Effect of common diabetes medications on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease as measured by transient elastography and other metabolic parameters: A systematic review
Abstract
Background: With the global rise of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) that can lead to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), there are concerns about the public health and financial repercussions of a growing population developing end-stage liver disease. While numerous studies are being conducted to identify treatments for MASLD and MASH, it is still important to assess how existing diabetes medications affect MASLD, since these medications are readily available and have proven effective in other facets of metabolic syndrome. This systematic review evaluates the effects of five classes of diabetes medications, specifically sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1), dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i), metformin, and statins, on MASLD.
Methods: We used the Liver Stiffness Measurement (LSM) and Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) by vibration-controlled transient elastography as non-invasive methods for quantifying hepatic fibrosis and steatosis. The literature search was completed on May 1, 2024 using four databases, and 38 studies were included in this review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.
Results: Among the studies, SGLT2i and GLP-1 led to statistically significant reductions in the LSM and CAP, liver enzymes, body mass index, and hemoglobin A1c. There was less literature available for…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Metformin as an adjuvant in breast cancer treatment
- Metformin Lysosomal Targeting: A Novel Aspect to Be Investigated for Metformin Repurposing in Neurodegenerative Diseases?
- Aberrant HSF1 signaling activation underlies metformin amelioration of myocardial infarction in mice
- Metformin induces ZFP36 by mTORC1 inhibition in cervical cancer-derived cell lines
- Protein Interaction Network for Identifying Vascular Response of Metformin (Oral Antidiabetic)
- Preventing Long COVID With Metformin
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.