Sesame oil improves biomarkers of glycemic control in women with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial

Abstract Aim This study aimed to investigate whether sesame oil (SO) consumption could improve biomarkers of glycemic control, inflammation, and oxidative stress in women with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Methods This randomized, double-blind, controlled trial included 60 women with MASLD (aged 20–50 years, body mass index (BMI) 25–40 kg/m²) assigned to either SO or sunflower oil (SFO) group (n = 30 each), who consumed 30 g/day for 12 weeks alongside a 500 kcal/day calorie-restricted diet. Serum fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting serum insulin (FSI), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), homeostasis model assessment of β-cell function (HOMA-β), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and serum malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured at the pre- and post-intervention phases. Results Compared with the control, SO supplementation led to significant improvements in FBG (mean difference: -18.2 mg/dL; 95% confidence interval (CI): -25.0 to -11.4; Cohen’s d = 0.84), FSI (-3.2 µIU/mL; 95% CI: -4.5 to -1.9; d = 0.76), HOMA-IR (-1.4; 95% CI: -2.0 to -0.8; d = 0.81), HOMA-β (+ 15.6; 95% CI: +7.4 to + 23.8; d = 0.67), and QUICKI (+ 0.07; 95% CI: +0.03 to + 0.11; d = 0.72) (p < 0.05 for all). The reductions in hs-CRP (-0.05 mg/dL; 95% CI: -0.15 to + 0.05; d = 0.12) and MDA (-0.6 µmol/L; 95% CI: -1.4 to + 0.2; d = 0.28) were not significant (p > 0.05). Both groups presented significant weight loss, with no significant difference between them (p > 0.05). Conclusions SO consumption significantly improved glycemic control biomarkers in women with MASLD, suggesting potential metabolic benefits beyond weight loss. Trial registration This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (code: IR.MUI.RESEARCH.REC.1399.548), and it is registered at https://www.irct.ir/trial/52288 , IRCT20140208016529N6, Registration Date: 2020-12-12).