The effect of Urtica Dioica leaf extract intake on serum TNF-α, stool calprotectin and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, clinical trial

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Nematgorgani, Shiva^a | Agah, Shahram^b | Shidfar, Farzad^{a; b; *} | Janani, Leila^c | Faghihi, Amirhosein^b | Hosseini, Sharieh^d

Affiliations: [a] Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran | [b] Colorectal Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran | [c] Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran | [d] Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Farzad Shidfar, Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health and Colorectal Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Shahid Hemmat Highway, Tehran, IR Iran. Tel.: +98 2188622755; Fax: +98 21 88622533; E-mail: shidfar.f@iums.ac.ir.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis in which inflammatory factors are thought to play an important role. OBJECTIVE:This study examined the effects of Urtica dioica leaf extract on tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and fecal calprotectin as inflammation markers and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. METHODS:This study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, clinical trial, conducted on 64 patients with IBD. The participants were divided into a Urtica Dioica group (n = 32) and a placebo group (n = 32) by permuted block randomization. Subjects received three tablets daily for 12 weeks of either hydroalcoholic nettle extract (400 mg) or a placebo. Levels of TNF-α in serum, fecal calprotectin and ESR were assessed at baseline and at the end of study. RESULTS:59 participants completed the trial. After 12 weeks, levels of TNF-α and fecal calprotectin showed a significant reduction in the Urtica Dioica group compared to the placebo group (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found in the level of ESR between the groups at the end of the study. CONCLUSION:Our results indicate that supplementation with hydroalcoholic nettle extract can improve levels of TNF-α and fecal calprotectin as inflammatory factors in patients with IBD.

Keywords: ESR, fecal calprotectin, inflammatory bowel disease, TNF-α, Urtica Dioica

DOI: 10.3233/MNM-190367

Journal: Mediterranean Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 75-87, 2020