Research Summary
Analyzed using Evidence Intelligence™

Ertugliflozin improves liver function in T2DM patients

Last updated July 22, 2026

Key finding

Among patients in the ertugliflozin and pioglitazone groups, 45% to 23.4% and 41.7% to 26.6%, respectively, decreased in the Grade 2 group.

This study evaluated the effects of ertugliflozin on liver function in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes, finding significant improvements in liver-related biomarkers.

Quick read

Study at a glance

The essential study design details in one scan.

EvidenceScore™

Moderate

Study type

RCTs

Follow-up

Extended (5–20+ y)

Risk of bias

High Risk

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Plain-language summary

What this paper says

A plain-language read of the study’s main message and where it applies.

Study focus

This study evaluated the effects of ertugliflozin on liver function in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes, finding significant improvements in liver-related biomarkers.

Clinical relevance

Improving liver function in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is crucial, as it can prevent progression to more severe liver conditions. The findings suggest that ertugliflozin may be an effective treatment option for managing liver health in individuals with type 2 diabetes, potentially leading to better overall health outcomes.

Keep in mind

Limited sample size may affect generalizability. Short duration of the study may not capture long-term effects. Potential biases in self-reported outcomes.

Published in

Journal Reference

Publication details and source links for this paper.

Adil K, Haroon B, Yasar S, et al. Ertugliflozin Improves Liver Function in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Type 2 Diabetes. Medicine. 2024;103(45):e40356. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000040356

Main Effects

Liver fat content decreased by -0.45 grade (P ≤ 0.001).

AST levels reduced by -53.3 IU/L (P ≤ 0.001).

ALT levels decreased by -52.2 IU/L (P ≤ 0.001).

Evidence network

How this study fits

Understand where this research contributes within the broader evidence network.

Evidence Context

This study contributes evidence to Ertugliflozin and AST, Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Body weight, and 10 more.

Primary intervention

Ertugliflozin

Primary outcomes

  • AST
  • Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
  • Body weight

Evidence relationships

Intervention and outcome relationships this study adds to the evidence network.

13
Evidence pairs
13
Relationships
2
Evidence topics
contributes_evidence

Editorial context

Why this study matters

See why this paper is useful beyond its individual results.

Evidence network role

This section describes how the study fits into the current evidence network. It does not determine whether an intervention works on its own.

Moderate contributionModerate confidenceNetwork score: 64

2

Related topics

13

Evidence pairs

487

Related studies

High relevance in at least one topic

Why it is useful

  • Contributes to 13 evidence relationships
  • Includes primary outcome data
  • Linked to 2 direct semantic evidence topics

Topic contributions

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

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Primary evidence

Evidence topic

HbA1c Reduction

matched_outcome

Related evidence

Evidence topic

Weight Loss

Save evidence

Core evidence

Study findings

The primary outcomes reported in this study.

Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)

Ertugliflozin → Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)

Ertugliflozin → Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Emerging
Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™
100
Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™
unclear
Not enough independent studies
Supporting studies: Based on 1 study
Add to Evidence Tracker

AST

Ertugliflozin → AST

Ertugliflozin → AST

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Emerging
Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™
100
Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™
unclear
Not enough independent studies
Supporting studies: Based on 1 study
Add to Evidence Tracker

Body weight

Ertugliflozin → Body weight

Ertugliflozin → Body weight

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Emerging
Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™
100
Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™
unclear
Not enough independent studies
Supporting studies: Based on 1 study
Add to Evidence Tracker

Change in liver enzymes (GGT)

Ertugliflozin → Change in liver enzymes (GGT)

Ertugliflozin → Change in liver enzymes (GGT)

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Emerging
Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™
100
Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™
unclear
Not enough independent studies
Supporting studies: Based on 1 study
Add to Evidence Tracker

FIB-4 index

Ertugliflozin → FIB-4 index

Ertugliflozin → FIB-4 index

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Emerging
Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™
100
Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™
unclear
Not enough independent studies
Supporting studies: Based on 1 study
Add to Evidence Tracker

HbA1c

Ertugliflozin → HbA1c

Ertugliflozin → HbA1c

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Moderate
Score 69 · Based on 2 studies
ImpactScore™
75
Positive
ConsistencyScore™
100
consistent
Supporting studies: Based on 2 studies
Add to Evidence Tracker

HDL cholesterol

Ertugliflozin → HDL cholesterol

Ertugliflozin → HDL cholesterol

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Emerging
Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™
100
Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™
unclear
Not enough independent studies
Supporting studies: Based on 1 study
Add to Evidence Tracker

