SGLT2 inhibitors may lower BMI and waist circumference in obese nondiabetics: Study
Iran: The sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors improve some metabolic and anthropometric markers in individuals without diabetes who are overweight/obese, researchers state in a meta-analysis published in Current Medical Research and Opinion.
The study found that compared to the controls, SGLT2 inhibitors lowered waist circumference and body mass index but had no significant influence on blood pressure, lipid, and glucose profile.
Behnaz Abiri, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, and colleagues conducted the study with the objective to identify the impact of SGLT2 inhibitors on anthropometric indices and metabolic markers in non-diabetic individuals who are overweight/obese. The anthropometric indices and metabolic markers include weight, waist circumference (WC) and blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and lipid and glucose profile.
For this purpose, the researchers searched for clinical trials investigating the safety and efficacy of SGLT2 inhibitors in overweight or obese adults in online databases. A random-effect meta-analysis was used to estimate the overall intervention effect. The risk of bias was assessed using the Jadad scale. The Cochran's test (Q test) and I2 Index were used for assessing the heterogeneity of the studies. In order to identify possible sources of heterogeneity among the trials, analyses of meta-regression were carried out.
Following were the key findings:
- Of the 5 clinical trials that were included in the meta-analysis, five, four, three, and two clinical trials met the eligibility criteria for evaluating the efficacy of SGLT2 inhibitors on the weight, waist circumference (WC) and blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and lipid and glucose profile, respectively.
- According to the results, SGLT2 inhibitors lowered BMI (WMD= -0.47), and WC (WMD= -3.25), but had no significant influence on blood pressure, lipid, and glucose profile of overweight/obese patients compared to the control groups.
The researchers concluded by stating, "the SGLT2 inhibitors appear to ameliorate some anthropometric and metabolic markers." They further add that there is, however, a limited number of studies, and further research is needed for a firm conclusion.
Reference:
Abiri, Behnaz, et al. "Effects of Sodium-glucose Co-transporter-2 Inhibitors On Anthropometric Indices and Metabolic Markers in Overweight/obese Individuals Without Diabetes: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis." Current Medical Research and Opinion, 2022, pp. 1-29.
