Abstract

Introduction:Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide. Oxidative stress, insulin resistance, inflammation, obesity, and dyslipidemia are the main causes of NAFLD. It has been hypothesised that the consumption of Nigella sativa (N sativa) can help in the treatment of NAFLD. The purpose of this study is to review the main mechanisms and clinical effects of N sativa on the main causes of NAFLD based on existing evidence, especially relevant clinical trials.Methods: Reliable randomised clinical trials extracted from PubMed-Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science databases regarding the effects of N sativa on the main causes of NAFLD were reviewed. In addition, based on experimental studies, the main mechanisms and pathways through which N sativa affects the main causes of NAFLD were completely extracted.Results: N sativa supplementation can improve inflammation, obesity, and dyslipidemia. However, in the context of oxidative stress and insulin resistance, the clinical results are inconsistent. Conclusions: Promising evidence suggested that N sativa supplementation can decrease NAFLD severity by improving its main causes. To better conclusion, further studies are needed to evaluate the clinical effects of N sativa supplementation on features of NAFLD such as liver enzymes and NAFLD severity.