Non-Invasive Hepatic and Metabolic Index Changes After Incretin Therapy in Overweight/Obesity (GLP-NIT)

July 13, 2026 updated by: Ayse N Erbakan, Goztepe Prof Dr Suleyman Yalcın City Hospital

Early Changes in Non-Invasive Hepatic and Metabolic Indices After Incretin-Based Therapy in Patients With Overweight or Obesity: Real-World Evidence From a Turkish Cohort

This single-center, retrospective observational cohort study evaluated early changes in non-invasive hepatic and metabolic indices (FIB-4, APRI, HSI, and the triglyceride-glucose [TyG] index) in adults with overweight or obesity who received once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide or tirzepatide for metabolic risk reduction related to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Baseline and follow-up (minimum 12 weeks) clinical, anthropometric, and laboratory data from 154 patients treated at a single tertiary-care center in Turkey were analyzed. The study assessed whether short-term incretin-based therapy was associated with changes in fibrosis-related indices (FIB-4, APRI) versus steatosis- and insulin resistance-related indices (HSI, TyG), and identified independent predictors of these changes using multivariable linear regression.

Study Overview

Status

Status

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

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.

Detailed Description

Adults aged 18 years or older with overweight or obesity who were considered at increased metabolic risk for MASLD and who received continuous subcutaneous semaglutide or tirzepatide for at least 12 weeks were retrospectively identified at the internal medicine clinic of a tertiary-care state hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. Patients with significant alcohol consumption, other chronic liver disease etiologies, prior bariatric surgery, recent initiation/dose change of MASLD-relevant medications, concurrent hepatotoxic agent use, or missing baseline/follow-up data were excluded.

Baseline values were defined as the most recent measurements within 4 weeks before treatment initiation; follow-up values were the earliest measurements obtained after at least 12 continuous weeks of therapy. FIB-4, APRI, HSI, and TyG were calculated at both time points. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests compared baseline-to-follow-up changes. Kendall's tau assessed exploratory correlations among change scores; Spearman's rho assessed two prespecified correlations (percentage body-weight change vs. index changes; ΔHbA1c vs. index changes in the diabetic subgroup). Multivariable linear regression (enter method) identified independent predictors of ΔFIB-4, ΔAPRI, ΔHSI, and ΔTyG, adjusting for baseline index value, weight change, follow-up duration, baseline HbA1c, sex, and age.

Agent choice (semaglutide vs. tirzepatide) and dose titration were at the discretion of the treating physician; patients receiving either agent were analyzed together as a drug class, without dose-based stratification, since the study's aim was to characterize the class-level early index response rather than compare individual agents.

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.
Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

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.
154

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
      • Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)
        • Facility: Istanbul Medeniyet University, Göztepe Prof. Dr. Süleyman Yalçın City Hospital

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

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Adults with overweight or obesity at increased metabolic risk for MASLD, treated with subcutaneous semaglutide or tirzepatide for at least 12 weeks at a single tertiary-care internal medicine clinic in Turkey; both medications were self-funded (out-of-pocket), as they are not covered by the national health insurance system.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adults aged 18 years or older
  • Overweight (BMI 25.0-29.9 kg/m²) or obesity (BMI ≥30.0 kg/m²)
  • Considered at increased metabolic risk for MASLD (overweight/obesity plus ≥1 additional cardiometabolic risk factor)
  • Continuous treatment with subcutaneous semaglutide or tirzepatide for at least 12 weeks

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Significant alcohol consumption (>30 g/day for men; >20 g/day for women)
  • Chronic liver disease of other etiology (viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, hemochromatosis, Wilson's disease)
  • Prior bariatric surgery
  • Initiation or dose modification of pioglitazone, SGLT-2 inhibitors, or high-dose vitamin E within 3 months before baseline
  • Concurrent use of known hepatotoxic agents (e.g., amiodarone, methotrexate)
  • Missing clinical, anthropometric, or laboratory data at baseline or follow-up

