Effects of Sitagliptin on Lipid Profiles in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials

Sitagliptin has been reported to improve lipid profiles, but findings from these studies are conflicting. We conducted this meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of sitagliptin on serum lipids in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We made a comprehensive literature search in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and VIP database until June 2015. Eligible studies were randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that investigated the effect of sitagliptin on serum triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Eleven RCTs with 2338 patients were identified. Compared with controls, sitagliptin alone or in combination significantly improved serum TG (weighted mean difference [WMD] −0.24 mmol/L; 95% confidence interval [CI] −0.40 to −0.09; P = 0.002) and HDL-C (WMD 0.05 mmol/L; 95% CI 0.02–0.07; P < 0.001).However, no statistical significances were observed in LDL-C (WMD −0.07 mmol/L; 95% CI −0.22 to 0.08; P = 0.337) and TC (WMD −0.14; 95% CI −0.33 to 0.06; P = 0.177). Subgroup analyses revealed that sitagliptin alone achieved greater improvement in serum TG, TC, and HDL-C levels. These findings suggested that sitagliptin alone or in combination significantly improved serum TG and HDL-C levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.