Black seed, or black cumin, frequently comes up in weight loss advice. Clinical trials provide an order of magnitude: in the most recent meta-analysis (31 trials total, including about a dozen measuring weight), people taking black seed lost on average 1.59 kg more than those in the control group (2.16 kg according to a table in the same article). A real effect, which the authors themselves describe as modest.
This guide brings together meta-analyses and trials identified via PubMed on weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and fat mass: populations, doses, forms, durations, and quality of evidence. It also details what weighs more on the scale—caloric deficit, protein, and physical activity—and then precautions.
What the trials show : four meta-analyses converge on an average decrease of 1.6 to 2.1 kg compared to the control group, and about 0.5 to 1.2 points in body mass index, with highly variable results from one trial to another. Several trials found no difference in weight with the control group. Waist circumference does not decrease significantly in the most recent meta-analysis. The effect concentrates in trials of 12 weeks or longer: below that, the difference with the control group is nearly zero (0.04 kg).
What this represents : most trials are small, short, conducted mainly in Iran, often with a concurrent diet, and they tested oils, powders, or extracts of variable composition. A weight loss of at least 5% of initial weight is the threshold considered clinically useful; black seed alone falls far short. Caloric deficit, adequate protein intake, and physical activity remain the primary levers, with black seed potentially adding to them at best.
- Black seed and weight loss: what are we talking about?
- What meta-analyses say
- Duration, population, form: what makes results vary
- Trials in overweight individuals
- Diabetes, fatty liver, heart: trials in patients
- What 2 kg represents in practical terms
- How black seed might work: leads and limitations
- The quality of evidence, straight up
- What matters more: deficit, protein, activity
- Forms and doses: what was tested
- Precautions and interactions
- Frequently asked questions
caloric deficit, protein, and physical activity
A seed, an oil, powders and extracts: different products, different trials. Black seed,Nigella sativa , is a plant whose small black seeds are consumed whole, ground, or pressed into oil. Its most studied compound isthymoquinone
, present in the oil in highly variable quantities from one product to another. Three distinctions matter. The form : oil in capsules or by the spoonful, seed powder in capsules, whole seeds or extracts, ranging from a few hundred milligrams to several grams per day. The population : very few trials involve simply overweight individuals; the majority concern patients (type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, fatty liver disease, hypertension), in whom weight was often a secondary outcome. The context
: in several trials, black seed was added to a calorie-restricted diet or physical activity, and only the difference from the placebo group undergoing the same program measures its own effect.
The measured criteria are weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, which reflects abdominal fat, and more rarely fat mass, which do not always change together. Meta-analyses express an average difference between groups, not a guaranteed weight loss for each individual.
Four syntheses, the same order of magnitude: approximately 2 kg over several weeks to several months. The most comprehensive synthesis on weight was published in 2026. It brings together 31 randomized trials
Meta-analysis of 31 trials, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism 2026
Compared to the control group, black seed reduced weight by 1.59 kg on average (95% confidence interval 0.15 to 3.03 kg) and BMI by 0.51 points, with very high heterogeneity between trials (95.7% for weight). This weight estimate is based on only about a dozen trials (11 to 12 trials, 831 patients), and the article reports 2.16 kg in its tables. Waist circumference (−2.76 cm), hip circumference, and waist-to-height ratio did not decrease significantly. The authors consider these effects modest and believe they have little chance of providing, alone, significant clinical benefit. Musazadeh V, Jahangir M, Mahmoudinezhad M, et al. Endocrinol Diabetes Metab 2026;9(2):e70207.
DOI: 10.1002/edm2.70207 Older syntheses point in the same direction. In 2018, an initial meta-analysis of 13 trials and 875 participants, 64% men, found a weight loss of 1.76 kg and 0.85 point BMI reduction, but no significant waist circumference decrease (−4.04 cm, on only 5 trials, with highly dispersed results). That same year, another team, on 11 placebo-controlled trials, reported2.11 kg
, 1.16 BMI points and 3.52 cm waist circumference reduction, noting that weight heterogeneity and the small number of high-quality trials warranted caution; no serious adverse effects were reported. A 2023 network meta-analysis compared 18 supplements studied for weight loss, across 111 trials and 6,171 overweight or obese adults. Black seed achieved a difference of compared to placebo, with a certainty rated as moderate, on the same order as spirulina (1.77 kg, high certainty), chitosan (1.70 kg), or green tea (1.25 kg, low certainty). The authors conclude that these supplements may lead to a small weight loss.
