Effects of the Mixture of Cichorium intybus L. and Cinnamomum zeylanicum on Hepatic Enzymes Activity and Biochemical Parameters in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as a metabolic disorder affecting the liver function is rapidly increasing and there is a need to develop new and more efficient treatment. This study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of Cichorium intybus L. and Cinnamon mixture infusion (2.5 and 0.5 g/100mL and twice/day) on patients with NAFLD. This before-after clinical trial study was performed on 25 patients with NAFLD. They were administered the mixture of extract prepared in special bags twice a day for 30 days. Hepatic and metabolic markers of NAFLD like alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphates (ALP), fasting blood sugar (FBS), cholesterol (chol), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in plasma and also, fatty liver ultrasonographic grading were determined before and after using the extracts. 30-day treatment with extracts in NAFLD patients resulted in a significant decrease in ALT and AST. FBS, TG and ALP were also decreased after administration of the extracts but not significantly. A significant linear correlation was found between age and ALP, and between gender and liver enzymes. It is concluded that the mixture of Cichorium intybus L. and Cinnamon extracts has some benefits in NAFLD patients making them valuable for future investigations