Cited by 662Liver Disease Diagnosis and TreatmentDiabetes Treatment and ManagementDiabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins

Effect of empagliflozin on liver fat in patients with type 2 diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomized controlled trial (E-LIFT trial)

Kuchay, Mohammad Shafi, Krishan, Sonal, Mishra, Sunil Kumar, Farooqui, Khalid Jamal, Singh, Manish Kumar, Wasir, Jasjeet Singh, Bansal, Beena, Kaur, Parjeet +4 more·2018·Diabetes Care

Abstract

OBJECTIVE Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors have been shown to reduce liver fat in rodent models. Data regarding the effect of SGLT-2 inhibitors on human liver fat are scarce. This study examined the effect of empagliflozin (an SGLT-2 inhibitor) on liver fat in patients with type 2 diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by using MRI-derived proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Fifty patients with type 2 diabetes and NAFLD were randomly assigned to either the empagliflozin group (standard treatment for type 2 diabetes plus empagliflozin 10 mg daily) or the control group (standard treatment without empagliflozin) for 20 weeks. Change in liver fat was measured by MRI-PDFF. Secondary outcome measures were change in alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels. RESULTS When included in the standard treatment for type 2 diabetes, empagliflozin was significantly better at reducing liver fat (mean MRI-PDFF difference between the empagliflozin and control groups −4.0%; P < 0.0001). Compared with baseline, significant reduction was found in the end-of-treatment MRI-PDFF for the empagliflozin group (16.2% to 11.3%; P < 0.0001) and a nonsignificant change was found in the control group (16.4% to 15.5%; P = 0.057). The two groups showed a significant difference for change in serum ALT level (P = 0.005) and nonsignificant differences for AST (P = 0.212) and GGT (P = 0.057) levels. CONCLUSIONS When included in the standard treatment for type 2 diabetes, empagliflozin reduces liver fat and improves ALT levels in patients with type 2 diabetes and NAFLD.

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Crossref · 10.2337/dc18-0165

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Authors
Kuchay, M. S., Krishan, S., Mishra, S. K., Farooqui, K. J., Singh, M. K., Wasir, J. S., Bansal, B., Kaur, P., Jevalikar, G., Gill, H. K., Choudhary, N. S., & Mithal, A.
Affiliations
Medanta The Medicity (IN)
Corresponding author
Kuchay, Mohammad Shafi
Venue
Diabetes Care
Published
2018-06-12
Volume
41
Issue
8
Pages
1801-1808
ISSN
  • 0149-5992 (ISSN-L)
  • 1935-5548
OpenAlex
W2808615577
Cited by
662
References
40
Citations by year
2026: 81 · 2025: 98 · 2024: 73 · 2023: 86 · 2022: 85 · 2021: 78 · 2020: 88 · 2019: 52 · 2018: 18 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1
FWCI
46.08
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Diabetes Care (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Endocrine and Diabetes Foundation, India
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Treatment and Management
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
Keywords
empagliflozin, SGLT2 inhibitors, liver fat, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes, proton density fat fraction, alanine aminotransferase, liver enzymes
MeSH terms
Adipose Tissue, Adult, Alanine Transaminase, Aspartate Aminotransferases, Benzhydryl Compounds, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Female, Glucosides, Humans, Hypoglycemic Agents, Liver, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Treatment Outcome, Adiposity, Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

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