A Whole-Food-Based Health Product (A-F Betafood®) Improves Gallbladder Function in Humans at Risk of Gallbladder Insufficiency: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

A-F Betafood® is a whole food-based health product. The product contains phytonutrients and bioactives with antioxidant properties that may support gallbladder and liver function. Herein, we investigated the efficacy of A-F Betafood® on gallbladder and liver function. In this randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel study fifty overweight but otherwise healthy adults received A-F Betafood® or placebo for 12 weeks. Gallbladder function as assessed by gallbladder volume, ejection fraction (GBEF), ejection rate, wall thickness and liver function determined via aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase, and high-sensitivity c-reactive protein analysis at baseline and week 12 were the primary outcomes. Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglycerides, and oxidative stress markers including oxidized low-density lipoprotein, tumor necrosis factor-α, adiponectin and malonyldialdehyde (MDA) were assessed as secondary outcomes. A-F Betafood®-supplementation significantly reduced gallbladder wall thickness (p = 0.049) by 9% compared to placebo from baseline to week 12. The A-F Betafood® group alone had significant improvements in gallbladder volume (32%; p = 0.044) and GBEF (19%; p = 0.047) at week 12. There were no changes in liver function, oxidative stress markers or blood lipid concentrations, though MDA concentrations decreased in both groups. Our findings demonstrate A-F Betafood®-supplementation significantly improves measures of gallbladder function and support healthy gallbladder function in the individuals with gall bladder condition.