Impact of Oral Hypoglycemic Drugs on Complications in NAFLD Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Objective: To determines prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and the impact of lifestyle adjustments and oral hypoglycemic medications on lowering liver enzyme levels and fatty liver alterations.
Material and Method: This comparative, observational study involved patients of both genders with elevated liver enzymes and ultrasound findings of fatty liver changes along with elevated HbA1c, transaminases, total cholesterol (TC), and TGs. It was conducted from November 2022 to May 2023 at the Department of Pharmacy, University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan Convenience sampling was used to increase the sample. Individuals with hemochromatosis, liver cancer, bile duct illness, hepatitis, jaundice, Wilson's disease, and alcoholism were not allowed to participate. The diabetic outpatient department (OPD) contacted patients who complained of nausea, anorexia, elevated BMI, and T2DM or not. The patients were recommended to have an ultrasound to rule out sonographic fatty liver abnormalities and a blood test to examine liver enzyme levels after providing written informed permission.
Results: Out of 300 patients, there were 220 females and 80 males. The average age of all individuals was 45±18 years. Table 1 shows that 60 patients (20%) solely had fatty liver alterations, while 240 patients (80%) combined NAFLD with T2DM. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) together and NAFLD alone are characterized in (Table 1). Groups A, B, C, D, E, F, 90 (30%), 30 (10%) patients, 50 (17%), 40 (13.3%%), 30 (10%) and 60 (20%) patients. Table 2 shows that 75 patients (25%) showed post-intervention improvement, with 90 patients (30%) in group A.
Conclusion: OHDs can be used to treat fatty liver, although individuals receiving empagliflozin with metformin treatment showed the greatest improvement, followed by those receiving metformin alone.