Insulin

Ertugliflozin → Insulin

Ertugliflozin → Insulin

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Emerging
Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™
100
Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™
unclear
Not enough independent studies
Supporting studies: Based on 1 study
Add to Evidence Tracker

LDL cholesterol

Ertugliflozin → LDL cholesterol

Ertugliflozin → LDL cholesterol

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Emerging
Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™
100
Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™
unclear
Not enough independent studies
Supporting studies: Based on 1 study
Add to Evidence Tracker

Liver fat content

Ertugliflozin → Liver fat content

Ertugliflozin → Liver fat content

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Emerging
Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™
100
Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™
unclear
Not enough independent studies
Supporting studies: Based on 1 study
Add to Evidence Tracker

Total cholesterol

Ertugliflozin → Total cholesterol

Ertugliflozin → Total cholesterol

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Emerging
Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™
100
Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™
unclear
Not enough independent studies
Supporting studies: Based on 1 study
Add to Evidence Tracker

Triglycerides

Ertugliflozin → Triglycerides

Ertugliflozin → Triglycerides

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Emerging
Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™
100
Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™
unclear
Not enough independent studies
Supporting studies: Based on 1 study
Add to Evidence Tracker

Uric Acid

Ertugliflozin → Uric Acid

Ertugliflozin → Uric Acid

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Moderate
Score 69 · Based on 2 studies
ImpactScore™
38
Slightly Negative
ConsistencyScore™
100
consistent
Supporting studies: Based on 2 studies
Add to Evidence Tracker

Evidence Library

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evidence suggest

Evidence Suggest

  • Ertugliflozin significantly reduced liver fat content and liver enzymes.
  • Total cholesterol decreased by -10 mg/dL (P ≤ 0.001).
  • Body weight decreased significantly in the ertugliflozin group (P ≤ 0.001).
who this applies

Who this applies to

  • Adults with type 2 diabetes.
  • Patients diagnosed with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
keep in mind

Keep in Mind

  • Results may not apply to populations outside the study's demographics.
  • Further research is needed to confirm long-term benefits.
  • The study did not include a diverse range of participants.
between the lines

Between the Lines

  • Limited sample size may affect generalizability.
  • Short duration of the study may not capture long-term effects.
  • Potential biases in self-reported outcomes.

Evidence Library

Build your evidence library

Save research, organize studies, and quickly find important evidence again.

Connected Evidence

Explore related studies, evidence collections, and research questions.

Relationships organized using the Dediabetes Evidence Intelligence™ framework.

This study contributes to evidence on Ertugliflozin and HbA1c, Ertugliflozin and Uric Acid.

Related evidence relationships

Explore in Evidence Explorer

This study contributes to the evidence on the following intervention-outcome relationships.

Questions answered by this study

Generated from the study's connected evidence using Evidence Intelligence™.

Does Ertugliflozin improve HbA1c?

Moderate Evidence

Ertugliflozin may improve HbA1c.

ConsistencyScore™: Results are consistent across studies.

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    HbA1c

    EvidenceScore™ Moderate | EvidenceScore™ 69.0 | moderate positive | ConsistencyScore™ Consistent | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.

Limitations

  • Only one supporting study is available.
  • Population details are unavailable.
1 supporting studyUpdated: Jul 2026

Does Ertugliflozin improve uric acid?

Moderate Evidence

Ertugliflozin may worsen Uric Acid or be associated with harm.

ConsistencyScore™: Results are consistent across studies.

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    Uric Acid

    EvidenceScore™ Moderate | EvidenceScore™ 69.0 | weak negative | ConsistencyScore™ Consistent | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.

Limitations

  • Only one supporting study is available.
  • Population details are unavailable.
1 supporting studyUpdated: Jul 2026

Does Ertugliflozin improve ast?

Emerging Evidence

Ertugliflozin appears to improve AST.

ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    AST

    EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.

Limitations

  • Only one supporting study is available.
  • Consistency cannot yet be determined.
  • Population details are unavailable.
1 supporting studyUpdated: Jul 2026

Does Ertugliflozin improve alanine aminotransferase (alt)?

Emerging Evidence

Ertugliflozin appears to improve Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT).

ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)

    EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.

Limitations

  • Only one supporting study is available.
  • Consistency cannot yet be determined.
  • Population details are unavailable.
1 supporting studyUpdated: Jul 2026
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