Abstract
Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common reasons for the increase in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels. Moreover, liver- associated death is approximately 10 times higher in patients with NAFLD than in common individuals. In theory, NAFLD is a kind of metabolic syndrome that manifests in the liver, and insulin resistance plays an important role in it. Therefore, drugs that improve insulin sensitivity may be effective for NAFLD.
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of metformin treatment on aminotransferase levels, metabolic parameters and body mass index in NAFLD patients via a meta-analysis of clinical trials.
Methods: A comprehensive search on PubMed, EMBASE, the Web of Science and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was performed for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effect of metformin treatment on aminotransferase levels, metabolic parameters and body mass index in NAFLD patients. Serum hepatic enzyme, lipid, glucose and insulin levels, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index and body mass index (BMI) at different follow-up points exhibited desirable outcomes. The final search was performed in January, 2021.
Results: In total, 10 RCTs with 459 patients were included. Compared with controls, metformin could effectively reduce serum fasting glucose and insulin levels and the HOMA-IR index in NAFLD patients at the 6-month follow-up. In addition, metformin could clearly reduce the serum ALT and HOMA-IR index at the 12-month follow-up. Although metformin was found to be effective in managing lipid metabolism and controlling BMI in NAFLD patients compared with that at baseline, the effect was similar to that in controls. In addition, the speed of metformin treatment seemed to be slower than that of controls.
Conclusion: Compared to the controls, metformin could effectively reduce the serum fasting glucose and insulin levels and the HOMA-IR index in NAFLD patients at the 6-month follow-up and ALT and the HOMA-IR index at the 12-month follow-up.
Keywords: Metformin, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, aminotransferase, metabolic syndrome, body mass index, meta-analysis.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:The Effect of Metformin on Aminotransferase Levels, Metabolic Parameters and Body Mass Index in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Patients: A Metaanalysis
Volume: 27 Issue: 29
Author(s): Haibo Hu*, Junjie Wang, Xi Li, Lujun Shen, Danhe Shi and Juanjuan Meng
Affiliation:
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changzhi People’s Hospital, Changzhi,China
Keywords: Metformin, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, aminotransferase, metabolic syndrome, body mass index, meta-analysis.
Abstract:
Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common reasons for the increase in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels. Moreover, liver- associated death is approximately 10 times higher in patients with NAFLD than in common individuals. In theory, NAFLD is a kind of metabolic syndrome that manifests in the liver, and insulin resistance plays an important role in it. Therefore, drugs that improve insulin sensitivity may be effective for NAFLD.
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of metformin treatment on aminotransferase levels, metabolic parameters and body mass index in NAFLD patients via a meta-analysis of clinical trials.
Methods: A comprehensive search on PubMed, EMBASE, the Web of Science and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was performed for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effect of metformin treatment on aminotransferase levels, metabolic parameters and body mass index in NAFLD patients. Serum hepatic enzyme, lipid, glucose and insulin levels, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index and body mass index (BMI) at different follow-up points exhibited desirable outcomes. The final search was performed in January, 2021.
Results: In total, 10 RCTs with 459 patients were included. Compared with controls, metformin could effectively reduce serum fasting glucose and insulin levels and the HOMA-IR index in NAFLD patients at the 6-month follow-up. In addition, metformin could clearly reduce the serum ALT and HOMA-IR index at the 12-month follow-up. Although metformin was found to be effective in managing lipid metabolism and controlling BMI in NAFLD patients compared with that at baseline, the effect was similar to that in controls. In addition, the speed of metformin treatment seemed to be slower than that of controls.
Conclusion: Compared to the controls, metformin could effectively reduce the serum fasting glucose and insulin levels and the HOMA-IR index in NAFLD patients at the 6-month follow-up and ALT and the HOMA-IR index at the 12-month follow-up.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Hu Haibo *, Wang Junjie , Li Xi , Shen Lujun , Shi Danhe and Meng Juanjuan, The Effect of Metformin on Aminotransferase Levels, Metabolic Parameters and Body Mass Index in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Patients: A Metaanalysis, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2021; 27 (29) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612827666210315144821
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612827666210315144821 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |

- Author Guidelines
- Bentham Author Support Services (BASS)
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Human Cognitive and Neuro-Psychiatric Bio-Markers in the Cardiac Peri-Operative Patient
Current Molecular Medicine Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1
Current Medicinal Chemistry Cellular Mechanisms of Valvular Thickening in Early and Intermediate Calcific Aortic Valve Disease
Current Cardiology Reviews Conference Proceedings: Second International Conference on Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) Swansea, UK; September 12-13th, 2013
Current Drug Abuse Reviews Small Molecule Complementarity As A Source of Novel Pharmaceutical Agents and Combination Therapies
Current Pharmaceutical Design Factors Modulating Fibrates Response: Therapeutic Implications and Alternative Strategies
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Fibroblast Growth Factors/Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptors as Targets for the Development of Anti-Angiogenesis Strategies
Current Pharmaceutical Design Statins and Thrombin
Current Drug Targets - Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders Inhibitors of Myostatin- and Proteasome-Dependent Signaling for Attenuating Muscle Wasting
Recent Patents on Regenerative Medicine The Cardiovascular and Cardiac Actions of Ecstasy and its Metabolites
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Atherosclerosis Neovascularization and Imaging
Current Molecular Medicine Naturally Occurring Phenylethanoid Glycosides: Potential Leads for New Therapeutics
Current Medicinal Chemistry Current Concepts in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Type 1 and Type 2 Autoimmune Pancreatitis
Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery Atherosclerotic Plaque Characterization by MR Imaging
Current Drug Targets - Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors: Effects on Chronic Subacute Inflammation and Onset of Atherosclerosis Induced by Dietary Cholesterol
Current Drug Targets - Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders Serum Calprotectin as a Novel Biomarker in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Pathogenesis and Progression: Preliminary Data from Experimental Model in Rats
Current Vascular Pharmacology PET-MRI Based Molecular Imaging as a Response Marker in Cervical Cancer: A Systematic Review
Current Molecular Imaging (Discontinued) Management of Asymptomatic Severe Aortic Stenosis
Current Cardiology Reviews The Role of Intravenous Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blockers in the Perioperative Management of Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
Current Vascular Pharmacology Nitric Oxide Synthase and Cyclooxygenase Pathways: A Complex Interplay in Cellular Signaling
Current Medicinal Chemistry