Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the short-term efficacy of glycyrrhizin and fenofibrate combination in the treatment of patients with metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Methods 74 patients with MAFLD were recruited in our hospital between December 2019 and December 2021, and were randomly divided into control and observation group, with 37 cases in each, receiving oral glycyrrhizin or glycyrrhizin and fenofibrate combination therapy for 24 weeks. The controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) were detected by Fibrotouch, and the fatty liver index (FLI) was calculated. Results At the end of 24 weeks of treatment, serum high-density lipoprotein level in the observation group was (1.7±0.4)mmol/L, significantly higher than [(1.4±0.3)mmol/L, P＜0.05], while serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein levels were(4.7±0.7)mmol/L,(2.2±0.4)mmol/L and (2.0±0.3)mmol/L, all significantly lower than [(5.5±0.9)mmol/L, (3.4±0.7)mmol/L and (2.6±0.4)mmol/L, respectively, P＜0.05] in the control; serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transferase levels in the observation group were (50.5±4.9)U/L,(56.5±6.8)U/L and (92.0±11.5)U/L, all not significantly different compared to [(53.6±5.8)U/L, (50.4±7.7)U/L and (90.3±18.6)U/L, respectively, P＜0.05] in the control group; the CAP and the FLI in the observation group were (281.2±16.7)dB/m and (19.9±4.5), both significantly lower than [(316.1±29.5)dB/m and (23.2±5.0), respectively, P＜0.05] in the control, while there was no significant difference as respect to the LSM between the two groups [(8.4±1.7)kPa vs.(8.2±1.3)kPa, P>0.05]. Conclusion The application of glycyrrhizin and fenofibrate combination in treatment of patients with MAFLD is efficacious, which might regulate lipid metabolism, improve liver function recovery and reduce liver fat content.

Key words: Metabolic associated fatty liver disease, Glycyrrhizin, Fenofibrate, Controlled attenuation parameter, Fatty liver index, Therapy