Possibilities for the use of ursodeoxycholic acid in the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

Aim. To investigate the effect of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) on the degree of steatosis, indicators of carbohydrate, lipid metabolism, body weight in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in combination with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Materials and methods. A prospective cohort comparative study included 36 patients with DM and NAFLD. Patients received UDCA at a dose of 15 mg/kg/day for 6 months, and also followed the recommendations for lifestyle changes through diet and exercise. To compare the results obtained during the study, a control group of patients was recruited that met the criteria for inclusion in the study. The statistical analysis included an assessment of the normality of the distribution of quantitative indicators, followed by the determination of the mean values and standard deviation or medians and quartiles, depending on the nature of the distribution, the reliability coefficient was determined by the Student, by Wilcoxon. Statistical processing was carried out in the Statistica 10 program. Results. According to the results of the study, a positive trend was noted in the change in the severity of fatty hepatosis. During the study, a statistically significant decrease in the level of ALT, AST was achieved in the group receiving UDCA (Ursofalk). The results of our study showed that the inclusion of UDCA (Ursofalk) in complex hypoglycemic therapy provides an additional improvement in carbohydrate metabolism. The obtained indicators in the course of the study demonstrate the positive effect of UDCA on weight loss. The greatest result was achieved in reducing waist, which is a positive prognostic factor in reducing the development and progression of NAFLD, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Positive changes were observed in relation to the lipid profile. Conclusion. The study demonstrated the positive effect of the drug UDCA (Ursofalk) on reducing the degree of liver steatosis, on carbohydrate, lipid metabolism, body weight in patients with DM in combination with NAFLD.