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World J Exp Med. Dec 20, 2025; 15(4): 106403
Published online Dec 20, 2025. doi: 10.5493/wjem.v15.i4.106403
Role of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in liver diseases
Prajna Anirvan, Suprabhat Giri, Sayan Malakar, Dibya Lochan Praharaj
Prajna Anirvan, Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital Campus II, Bhubaneswar 754001, Odisha, India
Suprabhat Giri, Dibya Lochan Praharaj, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar 751024, Odisha, India
Sayan Malakar, Department of Gastroenterology, King George Medical University, Lucknow 226003, Uttar Pradesh, India
Co-first authors: Prajna Anirvan and Suprabhat Giri.
Author contributions: Giri S and Praharaj DL contributed to the conception and design of the manuscript; All authors contributed to the literature review, analysis, data collection, interpretation, and critical revision of the initial manuscript; Anirvan P, Malakar S and Giri S drafted the initial manuscript; All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Suprabhat Giri, DM, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Kushabhadra Campus, 5 KIIT Rd, Patia, Bhubaneswar 751024, Odisha, India. supg19167@gmail.com
Received: February 25, 2025
Revised: April 28, 2025
Accepted: August 13, 2025
Published online: December 20, 2025
Processing time: 297 Days and 11.9 Hours
Core Tip

Core Tip: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, primarily developed for diabetes, have shown potential benefits in managing liver conditions. Studies report improved liver enzymes, lipid profile, insulin sensitivity, and stiffness in steatotic liver disease. In patients with decompensated cirrhosis of the liver with refractory ascites, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors reduce the need for paracentesis due to their natriuretic and diuretic effects. Emerging evidence also suggests a role in preventing hepatocellular carcinoma. However, associated adverse events necessitate careful consideration. Further research is crucial to fully understand their mechanisms, optimize treatment strategies, and establish clear clinical guidelines, especially regarding the benefit-risk ratio and combination therapies.