The clinical effects of purslane (Portulaca oleracea) seeds on metabolic profiles in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common form of chronic liver diseases associated with unfavorable metabolic profiles and oxidative stress parameters. This study was designed to determine the effects of purslane seeds consumption with a low-calorie diet on insulin resistance, lipid profile, and oxidative stress indices in patients with NAFLD. This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 54 individuals with NAFLD. Subjects were randomly assigned to consume either 10 g/day of purslane seeds sachet before breakfast and dinner in addition to a low-calorie diet (n = 27) or only the low-calorie diet (n = 27) for 8 weeks. Fasting blood samples were collected at the beginning and end of the study to measure relevant variables. Intake of purslane seeds with the low-calorie diet led to a significant decrease in serum concentrations of fasting blood sugar (FBS; -3.52 ± 10.45 compared with 3.03 ± 9.01 mg/dl, P = 0.017), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI; 0.13 ± 0.27 compared with -0.002 ± 0.016, P = 0.017), total cholesterol (4.33 ± 34.04 compared with 23.48 ± 29.47 mg/dl, P = 0.032), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; -4.35 ± 22.65 compared with 11.82 ± 16.08 mg/dl, P = 0.004) after intervention. Compared with the control group, purslane seeds consumption with adherence to a low-calorie diet had beneficial effects on FBS, HOMA-IR, QUICKI, serum total, and LDL-C in patients with NAFLD but did not affect other glycemic, lipid profile, and oxidative stress parameters.