| Meta-analysis | Results on weight and body shape | Reported limitations |
|---|---|---|
| 31 trials, including about a dozen on weight, 2026 | −1.59 kg and −0.51 BMI point; waist circumference not significant | Heterogeneity of 95.7%; 2.16 kg according to a table in the same article; effects considered modest |
| 13 trials, 875 participants, 2018 | −1.76 kg and −0.85 BMI point; waist circumference not significant | Heterogeneity of 87.4% for weight |
| 11 trials versus placebo, 2018 | −2.11 kg, −1.16 BMI point, and −3.52 cm waist circumference | Few high-quality trials, caution advised |
| Network of 111 trials, 18 supplements, 2023 | −2.09 kg compared to placebo | Moderate certainty; small weight loss |
Duration, population, form: what makes results vary
The 2026 meta-analysis broke down its results according to several criteria. The most telling is duration. In the 8 trials lasting less than 12 weeks, the weight difference with the control group was nearly nil: 0.04 kg, not significant. In the 4 trials of 12 weeks or more, it reached 5.07 kg. Same finding for BMI: 0.26 point, not significant, under 12 weeks, versus 1.23 point beyond. This contrast rests however on few long-term trials, themselves highly heterogeneous (92.3%).
The population also matters. Among people who were overweight or obese without other disease (4 trials), the weight reduction of 1.42 kg was not significant, and BMI did not change (+0.03 point over 3 trials). Among people whose BMI exceeded 30, no effect on BMI appeared. The most clear-cut effects concerned type 2 diabetes, but based on only one trial for weight and two for BMI.
As for form, oil was associated with a weight loss of 1.76 kg (8 trials), capsules with a non-significant loss of 1.52 kg (4 trials); for BMI, it was the opposite, with significant reduction for capsules and not for oil. These sub-groups therefore do not allow designation of a superior form. A 2022 review, which analyzed 14 clinical trials and 5 experimental studies, suggests that oil would be more active than powder, perhaps due to its concentration in fatty acids and thymoquinone. This is an author hypothesis, not a direct comparison within the same trial.
Trials in people who are overweight
The trials most directly addressing the question were conducted in obese women all following the same calorie-restricted diet, with black seed oil or placebo.
In 90 obese women aged 25 to 50 years (BMI 30 to 35), all on a hypocaloric diet, 3 g per day of nigella oil (1 g before each meal) for 8 weeks reduced weight by 6.0%, compared to 3.6% under placebo, and waist circumference by 6.9%, compared to 3.4%. Triglycerides decreased by 14.0%, compared to an increase of 1.4%. Dietary intake did not differ between the two groups; 84 women completed the trial.
Mahdavi R, Namazi N, Alizadeh M, Farajnia S. Food Funct 2015;6(6):2041-2048. DOI : 10.1039/c5fo00316d
The same team published a trial with the same design in 50 obese women: with the diet and 3 g of oil per day for 8 weeks, the nigella group lost 4.80 kg, compared to 1.40 kg under placebo. In the large trial of 90 women, the oil also reduced two inflammation markers, TNF-α and ultrasensitive CRP. These results come from a single research group and need to be replicated elsewhere.
Another Iranian trial used a crossover design, where each participant received nigella and placebo successively, separated by 4 weeks of rest. In 45 overweight or obese women (39 analyzed), 2,000 mg of nigella oil per day for 8 weeks modified weight, BMI and waist circumference with a medium effect size (0.4 to 0.6), which the authors present as an improvement, though the abstract wording remains ambiguous. They also report a decrease in fat mass, fat percentage and visceral fat surface area with a small effect (0.2). Appetite decreased. The abstract does not provide the differences in kilograms. Leptin, a hormone produced by adipose tissue, also decreased.
In men, data are scarcer. The 2026 meta-analysis identified one 12-week trial in 39 obese men receiving 1,500 mg of nigella per day in capsules, rated at high risk of bias for selective reporting of results, and whose removal modified the result on waist circumference.
In 20 sedentary overweight women following an aerobic activity program 3 times per week, 2 g per day of ground nigella seeds in 500 mg capsules for 8 weeks lowered BMI, total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL, and increased VO2max compared to placebo taken with the same training.
