Evidence mapPaperPMID 41579253Full record

SynthesisEndocrine2026

Impact of empagliflozin on liver fat reduction in type 2 diabetes and NAFLD: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Muhammad Umais, Hooriah Imtiaz, Muhammad Luqman, Sidra Anwar, Muhammad Umer Iftikhar, Kanwal Maheshwari, Zarine Tasnim Sara, Noor Ul Huda Naseem, Firose Afra Ibnath, Abdul Rehman Shah Syed and 1 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
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In one paragraph

Synthesis in Endocrine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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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

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Muhammad UmaisKing Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan.
Hooriah ImtiazAzad Jammu Kashmir Medical College, Muzaffarabad, Pakistan.
Muhammad LuqmanAmeer ud din medical college, Lahore, Pakistan.
Sidra AnwarFatima Memorial college of medicine and dentistry, Lahore, Pakistan. sid_anwar786@hotmail.com.
Muhammad Umer IftikharUlster Hospital South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust Belfast UK, Belfast, UK.
Kanwal MaheshwariPeoples university of medical and health science, Nawabshah, Pakistan.
Zarine Tasnim SaraKhulna Medical College, Khulna, Bangladesh.
Noor Ul Huda NaseemAzad Jammu Kashmir Medical College, Muzaffarabad, Pakistan.
Firose Afra IbnathGreenlife medical college Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Abdul Rehman Shah SyedDow University of Health Science, Karachi, Pakistan.
Muhammad Ali MuzammilDepartment of Internal Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and type 2 Diabetes Mellitus are the major causes of significant mortality and morbidity. NAFLD and type 2 diabetes have common risk factors. SGLT-2 inhibitors are believed to have a beneficial effect on liver fat in patients with NAFLD and type 2 diabetes. However, there are limited data available on this aspect of empagliflozin use. Thus, we aimed to compare the impact of empagliflozin on liver fat reduction in type 2 diabetes and NAFLD.

methodsA comprehensive search of databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library was done. In the end, a detailed analysis was performed on a total of 6 finalized studies, all of which were randomized controlled trials. This comprehensive analysis consisted of a cohort of 589 Individuals.

resultsA total of six studies were included. Primary outcomes assessed were MRI-PDFF, AST, ALT, HOMA-IR and total bilirubin. Empagliflozin significantly reduced liver fat compared to placebo, with a pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) of −0.43 (95% CI: −0.82 to −0.04; p = 0.03; I² = 0%). AST also showed a significant reduction (SMD = −0.41; 95% CI: −0.66 to −0.16; p = 0.001; I² = 34%), while ALT showed a non-significant trend favoring empagliflozin (SMD = −0.60; 95% CI: −1.25 to 0.04; p = 0.07) with high heterogeneity (I² = 91%). No significant effects were observed for HOMA-IR (SMD = −0.10; 95% CI: −0.43 to 0.24; p = 0.57) or total bilirubin (SMD = −0.04; 95% CI: −1.16 to 1.08; p = 0.94). Among secondary outcomes, only liver segment VIII showed a significant benefit (SMD = −0.97; 95% CI: −1.68 to −0.25; p = 0.008), though heterogeneity remained substantial (I² = 79%). No significant changes were found in total cholesterol.

conclusionMRI-PDFF showed that empagliflozin significantly reduced liver fat and AST levels, indicating a beneficial effect on liver health in patients with type 2 diabetes and NAFLD.

Indexed as

Benzhydryl CompoundsDiabetes Mellitus, Type 2GlucosidesHypoglycemic AgentsLiverNon-alcoholic Fatty Liver DiseaseSodium-Glucose Transporter 2 InhibitorsHumansBenzhydryl CompoundsempagliflozinGlucosidesHypoglycemic AgentsSodium-Glucose Transporter 2 InhibitorsEmpagliflozinLiver fat reductionNAFLDType 2 diabetes

Identifiers

PMID41579253

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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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.