Cited by 63Diabetes Treatment and ManagementPharmacology and Obesity TreatmentLiver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment

The effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists on visceral fat and liver ectopic fat in an adult population with or without diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

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Liao, Chao, Liang, Xinyin, Zhang, Xiao, Li, Yao·2023·PLOS ONE

Abstract

Aim: To uncover the effect of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) on the visceral- and hepatic fat content of adults. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched from inception until November 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of GLP-1Ras was extracted, including reports of effects on visceral adipose tissue and hepatic fat content in individuals with type 2 diabetes, non-type 2 diabetes, NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), and non-NAFLD. Meta-analyses used random-effects models. Results: 1736 individuals in the 30 qualified RCTs were included, comprising 1363 people with type 2 diabetes and 318 with NFLD. GLP-1 RAs reduced visceral adipose tissue (standard mean difference [SMD] = -0.59, 95% CI [-0.83, -0.36], P<0.00001) and hepatic fat content (weighted mean difference [WMD] = -3.09, 95% CI [-4.16, -2.02], P<0.00001) compared to other control treatment. Subgroup analysis showed that GLP-1Ras dramatically decreased visceral fat in patients with type 2 diabetes (SMD = -0.49, 95% CI [-0.69, -0.29] P<0.00001), NAFLD (SMD = -0.99, 95% CI [-1.64, -0.34] P = 0.003), non-type 2 diabetes (SMD = -1.38, 95% CI [-2.44, -0.32] P = 0.01), and non-NAFLD (SMD = -0.53, 95% CI [-0.78, -0.28] P<0.0001). GLP-1Ras reduced the liver fat level of type 2 diabetes (WMD = -3.15, 95% CI [-4.14, -2.15] P<0.00001), NAFLD (WMD = -3.83, 95% CI [-6.30, -1.37] P = 0.002), and type 2 diabetes with NAFLD (WMD = -4.27, 95% CI [-6.80, -1.74] P = 0.0009), while showed no impact on the hepatic fat content in non-Type 2 diabetes (WMD = −12.48, 95% CI [−45.19, 20.24] P = 0.45). Conclusions: LP-1 RAs significantly reduce visceral- and liver fat content in adults.

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  • A recent meta-analysis including 30 RCT enrolling 1738 individuals showed that treatment with GLP-1RA reduced VAT (−0.59, 95% CI [−0.83, −0.36], I2 = 77%, p < 0.00001) and hepatic liver content (−3.09, 95% CI [−4.16, −2.02], I2 = 40%, p < 0.00001) with respect to placebo or active comparators regardless of patients' history of T2D and/or MASLD.

    “A recent meta-analysis including 30 RCT enrolling 1738 individuals showed that treatment with GLP-1RA reduced VAT (−0.59, 95% CI [−0.83, −0.36], I2 = 77%, p < 0.00001) and hepatic liver content (−3.09, 95% CI [−4.16, −2.02], I2 = 40%, p < 0.00001) with respect to placebo or active comparators regardless of patients’ history of T2D and/or MASLD91.”

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  1. [24]Duval SJ, Tweedie RL. A non-parametric “ trim and fill” method of accounting for publication bias in meta-analysis. J Am Stat Assoc. 2000; 95: 89– 98.
  2. [82]Dhir G, Cusi K. Glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonists for the management of obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a novel therapeutic option[J]. J Investig Med, 2018, 66 (1): 7– 10. 28918389

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Authors
Liao, C., Liang, X., Zhang, X., & Li, Y.
Affiliations
First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College (CN)
Corresponding author
Li, Yao
Venue
PLOS ONE
Published
2023-08-24
Volume
18
Issue
8
Pages
e0289616
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4386131764
Cited by
63
References
82
Citations by year
2026: 22 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 1
FWCI
2.27
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Treatment and Management
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Pharmacology and Obesity Treatment
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
Keywords
GLP-1 receptor agonists, visceral adipose tissue, hepatic fat content, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes, ectopic fat
MeSH terms
Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor, Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists, Adult, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Humans, Intra-Abdominal Fat, Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

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