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. 2023;18(1):100-109.
doi: 10.5114/pg.2022.112775. Epub 2022 Jan 23.

The effects of liraglutide on liver enzymes and metabolic factors in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Adnan Malik  1 , Waseem Amjad  2 , Faisal Inayat  3 , Mahum Nadeem  4 , Simcha Weissman  5 , Muhammad Imran Malik  6 , Ans Ahmad Jajja  3 , Ahmad Khan  7 , James H Tabibian  8
Affiliations

The effects of liraglutide on liver enzymes and metabolic factors in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Adnan Malik et al. Prz Gastroenterol. 2023.

Abstract

Introduction: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease, but no drug therapies have been approved to date. While glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogues may help in the management, the existing evidence remains conflicting.

Aim: This meta-analysis aims to elucidate the efficacy of liraglutide in patients with NASH.

Material and methods: We searched 4 databases for randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy of liraglutide in patients with NASH. We analysed continuous outcomes using the mean difference (MD) and relative 95% confidence interval (CI), while dichotomous outcomes were analysed using the risk ratio (RR) and relative 95% CI. Primary endpoints included alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (IU/l), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (IU/l), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (IU/l), and γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) (IU/l). Secondary outcomes were body mass index (BMI) (kg/m2), waist circumference (cm), total cholesterol (TC) (mmol/l), triglyceride (TG) (mmoll), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (mmol/l), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (mmol/l), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (%).

Results: A total of 5 clinical trials were included. The analysis showed that liraglutide is effective in increasing HDL (MD = +0.10 (-0.18, -0.02), p = 0.02) and reducing LDL levels in blood (MD = -0.29 (-0.56, -0.02), p = 0.04). No significant difference was noted in levels of ALT (MD = 2.66 (-1.56, 6.87), p = 0.22), AST (MD = -1.99 (-5.70, 1.72), p = 0.29), GGT (MD = 5.02 (-0.86, 10.90), p = 0.09), ALP (MD = -5.16 (-11.90, 1.59), p = 0.13), TC (MD = -0.31 (-0.65, 0.03), p = 0.07), or TG (MD = -0.14 (-0.53, 0.25), p = 0.48). The HbA1c (%) level was found to be significantly reduced in the liraglutide arm (MD = -0.62 (-0.88, -0.36), p < 0.01).

Conclusions: Liraglutide effectively improves the lipid profile in patients with NASH.

Keywords: liraglutide; liver enzymes; metabolic factors; nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA flow diagram showing our literature search
Figure 2
Figure 2
Risk of bias summary and graph of included studies
Figure 3
Figure 3
Forest plot for the analysis of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) [IU/l] outcome
Figure 4
Figure 4
Forest plot for the analysis of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) [IU/l] outcome
Figure 5
Figure 5
Forest plot for the analysis of γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) [IU/l] outcome
Figure 6
Figure 6
Forest plot for the analysis of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) [IU/l] outcome
Figure 7
Figure 7
Forest plot for the analysis of total cholesterol [mmol/l] outcome
Figure 8
Figure 8
Forest plot for the analysis of triglyceride [mmol/l] outcome
Figure 9
Figure 9
Forest plot for the analysis of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) [mmol/l] outcome
Figure 10
Figure 10
Forest plot for the analysis of low-density lipoprotein LDL [mmol/l] outcome
Figure 11
Figure 11
Forest plot for the analysis of HbA1c (%) outcome
Figure 12
Figure 12
Forest plot for the analysis of body mass index (BMI) [kg/m2] outcome: A – before leave-one-out, B – after leave-one-out
Figure 13
Figure 13
Forest plot for the analysis of waist circumference [cm] outcome: A – before leave-one-out, B – after leave-one-out
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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