Therapeutic outcome of dapagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

INTRODUCTION

The efficacy of dapagliflozin remains controversial for patients with type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. We conduct this meta-analysis to explore the influence of dapagliflozin versus placebo on the treatment efficacy of type 2 diabetes complicated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

METHODS

We have searched PubMed, EMbase, Web of science, EBSCO, and Cochrane library databases through November 2021 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the efficacy of dapagliflozin versus placebo for type 2 diabetes complicated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This meta-analysis is performed using the random-effect model.

RESULTS

Four RCTs are included in the meta-analysis. Overall, compared with patients with type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, dapagliflozin treatment is associated with significantly reduced alanine aminotransferase (ALT, standard mean difference [SMD]=-1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI]span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">=-1.60 to -0.95; P<0.00001), aspartate-aminotransferase (AST, SMD=-1.37; 95% CI=-2.08 to -0.65; P=0.0002), fasting glucose (SMD=-0.78; 95% CI=-1.28 to -0.27; P=0.003) and HbA1c (SMD=-0.77; 95% CI=-1.21 to -0.34; P=0.0005), but demonstrated no obvious influence on homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR, SMD=-0.36; 95% CI=-0.86 to 0.14; P=0.16).

CONCLUSIONS

Dapagliflozin benefits to improve hepatic function and glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, as evidenced by the reduction in ALT, AST, fasting glucose and HbA1c.