Comparative Analysis of Liver Enzyme Changes Before and After Korean Medicine Treatment in People with Obesity: A Retrospective, Multicenter, Observational Study

This retrospective, multicenter, observational study aimed to evaluate the effects of herbal medicine treatment on liver function in obese patients exhibiting elevated liver enzymes. Conducted from May 2023 to April 2024 at various Korean medicine clinics, the study included 84 patients who underwent herbal treatments for obesity. All participants had at least one liver function test (LFT) showing elevated levels of aspartic amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), or gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), and a subsequent LFT performed after a minimum of 90 days. The study excluded patients with potential confounding factors such as hepatitis, antibiotic usage, or recent surgeries.</br>The study showed significant reductions in AST, ALT, and GGT levels, with AST and ALT improving to within the normal range and GGT approaching normal levels. Patients also experienced statistically significant reductions in weight and BMI, meeting the minimum clinically important difference threshold.</br>These findings suggest that herbal treatments for obesity are not only safe for patients with obesity-related liver enzyme abnormalities but also effective in improving liver function. This study shows that herbal treatment is effective in the management of obesity-related liver disease and confirms the safety and efficacy of an obesity treatment herbal formula containing ephedra. Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.