title: Which treatment for type 2 diabetes associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?
abstract: Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are highly prevalent in the community, and share common pathogenic mechanisms. There is also evidence that T2DM may be favored by hepatic fat accumulation; in turn the presence of T2DM is a risk factor for liver disease progression. The treatment of T2DM has considerably changed in the past few years; new drug classes, promoting glucose-lowering through mechanisms different from classical insulin-sensitizing or insulin-secreting action, have been added to continuing lifestyle intervention. Metformin and pioglitazone may be safely used in the presence of liver fat, whereas sulfonylureas and insulin itself have been associated with NAFLD progression and adverse outcome. Drugs acting on the incretin axis and on Na-glucose co-transport at renal tubular level offer new hopes for a tailored treatment able to reduce the burden of hepatic triglyceride accumulation and liver disease progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical & Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater University, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazzotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical & Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater University, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Turchese
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Caletti
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical & Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater University, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marchignoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical & Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater University, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Forlani
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical & Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater University, Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: giulio.marchesini@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marchesini
mesh_terms: D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D000077205:Pioglitazone; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D014280:Triglycerides; D008687:Metformin; D000077205:Pioglitazone
keywords: Glucose-lowering drugs; Incretins; Insulin; Metformin; Na-glucose cotransport 2; Thiazolidinediones