Green cardamom increases Sirtuin-1 and reduces inflammation in overweight or obese patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial

Double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial; overweight/obese NAFLD patients aged 30–60 years (BMI 25–<35 kg/m^2); NAFLD diagnosed by ultrasonography; 87 randomized (GC n=43, placebo n=44).

Green cardamom capsules, 0.5 g each; 2 capsules per meal, 3 meals per day; total 3 g/day; duration 3 months.

Compared with placebo, green cardamom increased Sirt1 and decreased IL-6, TNF-α, hs-CRP, and ALT, and reduced the degree of fatty liver; weight and AST changes were not significant; no adverse effects reported. GC supplementation may improve inflammatory biomarkers and liver-related biomarkers and fatty liver status in overweight/obese NAFLD; further trials are needed to confirm.

Small sample size; short duration; only overweight/obese NAFLD; reliance on self-reported diet and physical activity; lack of liver biopsy and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) measurement; no assessment of cardamom bioavailability or serum levels; 24-h recall limitations; no body composition data.