# Effect of semaglutide on liver enzymes and markers of inflammation in subjects with type 2 diabetes and/or obesity

Article · Philip Noel Newsome, Sven Francque, Stephen A. Harrison, Vlad Ratziu, Luc Van Gaal, Salvatore Calanna, Morten Hansen, Martin Linder, Arun Jayant Sanyal

- Archive id: doi:10.1111/apt.15316
- Published: 2019-06-10
- Venue: Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15316
- PMID: 31246368
- PMCID: PMC6617813
- Citations: 186
- Source URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15316
- PDF: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1111/apt.15316
- Provenance: openalex+europepmc

## Abstract

BACKGROUND: Obesity and type 2 diabetes are drivers of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Glucagon-like peptide-1 analogues effectively treat obesity and type 2 diabetes and may offer potential for NAFLD treatment. AIM: To evaluate the effect of the glucagon-like peptide-1 analogue, semaglutide, on alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in subjects at risk of NAFLD. METHODS: Data from a 104-week cardiovascular outcomes trial in type 2 diabetes (semaglutide 0.5 or 1.0 mg/week) and a 52-week weight management trial (semaglutide 0.05-0.4 mg/day) were analysed. Treatment ratios vs placebo were estimated for ALT (both trials) and hsCRP (weight management trial only) using a mixed model for repeated measurements, with or without adjustment for change in body weight. RESULTS: Elevated baseline ALT (men \>30 IU/L; women \>19 IU/L) was present in 52% (499/957) of weight management trial subjects. In this group with elevated ALT, end-of-treatment ALT reductions were 6%-21% (P\<0.05 for doses≥0.2 mg/day) and hsCRP reductions 25%-43% vs placebo (P \< 0.05 for 0.2 and 0.4 mg/day). Normalisation of elevated baseline ALT occurred in 25%-46% of weight management trial subjects, vs 18% on placebo. Elevated baseline ALT was present in 41% (1325/3268) of cardiovascular outcomes trial subjects. In this group with elevated ALT, no significant ALT reduction was noted at end-of-treatment for 0.5 mg/week, while a 9% reduction vs placebo was seen for 1.0 mg/week (P = 0.0024). Treatment ratios for changes in ALT and hsCRP were not statistically significant after adjustment for weight change. CONCLUSIONS: Semaglutide significantly reduced ALT and hsCRP in clinical trials in subjects with obesity and/or type 2 diabetes.

_Abstract reproduced under CC-BY (publisher license, via OpenAlex)._

Topics: [GLP-1 & Incretin Therapies](https://space-kitty.com/topics/glp1-metabolic)

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