Farzaneh E, Nia FR, Mehrtash M, et al. Int J Prev Med 2014;5(2):210-216. PMC3950745
With 20 participants, this trial remains suggestive, not conclusive.
Diabetes, fatty liver, heart: trials in patients
In type 2 diabetes, a double-blind trial conducted in 43 patients compared two capsules per day of 500 mg of nigella oil extract to two capsules of sunflower oil, for 8 weeks: BMI and waist circumference decreased more under nigella, as did fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure. Our Egyptian nigella oil capsules also provide 1 g of oil for two capsules; this trial involved a different oil extract, in diabetic individuals, and says nothing about the effect of our capsules.
Other trials in diabetics nuance this picture. In an open trial in newly diagnosed diabetics, 1,350 mg of oil per day for 3 months reduced weight, waist circumference and BMI as much as metformin, while remaining less effective than it on blood glucose.
In 117 obese people in prediabetes divided into three groups, a supervised dietary and exercise program, metformin (500 mg twice daily) or capsules of 450 mg of nigella oil twice daily, nigella improved weight and BMI comparably to metformin, with no significant difference from the lifestyle program on body measurements.
Mostafa TM, Hegazy SK, Elnaidany SS, et al. J Diabetes Complications 2021;35(7):107947. DOI : 10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2021.107947
Without placebo or blinding, this trial does not allow us to say that nigella replaces a lifestyle program.
Not all trials show an effect on weight. In a 2010 trial conducted in 94 diabetic people, 1, 2 or 3 g of seeds in capsules per day for 3 months did not result in significant weight change, whereas the 2 g dose improved blood glucose. In patients with coronary artery disease, 2 g of nigella oil per day for 8 weeks, compared to sunflower oil, reduced weight by 1.82 kg, BMI by 0.67 points and waist circumference by 2.15 cm, with a decrease in systolic blood pressure of 9.52 mmHg. In fatty liver disease, results diverge. With 2.5 mL of oil twice daily for 3 months in 120 patients, the degree of steatosis and liver enzymes improved, but BMI did not change significantly compared to placebo. With 2 g of nigella per day and lifestyle advice for 12 weeks in 50 patients, insulin resistance and percentage of steatosis decreased more than with advice alone.
| Population and dose | Result on weight | Study |
|---|---|---|
| 90 obese women on a diet, oil 3 g per day, 8 weeks | −6.0% weight loss compared to −3.6% under placebo | Mahdavi, 2015 |
| 50 obese women on a diet, oil 3 g per day, 8 weeks | −4.80 kg compared to −1.40 kg under placebo | Namazi, 2015 |
| 45 overweight women (39 analyzed), 2 g oil per day, 8 weeks, crossover design | Medium effect size on weight, small on fat mass; ambiguous summary | Safi, 2021 |
| 60 coronary patients, 2 g oil per day, 8 weeks | −1.82 kg and −2.15 cm waist circumference | Tavakoli-Rouzbehani, 2021 |
| 43 diabetics, oily extract 1 g per day, 8 weeks | Decrease in BMI and waist circumference | Hadi, 2021 |
| 117 obese prediabetics, 900 mg oil per day, 6 months, no placebo | Comparable to metformin and lifestyle program | Mostafa, 2021 |
| 120 patients with fatty liver, 5 mL oil per day, 3 months | BMI unchanged versus placebo, liver improved | Khonche, 2019 |
What 2 kg represents in concrete terms
The authors of the 2026 meta-analysis put it plainly: a decrease of around 2 kg, half a BMI point, and 2 to 3 mmHg blood pressure reduction remains relatively modest, especially since most trials lasted between 4 and 24 weeks. In clinical practice, a loss of at least 5% of initial weight is generally considered the threshold for significant improvement in cardiometabolic risk factors.
For a 90 kg person, this threshold represents 4.5 kg: the average effect of black seed covers about one-third of this, under trial conditions. According to the authors, such effects could help cardiometabolic risk as a complement to diet and physical activity, but would offer little on their own.
In a large trial of 811 overweight adults followed for 2 years, four hypocaloric diets of different compositions all resulted in an average weight loss of 6 kg at 6 months, or 7% of initial weight. In the trial of 90 obese women, the diet with placebo already resulted in 3.6% weight loss in 8 weeks, with black seed bringing this to 6.0%: the diet did the essential work.
