Abstract

Background & aims Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with high risk of cardiovascular diseases. The experimental studies have suggested that Cornus mas L. (cornelian cherry) fruit can improve cardiovascular risk factors. We designed a study to investigate the effect of cornelian cherry fruit extract on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with NAFLD. Methods We conducted a double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Fifty patients with NAFLD were randomly assigned into the treatment and the control groups. The treatment group received 20 cc/d cornelian cherry fruit extract as liquid form and the control group received 20 cc/d placebo for 12 weeks. The primary outcomes included lipid accumulation product (LAP), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), Castelli risk index I (CRI-I), CRI-II and atherogenic coefficient (AC). Results At the baseline, there was no significant difference between two groups in values of LAP, AIP, CRI-I, CRI-II and AC. After the intervention, no significant change was found in the treatment group compared to the control group in LAP (−0.64 (−6.25 to 8.29) vs. 0.0 (−8.66 to 19.01); P = 0.91), AIP (0.0 ± 0.08 vs. 0.0 ± 0.1; P = 0.84), CRI-I (−0.18 ± 0.63 vs. −0.31 ± 0.49; P = 0.42), CRI-II (−0.23 ± 0.56 vs. −0.15 ± 0.32; P = 0.52) and AC (−0.18 ± 0.63 vs. −0.31 ± 0.49; P = 0.42). Conclusion Cornelian cherry fruit extract has no effect on cardiovascular outcomes. Further studies with longer intervention durations are needed.