Background and Aims: The present systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials aimed to determine the effects of saffron supplementation on liver function tests among adults. Methods: Electronic databases including PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and Scopus were searched up to January 2021. The risk of bias in individual studies was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration tool. The overall estimates and their 95% CIs were calculated using random-effects models. Egger’s test and Begg’s rank-correlation were run to assess the presence of publication bias. p #x3c; 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 12 trials involving 608 participants were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Saffron supplementation had no significant effect on liver function tests including aspartate transaminase (AST) (weighted mean difference [WMD] = 0.23 U/L; 95% CI –2.22 to 2.69; p = 0.851; I² = 74.0%), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (WMD = –1.49 U/L; 95% CI –3.84 to 0.86; p = 0.213; I² = 60.2%), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (WMD = –0.70 U/L; 95% CI –11.35 to 9.95; p = 0.898; I² = 40.8%) compared to placebo. Conclusion: Based on what was discussed, it seems that saffron supplementation could not improve liver function tests including AST, ALT, and ALP among the adult population. Further clinical trials with larger sample size, longer duration, and higher doses of saffron should be conducted exclusively among patients with liver dysfunction to elucidate the beneficial role of saffron consumption on liver function.
Complement Med Res

中文翻译：

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食用藏红花对肝功能的影响：随机对照临床试验的系统评价和荟萃分析

背景和目的：目前对随机对照试验的系统评价和荟萃分析旨在确定藏红花补充剂对成人肝功能测试的影响。方法：检索包括 PubMed、ISI Web of Science 和 Scopus 在内的电子数据库，直至 2021 年 1 月。使用 Cochrane 协作工具评估个别研究的偏倚风险。使用随机效应模型计算总体估计值及其 95% CI。Egger 检验和 Begg 等级相关性用于评估是否存在发表偏倚。p #x3c; 0.05 被认为具有统计学意义。结果：该系统评价和荟萃分析共纳入 12 项试验，涉及 608 名参与者。藏红花补充剂对肝功能测试没有显着影响，包括天冬氨酸转氨酶 (AST)（加权平均差 [WMD] = 0.23 U/L；95% CI –2.22 至 2.69；p = 0.851；I ² = 74.0%）、丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)（WMD = –1.49 U/L；95% CI –3.84 至 0.86；p = 0.213；I ² = 60.2%）和碱性磷酸酶 (ALP) (WMD = –0.70 U/L；95% CI – 11.35 至 9.95；p = 0.898；I ² = 40.8%）与安慰剂相比。结论：根据所讨论的内容，藏红花补充剂似乎无法改善成年人群中的肝功能测试，包括 AST、ALT 和 ALP。应仅在肝功能不全的患者中进行更大样本量、更长持续时间和更高剂量藏红花的进一步临床试验，以阐明食用藏红花对肝功能的有益作用。
补充医学资源