Hepatoprotective Effect ofAntrodia cinnamomeaMycelium in Patients with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Objective:Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has become a prominent liver disease in contemporary society because of the changing dieting styles. Complicated syndromes often accompanied by obesity and diabetes makes no standard treatment for NASH. Therefore, we investigated the potential role ofAntrodia cinnamomeamycelium (ACM) as nutraceutical supplementation in the treatment of NASH in this 6-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Method:28 Participants were treated with three capsules per day containing either 420 mg of ACM or 420 mg of starch as a placebo. The participants were required to follow a predetermined regular visit to hospital every three months during the intervention period (6 months). During each study visit, subjects underwent anthropometric measurements and blood testing for biochemical analysis, immune function assay, inflammatory cytokines assay, and FibroMax test. Results:The ACM supplemented group had a significant improvement in steatosis and decreased in the inflammatory marker of TNF-alpha after three and six months. NASH patients who received ACM showed a significant decrease in the SteatoTest mean value from 0.66 at baseline to 0.49 at 6 months (p < 0.029) and the ActiTest mean value decreased from 0.46 at baseline to 0.30 at 6 months (p < 0.029). Conclusion:This is the first clinical investigation that explores the hepatoprotective effect ofA. cinnamomeamycelium in patients with NASH. No participants experienced any adverse events during the study, which suggested that ACM is a safe alternative treatment for NASH.

Automated summary

This study investigated the potential role of Antrodia cinnamomeamycelium as a nutraceutical supplementation in the treatment of NASH, showing significant improvement in steatosis and decrease in inflammatory markers. The results suggest that ACM could be a safe alternative treatment for NASH patients.