Abstract:Objective To investigate the effect of Metformin combined with Silibinin on the serum TNF-α and liver steatosis in patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) complicated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods Seventy-two patients were randomly divided into two groups. The control group (n = 36) received routine treatment of diet and exercise for 12 weeks, while the treatment group (n = 36) received routine treatment of diet and exercise combined with Metformin and Silibinin for 12 weeks. Before treatment and 12 weeks after treatment, BMI, FBG, fasting plasma insulin (FIN), HbA1c, TG, TC, HOMA-IR, ALT, AST and TNF-α were compared between both groups; furthermore, all patients had liver CT examination to evaluate the degree of liver steatosis. Results BMI, FBG, FIN, HbA1c, TG, TC, HOMA-IR, ALT, AST and TNF-α in the treatment group decreased significantly after treatment compared with those before treatment and those of the controls after treatment (P < 0.05). After treatment, the total effective rate of the treatment group was 66.67%; the total effective rate of the control group was 36.11%, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). In the treatment group, the degree of liver steatosis was positively correlated with BMI, HOMA-IR, TG, TC and TNF-α (P < 0.05). Conclusions Metformin combined with Silibinin could improve insulin resistance, regulate glucolipid metabolic disorders, reduce the degree of liver steatosis; thus it is effective in the treatment of IGT complicated with NAFLD.