Type 2 diabetics and insulin resistant individuals have an excess of fat in the liver which is not attributable to alcohol or other known causes of liver disease, a condition defined as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The fatty liver is insulin resistant. Individuals with a fatty liver are more likely to have excess intra-abdominal fat as well as a reduction in circulating plasma adiponectin levels. We have previously shown that type 2 diabetes and its associated Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is characterized by increased hepatic fat content, decreased circulating adiponectin levels, and hepatic and peripheral (muscle) insulin resistance. Weight loss in humans with Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease is associated with a decrease in hepatic fat content. Exenatide, an incretin based anti-diabetes therapy, enhances glucose-dependent insulin secretion and glucose-dependent suppression of inappropriately high glucagon secretion, improves glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes and is associated with weight loss. In rodent studies, exenatide reduces hepatic and myocardial fat and reduces vascular inflammation independent of changes in weight. Exenatide has also been shown to increase plasma adiponectin levels in humans and rodents. Furthermore type 2 diabetics are characterized by an increase in both hepatic and myocardial fat and left ventricular dysfunction, particularly diastolic dysfunction. However, the effect of exenatide therapy on liver and myocardial fat content, as well as left ventricular function in patients with type 2 diabetes has not been previously studied.
The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of exenatide on liver and heart (myocardial) fat and inflammation.