The effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors on inflammatory biomarkers: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

AimsTo conduct a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors on inflammatory biomarkers.MethodsMedline, Embase and the Cochrane Library were searched for RCTs investigating the effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on inflammatory biomarkers, adipokine profiles and insulin sensitivity.ResultsThirty-eight RCTs were included (14 967 participants, 63.3% male, mean age 62 +/- 8.6 years) with a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 16 (12-24) weeks. Meta-analysis showed that SGLT2 inhibitors significantly improved adiponectin, interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor receptor-1 (vs. placebo alone: standardized mean difference [SMD] 0.34 [95% confidence interval {CI} 0.23, 0.45], mean difference [MD] -0.85 pg/mL [95% CI -1.32, -0.38], SMD -0.13 [95% CI -0.20, -0.06], respectively), leptin and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance index (vs. control: SMD -0.20 [95% CI -0.33, -0.07], MD -0.83 [95% CI -1.32, -0.33], respectively). There were no significant changes in C-reactive protein (CRP), tumour necrosis factor-alpha, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, fibroblast growth factor-21 or monocyte chemoattractant protein-1.ConclusionsOur analysis shows that SGLT2 inhibitors likely improve adipokine biomarkers and insulin sensitivity, but there is little evidence that SGLT2 inhibitors improve other inflammatory biomarkers including CRP.