How black seed could work: leads and limitations
A 2022 review mentions reduced appetite, decreased caloric intake, and inhibition of intestinal glucose absorption, while emphasizing that additional experimental evidence is needed to confirm these leads. In humans, the Iranian crossover trial measured decreased appetite and leptin under 2,000 mg oil per day, but in the 90-woman diet trial, food intake did not differ between groups.
The picture is not univocal, moreover. In 51 patients infected with Helicobacter pylori, 2 g per day of black seed powder added to treatment for 8 weeks improved appetite compared to placebo, thus rather stimulating than suppressing it, with no effect on ghrelin, the hunger hormone. The authors link this result to infection resolution and relief of digestive disorders: it does not directly contradict weight trials, but shows that the appetite-suppressing effect is not established.
<<<35>>> Thymoquinone thymoquinone, black seed's flagship compound, has been studied mainly in animals. In rats fed for 18 weeks with a high-fat diet, thymoquinone isolated from seeds, starting from week 12, slowed weight gain, lowered leptin, and increased adiponectin, with AMPK activation, a cellular energy sensor. These mechanisms are plausible, but rats are not humans : this data does not prove a weight-loss effect in humans. Our article on thymoquinone details what is known about this compound.
Based on 14 clinical trials and 5 experimental studies, the review concludes that taking it for 6 to 12 weeks can lower weight and other body measurements, that this effect does not result from toxicity and is often accompanied by improvements in lipids, blood glucose, and liver enzymes. It notes that the proposed mechanisms, including reduced appetite, remain to be confirmed.
Al Asoom L. Vasc Health Risk Manag 2022;18:495-505. DOI : 10.2147/VHRM.S373702
The quality of evidence, without beating around the bush
The 2026 meta-analysis evaluated each trial : 12 out of 31 were of good quality. The main weaknesses involved group allocation, often poorly described, and selective reporting of results; blinding was generally adequate but often insufficiently reported. The certainty of evidence was judged high in one table and moderate in the authors' discussion for weight and BMI, a generous rating given very strong heterogeneity (95.7%), and very low for waist circumference, due to inconsistent results across trials and imprecise estimates. The authors also noted slight asymmetry suggestive of publication bias, although statistical correction did not eliminate the effect on weight.
Trial sample sizes ranged from a few dozen to just over one hundred people. A large portion of trials came from Iran, a few from Egypt. Several trials had no placebo or were conducted openly. Placebos also varied: sunflower oil, paraffin oil, starch.
Most importantly, the tested products are rarely described with precision. The thymoquinone content, the most studied compound, varies enormously: in an analysis of 11 commercial oils and capsules, it ranged from 3.08 to 809.4 mg per 100 g, and in another analysis of oils sold in Malaysia, from 0.07% to 1.88%, a difference of 1 to 27-fold. Two trials claiming to test "black seed oil" therefore did not necessarily test the same product, which could contribute to the dispersion of results, which the authors attribute mainly to differences between participants.
The signal points to a modest weight loss, of uncertain magnitude. The authors call for larger, longer trials with standardized products.
What matters more: caloric deficit, protein, activity
Caloric deficit first. In the 811-adult trial mentioned above, the four diets varied substantially in fat (20 to 40%), protein (15 to 25%), and carbohydrates (35 to 65%), and weight loss at 2 years was the same, approximately 3 to 4 kg on average, with gradual regain after 12 months. Another trial of 609 adults followed for 12 months compared a healthy low-fat diet to a healthy low-carb diet: 5.3 kg versus 6.0 kg, a non-significant difference.
At equal calories, a calorie-restricted diet high in protein resulted in 0.79 kg more weight loss and 0.87 kg more fat mass loss than a standard-protein diet, while limiting lean mass loss (0.43 kg preserved) and reduction in resting energy expenditure. Higher satiety was reported in 3 out of 5 trials.
Wycherley TP, Moran LJ, Clifton PM, et al. Am J Clin Nutr 2012;96(6):1281-1298. DOI : 10.3945/ajcn.112.044321
Physical activity next, especially with resistance training. In 160 obese older adults following a weight loss program, weight decreased by 9% in all exercise groups. But lean mass decreased less with resistance training (−2%) or combined resistance and endurance training (−3%) than with endurance alone (−5%), and the combination of both improved physical capacity the most.
