Liraglutide reduces ectopic and visceral liver fat in both diabetics and non-diabetics: Study

In addition, liraglutide was also shown to reduce visceral fat if the duration of therapy and adequate dosage were ensured.

Liraglutide is a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) analogue used for type 2 diabetes management and for preventing cardiovascular complications linked with diabetes. Liraglutide injection is used with an exercise plan and reduced calorie diet for weight loss in adults and children (above 12 years) who are obese and overweight. 

Liraglutide injection is in a class of medications known as incretin mimetics. It works by assisting the pancreas in releasing an adequate amount of insulin in cases of high blood sugar levels. Insulin helps move sugar from the blood into other body tissues used for energy. Liraglutide injection also slows the stomach emptying and may reduce appetite and cause weight loss.

Fengling He, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China, and colleagues aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of liraglutide for reducing ectopic and visceral fat in adults with or without type 2 diabetes.

For this purpose, the researchers searched four databases up to May 6 2022, for RCTs (randomized clinical trials) evaluating the effects of liraglutide on ectopic and visceral fat. The mean and standard deviation values were calculated for ectopic fat, visceral fat and body mass index. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on the duration of intervention, type of disease (T2D or non-T2D), liraglutide dosage and whether life interventions are added to liraglutide therapy. In each article, the authors extracted and integrated the safety assessments reported.

In the meta-analysis, sixteen randomized clinical trials with, in total, 845 participants were included.

The authors reported the following findings:

• Liraglutide could significantly decrease visceral fat [standard mean difference (SMD) = −0.72], liver fat [SMD = −0.78] and body mass index [weighted mean difference = −1.44] in adult patients with or without T2DM when compared with the control group.
• The reduction of epicardial fat by liraglutide [SMD = −0.74] was not statistically significant.
• Subgroup analysis revealed that an adequate dosage (≥1.8 mg/day) and appropriate duration of treatment (ranging from 16 to 40 weeks) were the decisive factors for liraglutide to reduce visceral fat effectively.
• Mild gastrointestinal reactions were the main adverse event of liraglutide.

The researchers conclude, "liraglutide safely and significantly reduces ectopic and visceral liver fat irrespective of T2DM status and reduces visceral fat provided the duration of therapy, and adequate dosage is ensured."

Reference:

He F, Chen W, Xu W, Liu D, Xiao Z, Tang Y, Lin Z, Liao Y, Bin J, Chen G, Chen Y. Safety and efficacy of liraglutide on reducing visceral and ectopic fat in adults with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2023 Mar;25(3):664-674. doi: 10.1111/dom.14908. Epub 2022 Nov 21. PMID: 36314246.