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Role of semaglutide in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Diabetes & metabolic syndrome
October 1, 2023
Sanjay Bandyopadhyay et al. (4 authors)
Meta-AnalysisSystematic ReviewJournal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 24 weeks of semaglutide treatment in patients with NAFLD or NASH, focusing on changes in serum alanine transaminase levels and other liver and metabolic parameters.

Results Summary

Semaglutide significantly reduced serum alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase levels, improved liver fat content and stiffness, and enhanced metabolic parameters, but increased the risk of gastrointestinal and gallbladder-related adverse events.

Population

Patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Effective Dosage

Not specified in the abstract.

Duration

24 weeks.

Interactions

None mentioned.

Extracted Claims (7)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
24 weeks of semaglutide treatment
decrease
serum alanine transaminase level
patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
mean difference: 14.07 U/L (95% CI: 19.39 to -8.75)
showed a reduction in
#1
24 weeks of semaglutide treatment
decrease
aspartate transaminase levels
patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
mean difference: 6.89 U/L (95% CI: 9.14 to -4.63)
showed a reduction in
#2
24 weeks of semaglutide treatment
decrease
liver fat content
patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
mean difference: 4.97% (95% CI: 6.65 to -3.29)
significant improvement in
#3
24 weeks of semaglutide treatment
decrease
liver stiffness
patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
mean difference: 0.96 kPa (95% CI: 1.87 to -0.04)
significant improvement in
#4
24 weeks of semaglutide treatment
decrease
glycated hemoglobin level
patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
-
significant improvements in
#5
24 weeks of semaglutide treatment
improvement
lipid profile
patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
-
significant improvements in
#6
24 weeks of semaglutide treatment
increase
serious adverse events
patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
relative risk: 1.54 (95% CI: 1.02 to 2.34)
risk was high
#7
Abstract

AIM: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 24 weeks of semaglutide treatment in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane CENTRAL, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were searched for relevant studies. The primary outcome was the change in the serum alanine transaminase level. The secondary outcomes were changes in liver stiffness, liver function test parameters, metabolic parameters, and safety. Pooled mean differences and relative risks were calculated using random-effects models. RESULTS: Six hundred studies were screened and eight were included (n = 2413). Semaglutide treatment showed a reduction in serum alanine transaminase [mean difference: 14.07 U/L (95% CI: 19.39 to -8.75); p < 0.001] and aspartate transaminase [mean difference: 6.89 U/L (95% CI: 9.14 to -4.63); p < 0.001] levels. There was a significant improvement in liver fat content [mean difference: 4.97% (95% CI: 6.65 to -3.29); p < 0.001] and liver stiffness [mean difference: 0.96 kPa (95% CI: 1.87 to -0.04); p = 0.04]. There were significant improvements in the glycated hemoglobin level and the lipid profile. However, the risk of serious adverse events [relative risk: 1.54 (95% CI: 1.02 to 2.34); p = 0.04] was high following semaglutide treatment as compared to placebo; the most common ones were gastrointestinal (nausea and vomiting, dyspepsia, decreased appetite, constipation, and diarrhea) and gallbladder-related diseases. CONCLUSION: Treatment with 24 weeks of semaglutide could significantly improve liver enzymes, reduce liver stiffness, and improve metabolic parameters in patients with NAFLD/NASH. However, the gastrointestinal adverse effects could be a major concern.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
HumansNon-alcoholic Fatty Liver DiseaseAlanine TransaminaseLiverGlucagon-Like Peptides
Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety65
Efficacy85/10
Quality80/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations30
Citations/Year15.0
Relative Citation Ratio5.55
NIH Percentile94.1%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score3.06
Normalized Score0.76
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