Lifestyle habits, finally, provide protection beyond the scale. In 3,234 people with prediabetes, a program targeting 7% weight loss and 150 minutes of activity per week reduced diabetes incidence by 58% over nearly 3 years, compared to 31% for metformin. Our guide to 26 evidence-based tips for weight loss details these levers one by one.
Forms and doses: what was tested
Foroil, trials gave 3 g per day in obese women (1 g before each meal), 2 g in the crossover trial and in coronary patients, two 500 mg capsules in diabetics, 2.5 mL twice daily in fatty liver disease. For ground seeds , 2 g per day in capsules. Durations most often ranged from 8 to 12 weeks, and the effect on weight appeared most clearly from 12 weeks onward in the 2026 meta-analysis.
Since the composition of tested oils was rarely specified, these doses provide guidelines rather than a product choice. Our Egyptian black seed oil capsules provide 1 g of oil per two capsules taken during meals, an amount close to that used in the diabetics trial, with no taste. Our Ethiopian black seed oil is taken by the spoonful, at 1 to 3 teaspoons per day, plain or in cooking, which allows you to adjust the amount. Our Organic black seed powder is made from ground organic black seed; in an uncontrolled trial, 5 g of seed powder daily for 8 weeks improved blood lipids compared to a group without supplement, the summary reporting no effect on weight. None of these trials tested our products.
A practical note: our Ethiopian oil provides 876 kcal per 100 g, or approximately 26 kcal per 3 g; it is better to incorporate it into your daily fat intake by replacing some of your salad oil, rather than adding it on top. The program below brings together practical tips, not a tested protocol as such.
Precautions and interactions
In weight loss trials, black seed was well tolerated. The 2018 meta-analysis of 11 trials found no serious adverse effects, the trial of 90 obese women reported none, and in the fatty liver disease trial, 5 mL of oil daily for 3 months caused no adverse effects. These trials remain short and do not provide information on use over several years.
The main concern involves medications. Black seed lowered blood sugar in numerous trials: taken with an antidiabetic, it could enhance the drop in blood sugar. It also lowered blood pressure by a few mmHg on average. In rats, it inhibited the expression of a liver enzyme that eliminates certain medications, which suggests, without demonstrating it in humans, a risk of interaction with medications with a narrow therapeutic margin. Our article on the dangers of black seed oil reviews these risks.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, children and adolescents : black seed is not recommended for pregnant women and children, and our capsules are not recommended for adolescents and breastfeeding women; for oil, medical advice is essential during breastfeeding. Treatments : antidiabetic, antihypertensive, anticoagulant or immunosuppressant, consult your doctor before taking any. Dose : do not exceed the stated dose; the oil provides calories. Weight loss : unexplained rapid weight loss, or a high BMI with diabetes, hypertension or liver disease, warrant medical monitoring, which may suggest suitable options.
Cold-pressed Egyptian black seed oil, in tasteless capsules, with vitamin E. Two capsules per day during meals provide 1 g of black seed oil and 15 mg of vitamin E, or 100% of the RDA, for regular and simple daily use.
View black seed capsulesOur article on the benefits of black seed oil presents the plant and all its studied uses.
Frequently asked questions
Does black seed cause weight loss?
Trials show a modest effect: according to meta-analyses, black seed groups lost on average 1.6 to 2.1 kg more than control groups, with highly variable results from one trial to another. The effect appears mainly in the four trials of at least 12 weeks in the most recent meta-analysis, conducted mostly in patients; trials with calorie-restricted diets, shorter in duration, also show a difference versus placebo. It does not replace calorie deficit or physical activity.
How many kilos can you lose with black seed oil?
On average, approximately 1.6 kg more than the control group in the most recent meta-analysis (31 trials in total, of which about a dozen measured weight), and 2.16 kg according to a table from the same article. In an 8-week trial in 90 obese women on a diet, weight decreased by 6.0% with 3 g of oil per day, versus 3.6% with placebo and the same diet. These figures are averages, not an individual promise.
What dose of black seed oil was tested for weight loss?
Most often 1 to 3 g per day. Trials in obese women gave 3 g per day, or 1 g before each meal, others 2 g per day, and one trial in diabetics two capsules of 500 mg. In one trial on liver steatosis, the dose was 2.5 mL twice per day.
