Effects of Herbal Medicine in Obese Patients with Persistent Alcohol Consumption: Two Case Reports on Weight Loss with Muscle Mass Maintenance and Improvement of Liver Function

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of herbal medicine treatment on body composition and liver function in obese patients with persistent heavy alcohol consumption.Methods: Two patients with severe obesity and persistent heavy alcohol consumption were observed for changes in body composition and liver function over a 5-6-month period of herbal medicine treatment. Clinical parameters, including body weight, body mass index, body fat mass, skeletal muscle mass, and total body water, were evaluated at baseline and post-treatment. Liver function was also assessed using laboratory tests, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels. Adverse events were evaluated using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events and the World Health Organization-Uppsala Monitoring Centre criteria.Results: In case 1 (44-year-old woman), body weight decreased from 90.1 to 80.8 kg, with an 8.6 kg reduction in fat mass, and elevated AST and ALT levels normalized. In case 2 (35-year-old man), body weight decreased from 116.5 to 91.1 kg, with a 21.1 kg reduction in fat mass, and elevated GGT levels normalized. In both cases, skeletal muscle mass was relatively preserved despite significant weight loss. No clinically significant adverse events were observed.Conclusion: This case series suggests that herbal medicine treatment may induce weight loss and improve liver function without significant muscle loss, even in obese patients who continue heavy alcohol consumption.