To evaluate the effects of berberine on visceral adipose tissue and liver fat content in patients with obesity and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease who do not have diabetes.
Key Findings:
No significant reduction in visceral adipose tissue or liver fat content between berberine and placebo groups after 6 months.
Berberine showed greater reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein compared to placebo.
No significant effects on glycated hemoglobin, glucose levels, insulin resistance, triglycerides, blood pressure, body weight, or liver fibrosis markers.
Safety profile of berberine was excellent with similar incidence of adverse events between groups.
Interpretation:
Berberine treatment did not achieve the primary outcomes of reducing liver fat or visceral adipose tissue in the studied population, despite some positive effects on lipid levels and inflammatory markers.
Limitations:
Findings were exploratory and may not be generalizable to all populations.
The study focused on a specific patient group (diabetes-free individuals with MASLD).
Conclusion:
In this trial, berberine did not reduce liver fat or visceral adipose tissue but demonstrated a favorable safety profile and some beneficial effects on lipid levels.