How long do you need to take black seed to see an effect on weight?
In the most recent meta-analysis, trials of less than 12 weeks showed no difference in weight versus the control group (0.04 kg). The difference appeared in trials of 12 weeks or more, but they were few in number, which makes its magnitude uncertain.
Does black seed reduce belly fat?
Results are mixed. The most recent meta-analysis finds no significant reduction in waist circumference, with very low certainty, and a 2018 meta-analysis either, whereas another 2018 meta-analysis reports 3.52 cm less. One crossover trial measured a small reduction in visceral fat with 2 g of oil per day.
Black cumin and black seed, are they the same thing?
Yes: black cumin is one of the common names for black seed, Nigella sativa, distinct from the cumin used in cooking. Published trials use both names.
Black seed oil, capsules or powder: which form for weight loss?
Trials mostly tested oil, taken by spoon or in capsules, and seed powder in capsules. In the most recent meta-analysis, oil was associated with weight loss of 1.76 kg, capsules with non-significant weight loss, but no trial directly compared the forms. The choice depends mainly on ease of daily use.
Should you take black seed before or during meals?
In trials in obese women, oil was taken at 1 g before each meal. Capsules are generally taken during meals. No study has compared the timing of intake, and consistency remains most important.
Does black seed suppress appetite?
One crossover trial in overweight women measured reduced appetite with 2 g of oil per day, but in other trials food intake did not differ between groups, and in patients infected with Helicobacter pylori the powder even increased appetite. The appetite-suppressing effect therefore remains a hypothesis.
Are there dangers to taking black seed for weight loss?
It was well tolerated in trials lasting from several weeks to several months. It is not recommended for pregnant women and children, and our capsules for adolescents and nursing women; for the oil, medical advice is necessary during breastfeeding, as with antidiabetic, antihypertensive, anticoagulant or immunosuppressant treatment, since it lowers blood sugar and blood pressure.
Sources
The studies cited below were identified via PubMed.
- Musazadeh V, Jahangir M, Mahmoudinezhad M, et al. Effect of Nigella sativa supplementation on cardiometabolic health in patients with metabolic diseases: systematic review and meta-analysis with GRADE assessment. Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, 2026;9(2):e70207. DOI
- Mousavi SM, Sheikhi A, Varkaneh HK, et al. Effect of Nigella sativa supplementation on obesity indices: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2018;38:48-57. DOI
- Namazi N, Larijani B, Ayati MH, Abdollahi M. Effects of Nigella sativa L. on obesity: systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2018;219:173-181. DOI
- Shahinfar H, Jayedi A, Torabynasab K, et al. Comparative effects of nutritional supplements on body weight in overweight or obese adults: systematic review and network meta-analysis of 111 randomized clinical trials. Pharmacological Research, 2023;196:106944. DOI
- Al Asoom L. Does Nigella sativa reduce weight and limit the risk of obesity? A literature review. Vascular Health and Risk Management, 2022;18:495-505. DOI
- Mahdavi R, Namazi N, Alizadeh M, Farajnia S. Effects of Nigella sativa oil combined with a hypocaloric diet on cardiometabolic risk factors in obese women: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Food and Function, 2015;6(6):2041-2048. DOI
- Namazi N, Mahdavi R, Alizadeh M, Farajnia S. Oxidative stress responses to Nigella sativa oil combined with a hypocaloric diet in obese women: a double-blind randomized clinical trial. Phytotherapy Research, 2015;29(11):1722-1728. DOI
- Mahdavi R, Namazi N, Alizadeh M, Farajnia S. Nigella sativa oil combined with a hypocaloric diet may improve systemic inflammation markers in obese women: a double-blind randomized clinical trial versus placebo. Journal of Clinical Lipidology, 2016;10(5):1203-1211. DOI
- Safi S, Razmpoosh E, Fallahzadeh H, et al. Effect of Nigella sativa on appetite, anthropometric indices, and body composition in overweight or obese women: a double-blind randomized crossover clinical trial versus placebo. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2021;57:102653. DOI
