Zinc Supplementation as an Adjunctive Therapy for NAFLD

A recent randomised, double-blinded, controlled clinical trial has unveiled promising results regarding the potential of zinc (Zn) supplementation as an adjunctive therapy for managing Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). This study, conducted over an 8-week period, included 50 overweight or obese participants diagnosed with NAFLD. This study was published in BMC Nutrition by Seyed M. and colleagues.

Study Design

The trial divided participants into two groups, with 25 individuals in each group. One group received a daily dose of 30 mg of zinc, while the other received a placebo. Both groups were instructed to adhere to a balanced energy-restricted diet and recommended physical activity levels throughout the study duration.

Results

The results of the study demonstrated significant improvements in several parameters among participants who received zinc supplementation:

• Increased Zinc Levels: The zinc-supplemented group showed a substantial increase in zinc serum levels (P < 0.001).
• Anthropometric Changes: A noteworthy decrease was observed in weight (P = 0.004), body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.002), and waist circumference (P = 0.010) within the zinc-supplemented group.
• Metabolic Improvements: Zinc supplementation led to reduced levels of aspartate transaminase (AST) (P = 0.033), total cholesterol (TC) (P = 0.045), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (P = 0.014).

However, the study did not find significant changes in other parameters such as alanine transaminase (ALT), fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride (TG), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), malondialdehyde (MDA), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

The outcomes of this trial suggest that an 8-week regimen of daily 30 mg zinc supplementation exhibited beneficial effects in NAFLD patients. Notably, it increased zinc serum levels and contributed to improvements in weight, BMI, waist circumference, as well as markers of liver health and lipid profile. Despite these promising findings, the study highlighted the need for further research to validate and expand upon these results.

These results underscore the potential of zinc supplementation as a complementary therapeutic approach for NAFLD. The study’s implications may pave the way for future investigations and interventions aimed at refining treatment strategies for individuals with this prevalent liver condition.

Reference

Rezaei, S. M. A., Mohammadi, F., Eftekhari, M. H., Ejtehadi, F., Ghaem, H., & Mohammadipoor, N. The effects of zinc supplementation on the metabolic factors in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. BMC Nutrition, 2023; 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-023-00776-z