Research Article Details

Article ID: A05384
PMID: 33275326
Source: Diabetes Obes Metab
Title: Extended-release naltrexone/bupropion and liver health: Pooled, post hoc analysis from four randomized controlled trials.
Abstract: Sustained weight loss improves liver histology in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This post hoc analysis of four phase III, 56-week, randomized controlled trials investigated if extended-release naltrexone and bupropion (NB) affects alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index in adults with overweight or obesity. Two thousand and seventy-three subjects (NB = 1310; placebo = 763; 79.0% female; 81.6% Caucasian) had baseline mean weight 101&#8201;kg, body mass index 36.2 kg/m2 , ALT 26.9 IU/L and FIB-4 0.79. At 56&#8201;weeks, NB-treated subjects experienced more weight loss than placebo (8.7 vs. 3.2&#8201;kg, respectively, P <&#8201;.0001). Weight loss, independent of treatment, was associated with improved ALT and FIB-4 (P <&#8201;.0001). There was a significant independent effect of NB on change from baseline for FIB-4 (P <&#8201;.0001), but not for ALT (P =&#8201;.54). Categorical ALT response (from above to within normal ranges: 10-40&#8201;IU/L for men; 7-35&#8201;IU/L for women) and achievement of 25% and 50% reduction in ALT were greater for NB versus placebo, and independently affected by weight loss (P <&#8201;.0001), but not treatment. NB-associated weight loss may improve liver health by normalizing ALT values for those with high baseline levels.
DOI: 10.1111/dom.14284