- Razmpoosh E, Safi S, Mazaheri M, et al. A randomized controlled crossover trial on the effects of nigella (Nigella sativa) on IL-1β, IL-6, leptin, and insulin in overweight or obese women. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 2024;24(1):22. DOI
- Farzaneh E, Nia FR, Mehrtash M, et al. Effects of 8 weeks of Nigella sativa supplementation and aerobic training on lipid profile and VO2max in sedentary overweight women. International Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2014;5(2):210-216. DOI
- Hadi S, Daryabeygi-Khotbehsara R, Mirmiran P, et al. Effect of an oily extract of Nigella sativa on cardiometabolic risk factors in type 2 diabetes: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytotherapy Research, 2021;35(7):3747-3755. DOI
- Moustafa HAM, El Wakeel LM, Halawa MR, et al. Effect of Nigella sativa oil compared to metformin on glycemic control and biochemical parameters in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients. Endocrine, 2019;65(2):286-294. DOI
- Mostafa TM, Hegazy SK, Elnaidany SS, et al. Nigella sativa, a promising intervention in metabolic and inflammatory disorders in obese prediabetic subjects: comparison with lifestyle modification and metformin. Journal of Diabetes and its Complications, 2021;35(7):107947. DOI
- Tavakoli-Rouzbehani OM, Abbasnezhad M, Kheirouri S, Alizadeh M. Effects of Nigella sativa oil on certain metabolic parameters and anthropometric indices in coronary artery disease patients: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytotherapy Research, 2021;35(7):3988-3999. DOI
- Khonche A, Huseini HF, Gholamian M, et al. A standardized Nigella sativa seed oil improves hepatic steatosis, transaminases and lipids in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2019;234:106-111. DOI
- Darand M, Darabi Z, Yari Z, et al. Effects of nigella seed supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytotherapy Research, 2019;33(9):2369-2377. DOI
- Sacks FM, Bray GA, Carey VJ, et al. Comparison of weight-loss diets with different compositions of fat, protein, and carbohydrates. New England Journal of Medicine, 2009;360(9):859-873. DOI
- Yousefnejad H, Mohammadi F, Alizadeh-Naini M, Hejazi N. Nigella sativa powder in Helicobacter pylori-infected patients: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 2023;23(1):123. DOI
- Ramineedu K, Sankaran KR, Mallepogu V, et al. Thymoquinone attenuates obesity and diabetes parameters by regulating key adipokines, lipid metabolism enzymes and AMPK in diet-induced obese rats. 3 Biotech, 2024;14(1):16. DOI
- Khaikin E, Chrubasik-Hausmann S, Kaya S, Zimmermann BF. Quantification of thymoquinone in commercial Nigella sativa-based products to identify a promising and safe study product. Nutrients, 2022;14(17):3501. DOI
- Alkhatib H, Mawazi SM, Al-Mahmood SMA, et al. Thymoquinone content of black seed oils marketed in Malaysia. Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences, 2020;12(3):284-288. DOI
- Gardner CD, Trepanowski JF, Del Gobbo LC, et al. Effect of a low-fat or low-carbohydrate diet on weight loss at 12 months in overweight adults, and association with genotype or insulin secretion: the DIETFITS randomized clinical trial. JAMA, 2018;319(7):667-679. DOI
- Wycherley TP, Moran LJ, Clifton PM, et al. Effects of high-protein, low-fat hypocaloric diets compared to standard protein-content diets: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2012;96(6):1281-1298. DOI
- Villareal DT, Aguirre L, Gurney AB, et al. Aerobic exercise, resistance training, or both in obese older adults on a diet. New England Journal of Medicine, 2017;376(20):1943-1955. DOI
- Knowler WC, Barrett-Connor E, Fowler SE, et al. Reduction of type 2 diabetes incidence through lifestyle intervention or metformin. New England Journal of Medicine, 2002;346(6):393-403. DOI
- Ahmed S, Ali MS, Nishigaki Y, et al. Black seed (Nigella sativa) has anti-adipogenic effects on a 3T3-L1 cellular model and hypolipidemic properties in humans. Food Science and Nutrition, 2025;13(9):e70888. DOI
- Korashy HM, Al-Jenoobi FI, Raish M, et al. Effect of medicinal plants such as Nigella sativa, Trigonella foenum-graecum, and Ferula asafoetida on cytochrome P450 2C11 gene expression in rat liver. Drug Research, 2015;65(7):366-372. DOI