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

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
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.
Semaglutide
Adults with overweight or obesity at increased metabolic risk for MASLD who received continuous once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide for at least 12 weeks (n=81). Dose titration was at the treating physician's discretion.
Drug: Semaglutide
Once-weekly subcutaneous GLP-1 receptor agonist administered for at least 12 weeks; dose individualized and titrated at the treating physician's discretion according to routine clinical practice and patient tolerability.
Other Names:
  • Ozempic; Wegovy
Tirzepatide
Adults with overweight or obesity at increased metabolic risk for MASLD who received continuous once-weekly subcutaneous tirzepatide for at least 12 weeks (n=73). Dose titration was at the treating physician's discretion.
Drug: Tirzepatide
Once-weekly subcutaneous dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist administered for at least 12 weeks; dose individualized and titrated at the treating physician's discretion according to routine clinical practice and patient tolerability.
Other Names:
  • Mounjaro; Zepbound

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
Change in Fibrosis-4 Index (FIB-4)
Time Frame: Baseline and follow-up (median 23.7 weeks; minimum 12 weeks)
FIB-4 = (Age × AST) / (Platelet count × √ALT), calculated at baseline and after ≥12 weeks of therapy.
Baseline and follow-up (median 23.7 weeks; minimum 12 weeks)
Change in AST-to-Platelet Ratio Index (APRI)
Time Frame: Baseline and follow-up (median 23.7 weeks; minimum 12 weeks)
APRI = (AST / 40 U/L ULN) / Platelet count × 100, calculated at baseline and after ≥12 weeks of therapy.
Baseline and follow-up (median 23.7 weeks; minimum 12 weeks)
Change in Hepatic Steatosis Index (HSI)
Time Frame: Baseline and follow-up (median 23.7 weeks; minimum 12 weeks)
HSI = 8 × (ALT/AST) + BMI + 2 (if type 2 diabetes) + 2 (if female), calculated at baseline and after ≥12 weeks of therapy.
Baseline and follow-up (median 23.7 weeks; minimum 12 weeks)
Change in Triglyceride-Glucose (TyG) Index
Time Frame: Baseline and follow-up (median 23.7 weeks; minimum 12 weeks)
yG = ln[fasting triglycerides (mg/dL) × fasting plasma glucose (mg/dL) / 2], calculated at baseline and after ≥12 weeks of therapy.
Baseline and follow-up (median 23.7 weeks; minimum 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
Change in Liver Enzymes
Time Frame: Baseline and follow-up (median 23.7 weeks)
AST, ALT, and GGT levels (U/L).
Baseline and follow-up (median 23.7 weeks)
Change in Lipid Profile
Time Frame: Baseline and follow-up (median 23.7 weeks)
Total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, and triglycerides (mg/dL)
Baseline and follow-up (median 23.7 weeks)
Change in Fasting Plasma Glucose
Time Frame: Baseline and follow-up (median 23.7 weeks)
Fasting plasma glucose (mg/dL)
Baseline and follow-up (median 23.7 weeks)
Change in Body Weight
Time Frame: Baseline and follow-up (median 23.7 weeks)
Body weight (kilograms).
Baseline and follow-up (median 23.7 weeks)
Change in Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c)
Time Frame: Baseline and follow-up (median 23.7 weeks)
HbA1c (percentage of total hemoglobin, %).
Baseline and follow-up (median 23.7 weeks)
Change in Body Mass Index (BMI)
Time Frame: Baseline and follow-up (median 23.7 weeks)
BMI (kg/m^2), calculated from body weight and height.
Baseline and follow-up (median 23.7 weeks)
Change in Waist-to-Height Ratio
Time Frame: Baseline and follow-up (median 23.7 weeks)
Waist-to-height ratio (unitless ratio: waist circumference [cm] / height [cm]).
Baseline and follow-up (median 23.7 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.
Goztepe Prof Dr Suleyman Yalcın City Hospital

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Ozgur Bahadir, MD, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology
  • Study Director: Ayse N Erbakan, MD,PhD, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine

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.
January 1, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

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.
March 30, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

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.
April 15, 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).
July 7, 2026

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.
July 7, 2026

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.
July 14, 2026

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.
July 15, 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.
July 13, 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.
July 1, 2026

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.
  • GLP-NIT

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Data available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

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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