Mohammad Javad Ehsani1, Jamileh Mahdavi Jafari2, Jale Aliasl3, Mohammad Kamalinejad4, Latif Gachkar5, Rasool Choopani6. 1. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Taleghani Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2. Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Traditional Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 3. Traditional Medicine Clinical Trial Research Center, Shahid University, Tehran, Iran. 4. School of Pharmacology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 5. Tropical and Infectious Diseases Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran. 6. Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Traditional Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: Rchoopani@yahoo.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Cirrhosis is associated with morbidity and mortality worldwide. Iranian traditional medicine (ITM) focused on nutritional intervention in order to improve liver function. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a diet designed based on ITM and current dietary recommendations. DESIGN: This controlled trial study was performed on 57 subjects with cirrhosis in 5 tertiary hospitals in Teharn, Iran. SETTING:Subjects were included if they were diagnosed with class A or B cirrhosis between October 2013 and December 2014. INTERVENTIONS: Subjects were randomly allocated into intervention (28 subjects) who received dietary and lifestyle recommendations based on ITM and controls (29 subjects) who received routine dietary and lifestyle recommendations for 3 months. Subjects were assessed at baseline and at the end of the intervention for anthropometric measures, liver function tests and cirrhosis severity scoring. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD), anthropometric measures, serum albumin, liver function tests, International Normalized Ratio and alkaline phosphatase as well as subjective findings. RESULTS: Mean age of the subjects was 51.19±11.88years. Weight reduction was observed in 41 subjects (22 subjects in intervention and 19 in control group). Dietary intervention resulted in a significant decrease in alanine aminotransferase (AST) (p=0.04) and significant resolution of icterus in sclera (p=0.02) in weight loss group and increase serum albumin in weight gain group (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: ITM recommendations could be beneficial for cirrhotic patients both for the purpose of weight reduction and weight gain. Copyright Â
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES:Cirrhosis is associated with morbidity and mortality worldwide. Iranian traditional medicine (ITM) focused on nutritional intervention in order to improve liver function. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a diet designed based on ITM and current dietary recommendations. DESIGN: This controlled trial study was performed on 57 subjects with cirrhosis in 5 tertiary hospitals in Teharn, Iran. SETTING: Subjects were included if they were diagnosed with class A or B cirrhosis between October 2013 and December 2014. INTERVENTIONS: Subjects were randomly allocated into intervention (28 subjects) who received dietary and lifestyle recommendations based on ITM and controls (29 subjects) who received routine dietary and lifestyle recommendations for 3 months. Subjects were assessed at baseline and at the end of the intervention for anthropometric measures, liver function tests and cirrhosis severity scoring. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD), anthropometric measures, serum albumin, liver function tests, International Normalized Ratio and alkaline phosphatase as well as subjective findings. RESULTS: Mean age of the subjects was 51.19±11.88years. Weight reduction was observed in 41 subjects (22 subjects in intervention and 19 in control group). Dietary intervention resulted in a significant decrease in alanine aminotransferase (AST) (p=0.04) and significant resolution of icterus in sclera (p=0.02) in weight loss group and increase serum albumin in weight gain group (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: ITM recommendations could be beneficial for cirrhoticpatients both for the purpose of weight reduction and weight gain. Copyright Â