The efficacy of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Fan S, Shi X, Yao J, Zhong M, Feng P

Revista espanola de enfermedades digestivas1 Aug 2020Cited by 11 (Europe PMC)

PMID32496108DOI10.17235/reed.2020.6392/2019PepBankPUB-32496108

Publisher page PubMedAsk about this study

Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study7

2 results from studies that gave the peptide. 2 results from people.

01HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In patients with NAFLD, liraglutide was associated with a reduction in body mass index in the subgroup analysis.
In plain wordsIn people with fatty liver disease, liraglutide was linked to lower body mass index in a subgroup analysis.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
DecreaseBody mass index, liraglutide subgroup
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Measurements
SMD
−0.44 SMD
BMI, liraglutide
Source sentences
Summary
Liraglutide was associated with a reduction in BMI (SMD = -0.44, 95 % CI: -0.77 to -0.11, p = 0.010)
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of GLP-1RAs treatment for NAFLD were considered.
Summary · context
six RCTs, involving 406 patients, were included in the analysis.
Report a problemFND-3249610806
02HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In patients with NAFLD, liraglutide was associated with an increase in adiponectin in the subgroup analysis, but the reported SMD of -0.33 has a negative sign, so the direction is unclear.
In plain wordsIn people with fatty liver disease, a subgroup analysis reported higher adiponectin with liraglutide, but the reported number has an opposite sign.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
IncreaseAdiponectin, liraglutide subgroup
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Inflammation markers · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Measurements
SMD
−0.33 SMD
adiponectin, liraglutide
Source sentences
Summary
an increase in adiponectin (SMD = -0.33, 95 % CI, -0.64 to -0.03, p = 0.034).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of GLP-1RAs treatment for NAFLD were considered.
Summary · context
six RCTs, involving 406 patients, were included in the analysis.
Report a problemFND-3249610807

Studies that did not test the peptide alone5

In this study, Liraglutide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Liraglutide.

03HumanNot a test of Liraglutide aloneSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In patients with NAFLD, pooled GLP-1 receptor agonists significantly improved liver fat fraction versus control.
In plain wordsIn people with fatty liver disease, the GLP-1 drug class lowered liver fat compared with control when pooled.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
DecreaseLiver fat fraction
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Control groups
Outcome group
Liver fat and liver function · Liver
Measurements
SMD
−0.33 SMD
liver fat fraction
Source sentences
Summary
A significant improvement was found in liver fat fraction (LFF) (SMD = -0.33, 95 % CI, -0.64 to -0.03, p = 0.034)
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of GLP-1RAs treatment for NAFLD were considered.
Summary · context
six RCTs, involving 406 patients, were included in the analysis.
In this study, Liraglutide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Liraglutide.
Report a problemFND-3249610801
04HumanNot a test of Liraglutide aloneSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In patients with NAFLD, pooled GLP-1 receptor agonists significantly improved body mass index versus control.
In plain wordsIn people with fatty liver disease, the GLP-1 drug class lowered body mass index compared with control when pooled.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
DecreaseBody mass index
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Control groups
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Measurements
SMD
−0.89 SMD
body mass index
Source sentences
Summary
body mass index (BMI) (SMD: -0.89, 95 % CI: -1.60 to -0.19, p = 0.012)
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of GLP-1RAs treatment for NAFLD were considered.
Summary · context
six RCTs, involving 406 patients, were included in the analysis.
In this study, Liraglutide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Liraglutide.
Report a problemFND-3249610802
05HumanNot a test of Liraglutide aloneSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In patients with NAFLD, pooled GLP-1 receptor agonists significantly improved adiponectin versus control.
In plain wordsIn people with fatty liver disease, the GLP-1 drug class raised adiponectin compared with control when pooled.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
IncreaseAdiponectin
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Control groups
Outcome group
Inflammation markers · Metabolic and weight
Measurements
SMD
0.66 SMD
adiponectin
Source sentences
Summary
adiponectin (SMD: 0.66, 95 % CI: 0.37 to 0.95, p = 0.000) with GLP-1RAs treatment
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of GLP-1RAs treatment for NAFLD were considered.
Summary · context
six RCTs, involving 406 patients, were included in the analysis.
In this study, Liraglutide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Liraglutide.
Report a problemFND-3249610803
06HumanNot a test of Liraglutide aloneSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In patients with NAFLD, pooled GLP-1 receptor agonists did not significantly reduce serum ALT versus control.
In plain wordsIn people with fatty liver disease, the GLP-1 drug class did not clearly lower ALT liver enzyme compared with control when pooled.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
No significant changeSerum ALT
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Control groups
Outcome group
Liver fat and liver function · Liver
Measurements
SMD
−0.52 SMD
ALT
Source sentences
Summary
There were no significant differences in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (SMD: -0.52, 95 % CI: -1.04 to 0.01, p = 0.054)
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of GLP-1RAs treatment for NAFLD were considered.
Summary · context
six RCTs, involving 406 patients, were included in the analysis.
In this study, Liraglutide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Liraglutide.
Report a problemFND-3249610804
07HumanNot a test of Liraglutide aloneSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In patients with NAFLD, pooled GLP-1 receptor agonists did not significantly reduce serum AST versus control.
In plain wordsIn people with fatty liver disease, the GLP-1 drug class did not clearly lower AST liver enzyme compared with control when pooled.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
No significant changeSerum AST
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Control groups
Outcome group
Liver fat and liver function · Liver
Measurements
SMD
−0.2 SMD
AST
Source sentences
Summary
aspartate transaminase (AST) (SMD: -0.20, 95 % CI: -0.54 to 0.15, p = 0.134) reduction between the GLP-1RAs and control groups
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of GLP-1RAs treatment for NAFLD were considered.
Summary · context
six RCTs, involving 406 patients, were included in the analysis.
In this study, Liraglutide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Liraglutide.
Report a problemFND-3249610805

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
12 Oct 2026, 11:11 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 03:05 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

Publication types

MeSH terms

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.