The Impact of Semaglutide Compared to Energy Restriction on Type 2 Diabetes

March 31, 2026 updated by: Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University

A Study on the Impact of Semaglutide Compared to Energy Restriction on Type 2 Diabetes Combined With Metabolic-associated Fatty Liver Disease and Its Molecular Mechanisms

To evaluate the effects of subcutaneous injection of semaglutide for 12 weeks on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), compared with concurrent energy-restricted management, on glycemic control, weight loss, inflammatory markers, liver fat content, and other parameters. The study also observed the subcutaneous and visceral fat of the participants and explored the molecular mechanisms of action, providing high-quality evidence-based support for the timing and targets of intervention in this population.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
100

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Age 18-75 years;
  2. BMI≥25 kg/m²;
  3. Diagnosed as type 2 diabetes mellitus patients according to the "Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes in China (2020 Edition)";
  4. HbA1c≤8.5%;
  5. Duration of diabetes ≤3 months, and no use of antihyperglycemic drugs;
  6. Willing to participate in this study, and after full informed consent, agrees to strictly follow the treatment plan and promises to attend follow-up visits on time, and signs the informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. BMI < 25 kg/m²;
  2. Age < 18 years, or > 75 years;
  3. History of type 1 diabetes, acute pancreatitis, or diabetes secondary to pancreatectomy;
  4. History of bariatric surgery or planned bariatric surgery, or currently attempting weight loss within the past 3 months, or use of weight-loss medications within the past 3 months;
  5. Use of GLP-1 receptor agonists, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, thiazolidinediones, or other related drugs within the past 3 months;
  6. Pregnant or breastfeeding women, or those planning to conceive during the study period;
  7. Patients with severe diseases of important organ systems, such as severe cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, renal insufficiency, hematologic diseases, neurological diseases, or malignancies;
  8. Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma;
  9. Patients with severe mental disorders or communication barriers that prevent accurate understanding of the study content and compliance with the trial procedures.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: semaglutide group
The semaglutide group received weekly subcutaneous semaglutide (0.25 mg for weeks 1-2, 0.5 mg for weeks 3-4, and 1.0 mg for weeks 5-12).
Drug: semaglutide
The semaglutide group received weekly subcutaneous semaglutide (0.25 mg for weeks 1-2, 0.5 mg for weeks 3-4, and 1.0 mg for weeks 5-12).
Active Comparator: caloric restriction group
The caloric restriction group followed a gender-specific daily caloric restriction (1,500-1,800 kcal for males; 1,200-1,500 kcal for females).
Behavioral: caloric restriction
The caloric restriction group followed a gender-specific daily caloric restriction (1,500-1,800 kcal for males; 1,200-1,500 kcal for females).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
HbA1c
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks
glycated hemoglobin
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks
FPG
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks
fasting plasma glucose
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks
2hPG
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks
2-hour postprandial glucose
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
HOMA-IR
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks
homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks
TC
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks
total cholesterol
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks
TG
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks
triglycerides
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks
LDL-C
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks
low-density lipoprotein
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks
HDL-C
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks
high-density lipoprotein
From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
February 10, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
June 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
July 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
November 16, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 7, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
December 9, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 2, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 31, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2022efyA04

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Some of the data involves patient privacy. If there is a need to share the data, please contact the relevant researchers of this project.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

Yes

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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