Abstract
EMPAGLIFLOZIN IS EQUALLY EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING LIVER FAT CONTENT IN T2DM PATIENTS AND IN NON-DIABETIC INDIVIDUALS, A RANDOMIZED TRIAL
Background:
This study was performed to examine the effect of empagliflozin on liver fat content in T2DM patients and in nondiabetic individuals, and the relationship between the decrease in liver fat and other metabolic actions of empagliflozin.
Methods:
30 T2DM and 27 nondiabetic individuals were randomized to receive in a double blind fashion in 2:1 ratio treatment with empagliflozin or matching placebo. Patients received 75-grams OGTT, liver fat content with MRI spectroscopy before and at the end of therapy. Hepatic glucose production at the start of therapy was measured with 3H-glucose infusion.
Results:
empagliflozin caused -2.75% and -1.93% absolute reduction in liver fat content in T2DM and nondiabetic individuals, respectively, compared to +0.9% and +0.8% increase, respectively, in subjects receiving placebo, (p<0.05 for both groups). The decrease in hepatic fat content was strongly influenced by baseline liver fat content and was strongly related to the decrease in body weight (r=0.53, p<0.001) and improvement in insulin sensitivity caused by empagliflozin (r=-0.51, p<0.001), but was not influenced by the decrease in fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c or the increase in hepatic glucose production.
Conclusion:
empagliflozin is equally effective in reducing liver fat content in T2DM patients and in nondiabetic individuals. The decrease in liver fat content is independent of the decrease in plasma glucose concentration but is strongly related to the decrease in body weight and improvement in insulin sensitivity.