EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CURRENT THERAPIES FOR NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE
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Abstract
Background: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) has emerged as a global health concern due to its rising prevalence and significant burden on public health systems. This study aims to evaluate and compare the efficacy, safety, and long-term outcomes of pharmacological therapies commonly used in the management of NAFLD. Lifestyle modifications remain the cornerstone of NAFLD management, but pharmacological interventions are increasingly utilized, particularly in patients with advanced disease or metabolic comorbidities. However, there is a lack of consensus on the optimal pharmacological approach, necessitating a comprehensive evaluation of available therapies.
Objective: This study aims to systematically review and compare the efficacy, safety, and long-term outcomes of pharmacological therapies for NAFLD, including insulin sensitizers, lipid-lowering agents, antioxidants, and GLP-1 receptor agonists. Specific objectives include assessing their efficacy in improving liver histology, reducing liver fat content, impacting disease progression, comparative effectiveness, duration of treatment, and long-term outcomes.
Results: Our analysis revealed varying degrees of efficacy and safety among the pharmacological therapies studied. Insulin sensitizers demonstrated the highest efficacy in improving liver histology and metabolic parameters, along with a favourable impact on disease progression. Lipid-lowering agents and GLP-1 receptor agonists also showed promising results in certain parameters, albeit to a lesser extent. Antioxidants exhibited more modest efficacy across evaluated domains. Comparative effectiveness and duration of treatment with long-term outcomes varied among therapies, with insulin sensitizers showing the most favourable outcomes.
Conclusion: In conclusion, pharmacological therapies offer valuable adjuncts to lifestyle modifications in the management of NAFLD. Insulin sensitizers emerge as promising agents due to their significant efficacy in improving liver histology, metabolic parameters, and long-term outcomes. However, the selection of therapy should be individualized based on patient characteristics, comorbidities, and treatment goals. Further research is warranted to elucidate optimal treatment strategies and improve patient outcomes in this complex and multifaceted disease.