Changes of body composition and circulating adipokines in response to Nigella sativa oil with a calorie restricted diet in obese women

•Nigella sativa with a low-calorie diet decreased weight and fat mass in obese women.•Nigella sativa with a low-calorie diet decreased insulin secretion with no changes in insulin sensitivity in obese women.•Nigella sativa with a low-calorie diet increased serum levels of adiponectin hormone with no changes in PPAR-γ levels in obese women after 8 weeks.

AimAdipose tissue is an active endocrine organ with a key role in metabolic regulation and hormonal signaling. This study determined the effects of Nigella sativa (NS) oil with a low-calorie diet on body composition and adipokine levels in obese women.MethodIn this double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, clinical trial, 50 obese women were recruited. The participants were randomly divided into an NS oil group (n = 25) and a placebo group (n = 25), and each group received either a low-calorie diet with 3 g/day NS oil or a low-calorie diet with 3 g/day placebo for 8 weeks. Body composition and biochemical parameters were measured at the baseline and at the end of the trial.ResultsAll 50 participants completed the trial. The participants reported no serious side effects, and the liver enzymes did not change significantly after the intervention. Mean BMI of the participants was 32.0 ± 1.5 kg/m2 at the baseline. NS oil decreased body fat mass (−9.5 vs. −2.9%; p < 0.01) and insulin levels (−29.3 vs. −8.6%; p = 0.04) and increased adiponectin levels (87.5 vs. 39.4%; p = 0.03) in the NS oil group compared to the placebo group after 8 weeks. At the end of the study, changes in BMI, insulin sensitivity, and the nuclear receptor PPAR-γ were not significant.ConclusionNS oil supplementation combined with a low-calorie diet can modulate hormone secretion and body composition in obese women. However, more studies are needed to clarify the efficacy of NS oil as an adjunct therapy for obesity management.