Role of Dapagliflozin in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54112/bcsrj.v6i3.1996Keywords:
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Dapagliflozin; SGLT2 inhibitors; Hepatic steatosis; Liver enzymes; Randomized controlled trialAbstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most widespread metabolic liver diseases that is directly linked to obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus, and has no approved treatment so far. Newer evidence indicates that sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors could have a beneficial outcome on hepatic steatosis by modulating metabolism. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of dapagliflozin in reducing hepatic steatosis, improving liver function tests, and modifying metabolic risk factors in patients with NAFLD. Methods: It is a prospective, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial that recruited 100 patients with ultrasonography-proven NAFLD. This study was conducted at Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Teaching Hospital from June 2024 to December 2024. Participants were randomly assigned to dapagliflozin 10 mg once daily for 12 weeks (n = 50) or usual care (n = 50). The outcomes were the changes in liver enzymes, body mass index, ultrasonography grading of hepatic steatosis, lipid profile, renal function tests, and adverse events. Statistical analysis was performed using paired and independent t-tests, with p < 0.05 considered significant. Results: At 12 weeks, the dapagliflozin group recorded huge changes in AST (44.28 ± 4.44 to 34.09 ± 5.04 U/L) and ALT (57.32 ± 3.73 to 45.67 ± 6.10 U/L) and a decrease in the BMI by 0.84 ± 0.33 kg/m 2 (p < 0.001). Grade 2 steatosis in the liver decreased from 46% to 26%, and 16% of patients were cured of the condition on ultrasound, with no significant improvement on imaging in the control group. Follow-up between-group comparisons showed very low AST and ALT levels in the dapagliflozin group (p < 0.001). Conclusion: There was a notable improvement in lipid parameters, no worsening of renal function, and minimal adverse events with dapagliflozin. Dapagliflozin was found to have beneficial effects on biochemical, metabolic, and ultrasonographic outcomes in NAFLD patients at 12 weeks, with a good safety profile. These results show its potential as a pharmacological agent in the treatment of NAFLD.
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