Written by Joyce Smith, BS. A combination intervention of Nigella sativa and calorie-restricted diet significantly decreased biomarkers of systemic inflammation, TNF-alpha and hsCRP in the participating obese women.

obesityObesity, a global health problem of epidemic proportions, is associated with chronic inflammation and plays an important role in the development of many diseases including metabolic disease, diabetes, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, and even cancers 1. The inflammatory process originates in visceral fat cells (adipocytes) when they activate the innate immune system to secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL), tumor necrosis factor- alpha (TNF-α) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CPR). The resulting influx of macrophages to the adipose tissue further exacerbates the inflammatory response. The importance of finding treatment therapies to suppress, inhibit, or neutralize these damaging cytokines is of utmost importance 2.

Previous research citing the anti-obesity properties of medicinal herbs 3 led researchers to conduct this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial 4 to investigate the effects of Nigella sativa (black cumin seed) oil, in combination with a calorie -restricted diet, on systemic inflammatory biomarkers in obese women. Ninety volunteer obese women, 25-50 years of age, and with a body mass index (BMI) between 30 and 35kg/m2 were randomized into two groups, (intervention and placebo) of 45 per group receiving either a low calorie diet with 3 g/day of Nigella sativa oil or a low calorie diet with 3 g /day of placebo (one capsule 3 times per day). TQ, the bioactive component in NS was determined as 1.25 mg in each 100 mg of NS oil.

Anthropometric indices, physical activity and dietary intake were assessed at baseline and at the end of the study. An International Physical Activity Questionnaire, involving a face-face interview, was done to determine physical activity levels and evaluate dietary intakes. Fasting blood samples were taken to measure inflammatory parameters.

After eight weeks of intervention the following results were observed:

  • At baseline, there were no significant differences in body weight and BMI between the 2 groups (P >0.05 in both variables); however, after NS supplementation, weight (-26.0% vs –23.5) and BMI (23.9% vs 21.5% P<0.01) decreased significantly compared to the baseline in both the NS and placebo groups, respectively.
  • TNF-α (-40.8% vs -16.1%, P < 0.04) and hsCRP (-54.5% vs -21.4%, P < 0.01) were significantly decreased in the NS group compared to the placebo group. However, there were no significant changes in interleukin-6 levels (28.6 vs 22.4%, P < 0.6) in the NS group compared to placebo.
  • Total energy, carbohydrate, and fat intake (but not protein) decreased significantly in both groups (P>0.05 in all variables) compared to baseline.

Researchers concluded that NS oil supplementation combined with a calorie-restricted diet modulates systemic inflammatory biomarkers in obese women more efficiently than a calorie-restricted diet alone. However, they believe that more studies are needed to clarify the effectiveness of NS oil as an adjunct therapy to improve inflammatory parameters in obese individuals.

Source: Mahdavi, Reza, Nazli Namazi, Mohammad Alizadeh, and Safar Farajnia. “Nigella sativa oil with a calorie-restricted diet can improve biomarkers of systemic inflammation in obese women: A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.” Journal of clinical lipidology 10, no. 5 (2016): 1203-1211.

© 2016 National Lipid Association. All rights reserved.

Posted August 10, 2017.

Joyce Smith, BS, is a degreed laboratory technologist. She received her bachelor of arts with a major in Chemistry and a minor in Biology from the University of Saskatchewan and her internship through the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine and the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She currently resides in Bloomingdale, IL.

References:

  1. Rodríguez-Hernández H, Simental-Mendía LE, Rodríguez-Ramírez G, Reyes-Romero MA. Obesity and inflammation: epidemiology, risk factors, and markers of inflammation. International journal of endocrinology. 2013;2013.
  2. DeBoer MD. Obesity, systemic inflammation, and increased risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes among adolescents: a need for screening tools to target interventions. Nutrition. 2013;29(2):379-386.
  3. Kazemipoor M, Mohamed CWJW, Cordell GA, Yaze I. Safety, efficacy and metabolism of traditional medicinal plants in the management of obesity: a review. International Journal of Chemical Engineering and Applications. 2012;3(4):288.
  4. Mahdavi R, Namazi N, Alizadeh M, Farajnia S. Nigella sativa oil with a calorie-restricted diet can improve biomarkers of systemic inflammation in obese women: A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Journal of clinical lipidology. 2016;10(5):1203-1211.