Tadashi Iwao, Kenji Sakai and Eiji Ando
Objective: To evaluate efficacy of 24 weeks administration of liraglutide with or without metformin on liver parameters, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) area and liver-to-spleen attenuation (L/S) ratio between non-obese and obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: A total of 57 patients with type 2 diabetes: non-obese group (N=30) and obese group (N=27) were enrolled. HbA1c, body weight, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and VAT area and L/S ratio were measured before and after the treatment. Results: In the two groups, sustained and significant reductions were observed in HbA1c, and body weight. A similar reduction was observed in AST and ALT level, but the change was greater in obese group than in non-obese group (p<0.05, p<0.05, respectively). Although reduction in VAT area did not differ in both groups, the change of L/S ratio was greater in obese subjects than in non-obese subjects (p<0.05). In all patients, multiple regression analysis showed that the reduction in ALT was significantly correlated with the reduction in VAT area (95% confidential interval 0.15-0.69; p<0.01), whereas either the changes in HbA1c, body weight and L/S ratio or the presence of dyslipidemia were not significant. Conclusion: Liraglutide with or without metformin ameliorates liver function and reduces fat tissue on the liver particularly in obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The potential mechanism might be due to decreases VAT area by liraglutide with or without metformin.