As per the findings of a systematic review and meta-analysis, Obeticholic acid appears to be a viable therapeutic candidate to manage non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The goal of the researchers was to examine the effectiveness and safety of Obeticholic acid in individuals with NASH/NAFLD.

Databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, and Cochrane CENTRAL were explored to find out randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examined the impact of Obeticholic acid on liver enzymes, lipoproteins, and liver histology in NASH/NAFLD patients. For quantitative analysis, 4 pertinent RCTs were included. In the Obeticholic acid treatment group, substantial betterment in fibrosis [Risk ratio (RR): 1.85], lobular inflammation [RR: 1.23], hepatocellular ballooning [RR: 1.39], and steatosis [RR: 1.25] was seen in terms of liver histology.

Obeticholic acid significantly reduced the levels of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Hence, the use of Obeticholic acid appears to be valuable for the management of NASH/NAFLD.