Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is commonly observed in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist, may have a therapeutic role by targeting common mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of T2D and NAFLD. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of Semaglutide on NAFLD in patients with T2D.
Methods: Forty-eight patients were treated with subcutaneous Semaglutide in add-on to metformin for 52 weeks. After the baseline visit (T0), follow-up was scheduled quarterly (T3, and T6) and then at 12 months of therapy (T12). During each visit, body composition was analyzed by phase-sensitive bio-impedance, and NAFLD was diagnosed and staged by Ultrasound (US) imaging. Surrogate biomarkers of NAFLD were also calculated and followed over time.
Results: A significant decrease in anthropometric and glucometabolic parameters, insulin resistance, liver enzymes, and laboratory indices of hepatic steatosis was observed during treatment. Similarly, fat mass and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) decreased over time more than skeletal muscle and free-fat mass. US-assessed VAT thickness and the 12-point steatosis score also declined at T3 up to T12. Liver steatosis improved in most patients (70%), showing a reduction by at least one class in the semiquantitative US staging.
Conclusion: Besides glucose control and body composition improvements, Semaglutide was effective in ameliorating the clinical appearance and severity of NAFLD in T2D patients.
Keywords: liver steatosis; metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD); nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); obesity; prospective study; real-life study; semaglutide; type 2 diabetes.