Influence of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors on Plasma Adiponectin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Comparison of the effects of empagliflozin and sitagliptin, as add-on to metformin, on serum levels of asprosin and metabolic parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

The effect of sitagliptin and empagliflozin on serum levels of asprosin and metabolic parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was assessed in a non-randomized, prospective observational study. Seventy-nine T2DM patients, without adequate glycemic control with metformin monotherapy, were included in the study. In addition to the ongoing metformin treatment, patients received sitagliptin 100 mg and empagliflozin 10 mg once daily for 12 weeks. Anthropometric parameters, lipid and glycemic profile, insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index [HOMA-IR]), and asprosin serum levels were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks of therapy. Both empagliflozin and sitagliptin treatments led to similar, significant improvement in fasting blood glucose (FBG) and hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C). Compared to baseline, triglyceride (TG) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were improved with both treatments, but empagliflozin led to the more improvement. No significant change of total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were observed in either group. Insulin resistance was significantly attenuated in both groups, but to a greater degree with empagliflozin treatment. The reduction in serum asprosin levels from baseline was significantly higher in patients taking empagliflozin compared to those receiving sitagliptin. Additionally, individuals on empagliflozin exhibited a more decrease in body mass index (BMI) and body weight compared to those on sitagliptin. According to our findings, the addition of empagliflozin to metformin appeared to offer greater benefits compared to the addition of sitagliptin in terms of decreasing asprosin levels and improving certain metabolic parameters in T2DM patients.

Comparative effectiveness of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors on liver function in patients with type 2 diabetes in Japan: A real-world data analysis

AIM

To compare the effects of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) versus dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4is) on liver function in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Japan.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a Japanese retrospective cohort study using the RWD Database (1 January 2015 to 24 September 2021). Patients newly treated with an SGLT2i or a DPP4i were matched 1:4 (SGLT2i:DPP4i) using propensity score. The primary endpoint was the change from baseline to 1 year after the index date in alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Secondary endpoints included change from baseline in various laboratory test results, including the Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), albumin and HbA1c. Endpoints were compared between treatment groups using Welch's t-test in the full population and in subgroups stratified by baseline characteristics.

RESULTS

Baseline characteristics of 955 and 3063 matched patients newly treated with an SGLT2i and a DPP4i, respectively, were well balanced. Patients receiving an SGLT2i had significantly greater reductions in ALT, FIB-4 index and GGT and a significantly greater increase in albumin than patients receiving a DPP4i. A significantly greater change from baseline in ALT was observed in the SGLT2i group than in the DPP4i group among subgroups with lower baseline FIB-4 index and HbA1c.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, improvements in various measures, including ALT, the FIB-4 index, GGT and albumin, were observed with SGLT2is compared with DPP4is, suggesting that SGLT2is may provide hepatoprotective benefits, including the prevention of liver fibrosis, in patients with T2D in Japan.

The Role of Adipokines in Inflammatory Mechanisms of Obesity

Adipokines are currently widely studied cellular signaling proteins produced by adipose tissue and involved in various processes, including inflammation; energy and appetite modulation; lipid and glucose metabolism; insulin sensitivity; endothelial cell functioning; angiogenesis; the regulation of blood pressure; and hemostasis. The current review attempted to highlight the key functions of adipokines in the inflammatory mechanisms of obesity, its complications, and its associated diseases. An extensive search for materials on the role of adipokines in the pathogenesis of obesity was conducted online using the PubMed and Scopus databases until October 2022.