Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41695987›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in pharmacology2025

Efficacy of selected dietary supplements and pharmacological agents on metabolic and oxidative stress outcomes in metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD): a Bayesian network meta-analysis.

Yunyi Yang, Xiaoli He, Jiayuan Cai, Xiaoxiao Qu, Shufa Tan, Jiawen You, Yanming He, Zheng Yao, Hongjie Yang

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in pharmacology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Yunyi Yang *Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Xiaoli He *Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Jiayuan CaiYueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Xiaoxiao QuShuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Shufa TanCollege of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
Jiawen YouYueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Yanming HeYueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Zheng YaoYueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Hongjie YangYueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to compare the relative efficacy of dietary supplements and pharmacological agents in improving metabolic and oxidative stress outcomes in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) through a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis. Methods: PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 1 January 2014, and 3 March 2024, that evaluated the effects of dietary supplements or pharmacological agents on MAFLD. Results: A total of 106 RCTs involving 7,273 participants were included, involving a variety of nutritional and pharmacological interventions. Pharmacological intervention plus bioactive regulator was the most effective in reducing triglycerides (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Nutrient plus pharmacological intervention was the most efficacious in improving glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and insulin levels. Pharmacological intervention plus another pharmacological intervention was most effective in reducing alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Phytochemicals significantly reduced interleukin-6 (IL-6), while bioactive metabolic regulators markedly decreased tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Herbal extracts demonstrated superior effects in enhancing total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), while oleoylethanolamide (OEA) improved antioxidant enzyme activity and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Further analysis revealed that garlic exerted the strongest effect in improving overall antioxidant capacity, whereas L-carnitine showed the most significant efficacy in suppressing lipid peroxidation. Conclusion: Multicomponent or mechanistically complementary interventions exhibited more stable potential benefits in improving glucose and lipid metabolism. Bioactive metabolic regulators (L-carnitine), endogenous lipid regulators (OEA), and herbal extracts (garlic) all demonstrated strong efficacy in enhancing antioxidant defense and alleviating oxidative damage. Further high-quality RCTs are needed to confirm these findings. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42024555065.

Indexed as

Bayesian network meta-analysisdietary supplementsmetabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD)pharmacological agentsrandomized controlled trials (RCTs)

Identifiers

PMID41695987
PMCPMC12894030

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.