Background: Plasma levels of liver enzymes are elevated in prediabetes but may improve in response to weight loss and glucose-lowering interventions. We examined the effects of dapagliflozin, metformin, or exercise on plasma levels of alanine transferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) in people with prediabetes.

Methods: 120 adults with prediabetes (30-70 years, BMI≥25 kg/m2, HbA1c 5.7-6.4%) were randomized to 13 weeks of dapagliflozin (10 mg once daily), metformin (850 mg twice daily), exercise (30 min, 5 days/week) or control (habitual living). Fasting plasma levels of ALT, AST, and GGT were measured at baseline and after 6 and 13 weeks of intervention and after 26 weeks of follow-up. Linear mixed-effects models were performed.

Results: At baseline, median (Q1;Q3) HbA1c was 5.9% (5.7; 6.1). 17% had elevated ALT levels, 3% elevated AST levels, and 6% elevated GGT levels. ALT and AST levels did not change in response to the interventions (Table 1). Small within-group changes in GGT were observed in the active groups after 6, 13 or 26 weeks, but they did not differ from the control group (P≥0.09 for all comparisons).

Conclusions: 13 weeks of treatment with dapagliflozin, metformin or exercise was not associated with changes in liver function markers compared with habitual living in people with prediabetes.

Disclosure

M.B. Blond: None. K.K. Clemmensen: Research Support; Self; AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk Foundation. Stock/Shareholder; Spouse/Partner; Novo Nordisk A/S. H. Amadid: None. L.B. Nielsen: None. M. Ried-Larsen: None. K. Karstoft: Employee; Spouse/Partner; Novo Nordisk A/S. F. Persson: Advisory Panel; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Novo Nordisk A/S. Research Support; Self; Amgen, AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk A/S. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Mundipharma International, Novo Nordisk A/S. M.E. Jørgensen: Research Support; Self; Amgen, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Sanofi-Aventis. Stock/Shareholder; Self; Novo Nordisk A/S. K. Faerch: None.

Funding

Novo Nordisk Foundation; AstraZeneca; University of Copenhagen; Innovation Foundation

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