Effect of berberine and bicyclol on Chinese patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a retrospective study

ABSTRACT

Objectives

To compare the effect of berberine and bicyclol on patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods

Chinese nonalcoholic and non-viral hepatitis patients with a hepatic lipid content > 13% and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score (NAS) ≥ 2 were treated with 500 mg berberine thrice daily, together with dietary modification (low-fat diet) and Tai Chi exercise for 4 months (BT cohort; n = 112), or 25 mg bicyclol thrice daily plus dietary modification and Tai Chi exercise for 4 months (CT cohort, n = 145), or dietary modification and Tai Chi exercise for 4 months (DT cohort, n = 128).

Results

Patients in the BT and the CT cohorts had improved anthropometric measurements (weight, height, body mass index, and waist-to-hip ratio), biochemical parameters (blood sugar, lipid profile, and liver functions tests), liver/spleen computed tomography findings, and liver biopsy results after 4 months of intervention (p < 0.05 for all). Bicyclol decreased the NAS in the CT cohort to a significantly greater degree than berberine in the BT cohort (p < 0.0001, q = 3.879). Patients in the DT cohort had reduced body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio (p < 0.05 for both). During the 4-month intervention, patients in the BT cohort had abdominal distension, mild diarrhea, constipation, nausea, and dyspepsia; patients in the CT cohort had dizziness and abdominal distension.

Conclusions

Berberine or bicyclol plus dietary modification and Tai Chi exercise could control NAFLD without serious adverse effects. Dietary modification and Tai Chi exercise alone for 4 months are insufficient for the management of NAFLD. It is possible to reduce body weight by administering berberine or bicyclol.

KEYWORDS:

• Abdominal distension
• berberine
• bicyclol
• nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
• liver biopsy
• Tai Chi exercise

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful for the General Hospital of Tisco, the Sixth Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China. The English in this document has been checked by at least two professional editors, both native speakers of English. For a certificate, please see: http://www.textcheck.com/certificate/mNFYBq

Author contributions

All authors have read and approved the manuscript for publication. QG was a project administrator, contributed to supervision, visualization, literature review, and methodology of the study. PZ contributed to the methodology, literature review, conceptualization, resources, and software of the study. XL contributed to the investigation, methodology, literature review, validation, and software of the study. LX contributed to data curation, formal analysis, literature review, and methodology of the study, drafted, and edited the manuscript for intellectual content. All authors agree to be accountable for all aspects of work ensuring integrity and accuracy.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets were used and analyzed during the current study available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Disclosure of any financial/other conflicts of interest

The authors have no relevant conflicts of interest to disclose. Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The designed protocol of the established study (SXMU2425 dated 2 June 2021) was approved by the General Hospital of Tisco review board. The study reporting adheres to the law of China and the V2008 of Helsinki Declarations.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.

Additional information

Funding

No funding was received for the production of this manuscript.