Research

Energy balance

SGLT2 inhibition induces a fasting-like metabolic state characterized by increased fatty acid oxidation, ketogenesis, and reduced hepatic steatosis independently of FGF21.

SGLT2 inhibitors shift the body's fuel source to fat and ketones, mimicking a fasting state. This metabolic switch occurs even if the hormonal pathway for fat loss (FGF21) is blocked.

GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Taken together, these data demonstrate that SGLT2 inhibition triggers a fasting-like transcriptional and metabolic paradigm but requires FGF21 for reduction in adiposity.
Soravis Osataphan et al. · JCI Insight · 2019

Why this rating

Consistent findings across transcriptomic, metabolomic, and knockout mouse studies.

Source

SGLT2 inhibition reprograms systemic metabolism via FGF21-dependent and -independent mechanisms

Soravis Osataphan et al. · JCI Insight · 2019

DOI 10.1172/jci.insight.123130

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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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