29-OR: Comparison of Empagliflozin and Sitagliptin on Ectopic Fat Accumulation and Tissue-Specific Insulin Sensitivity

Background: Ectopic fat accumulation is the major pathogenesis of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and cardiovascular diseases. To date, no prospective study compared the effects of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors on ectopic fat accumulation and tissue-specific insulin sensitivity. Methods: This is the prospective, randomized, open-label, and blind-endpoint study in 44 Japanese patients with T2DM. Patients (HbA1c: 7.2±0.9%, known duration: 3.9±4.0 years, BMI: 29.1±4.8 kg/m2) were randomized to empagliflozin (Empa) add-on group or sitagliptin (Sita) add-on group, and treated for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was the change of pericardial fat content estimated by magnetic resonance imaging. The secondary endpoints were the changes in the amount of intrahepatic, intra- and extra-myocellular lipid content estimated by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and tissue-specific insulin sensitivity assessed by hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp tests using stable isotope. Results: There was no difference in pericardial fat content between the groups. Interestingly, intrahepatic lipid content (IHL) was reduced significantly from baseline in Empa group compared to Sita (-23.0±26.3 vs. -3.9±19.8%, respectively, p