Treating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a review of efficacy and safety.

Objective:To review current literature for the efficacy and safety of treatment for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Data sources:A PubMed literature search from January 1990 to June 2017 was conducted using the search terms nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, diabetes mellitus, type 2, therapy, treatment, treat, therapeutics, nonalcoholic fatty liver, nonalcoholic hepatosteatosis, NASH, NAFLD, metformin, and statin. Bibliographies of chosen articles were reviewed.Study selection and data extraction:Relevant articles on metformin, thiazolidinediones (TZD), glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA), and statins for the treatment of NAFLD which included patients with T2DM were reviewed. A total of 23 relevant studies were found and included randomized controlled, observational, and open-label designs, as well as three meta-analyses.Data synthesis:Metformin combined with weight loss provides a modest improvement in steatosis and no improvement...