Evidence mapPaperPMID 40736113Full record

SynthesisLiver international : official journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver2025

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Improve MASH and Liver Fibrosis: A Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials.

Alessandro Mantovani, Riccardo Morandin, Veronica Fiorio, Maria Giovanna Lando, Norbert Stefan, Herbert Tilg, Christopher D Byrne, Giovanni Targher

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Liver international : official journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
15citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

15 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  6. Sarcopenia and MASLD: novel insights and the future.Nature reviews. Endocrinology · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Alessandro MantovaniMetabolic Diseases Research Unit, IRCCS Sacro Cuore - Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-7271-6329
Riccardo MorandinSection of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University and Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata of Verona, Verona, Italy.
Veronica FiorioSection of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University and Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata of Verona, Verona, Italy.
Maria Giovanna LandoSection of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University and Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata of Verona, Verona, Italy.
Norbert StefanDepartment of Internal Medicine IV, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Nephrology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-2186-9595
Herbert TilgDepartment of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.ORCID 0000-0002-4235-2579
Christopher D ByrneNational Institute for Health and Care Research, Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton and University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-6322-7753
Giovanni TargherMetabolic Diseases Research Unit, IRCCS Sacro Cuore - Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-4325-3900

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

aimsThere is uncertainty regarding the hepatic efficacy of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) or steatohepatitis (MASH). We performed a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to examine the efficacy of GLP-1RAs in treating MASLD or MASH.

methodsWe systematically searched three electronic databases from inception until April 2025 to identify RCTs examining the efficacy of GLP-1RAs for the treatment of MASLD or MASH. The outcome measures included MASH resolution without worsening of fibrosis or improvement in at least one stage of fibrosis without worsening of MASH, along with reductions in liver fat content measured using magnetic resonance-based techniques. Meta-analysis was conducted using random-effects models.

resultsWe identified 13 phase 2 or phase 3 RCTs (1811 participants). These trials diagnosed MASLD or MASH through liver biopsy (n = 4) or magnetic resonance-based techniques (n = 9). Regardless of diabetes status, among individuals with MASH and moderate-to-advanced fibrosis, GLP-1RAs (especially semaglutide 2.4 mg/week) for up to 72 weeks were superior to placebo in achieving MASH resolution (n = 3 RCTs; pooled random-effects odds ratio 3.48, 95% CI 2.69-4.51; I

conclusionsGLP-1RAs are a promising treatment option for MASLD or MASH. Further research is needed to evaluate the long-term effects of GLP-1RAs on liver-related clinical events.

Indexed as

Fatty LiverGlucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor AgonistsLiver CirrhosisHumansLiverNon-alcoholic Fatty Liver DiseaseRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment OutcomeGlucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor AgonistsGLP‐1 receptor agonistsincretin‐based therapymetabolic dysfunction‐associated steatohepatitismetabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease

Identifiers

PMID40736113
PMCPMC12309150

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.