Introduction: Despite the high prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its associated co-morbidities, no efficient treatment in a high percentage of individuals is available. Beneficial effects of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors on fatty liver have been investigated in people with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The aim of this study was to explore the effect of empagliflozin on liver steatosis and fibrosis in patients with NAFLD without T2DM.
Methods: In this prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, participants with NAFLD were randomized to empagliflozin (10 mg/day) (n = 43) or placebo (n = 47) for 24 weeks. Hepatic steatosis and fibrosis were assessed using transient elastography to measure the controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and liver stiffness measurement (LSM). The primary outcome was the change in CAP score at 24 weeks.
Results: There was significant decrease in CAP score in both groups but no significant difference was observed between the two groups (P = 0.396). LSM was significantly decreased in the empagliflozin-treated group (6.03 ± 1.40 to 5.33 ± 1.08 kPa; P = 0.001), while no change was found in the placebo group. In subgroups analysis of patients with significant steatosis at baseline (CAP ≥ 302 dB/m), steatosis significantly improved in the empagliflozin group (37.2% vs. 17%; P = 0.035). There was a significant decrease in the grade of liver fat on visual analysis of ultrasound images, AST, ALT, and fasting insulin levels in the empagliflozin group, while no changes were observed in the placebo group.
Conclusions: Empagliflozin improves liver steatosis and, more importantly, measures of liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD without T2DM.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, IRCT20190122042450N1.
Keywords: Empagliflozin; Liver fibrosis; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Steatosis; Transient elastography.