on liver enzymes and ALP in NAFLD patients. All studies published up to November 18, 2022, were searched through the PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science databases to collect all randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on NAFLD patients in which curcumin was used as a treatment. A random‐effects model was used to measure pooled effect sizes. Weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to report pooled effect sizes. Subgroup analysis was utilized to investigate heterogeneity. A total of 14 studies were included in this systematic review and meta‐analysis. Our pooled meta‐analysis indicated a significant decrease in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) following curcumin therapy by pooling 12 effect sizes (WMD: –8.72; 95% CI: –15.16, –2.27, I2 = 94.1%) and in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) based on 13 effect sizes (WMD: –6.35; 95% CI: –9.81, –2.88, I2 = 94.4%). However, the pooled analysis of five trials indicated that there was no significant association between curcumin therapy and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in NAFLD patients (WMD: −4.71; 95% CI: −13.01, 3.58, I2 = 64.2%). Nevertheless, subgroup analyses showed significant effects of curcumin on ALP with a longer duration of supplementation. The findings of this systematic review and meta‐analysis support the potential effect of curcumin on the management of NAFLD. Further randomized controlled trials should be conducted in light of our findings.