A preprint study looked at how adding dapagliflozin affects heart tissue in people with heart failure. The research involved 60 patients who had left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. These patients were already receiving standard medical therapy. Some received an extra 10 mg of dapagliflozin once daily, while others continued with standard care only. The main goal was to see changes in epicardial adipose tissue volume, which is fat surrounding the heart.
At the start of the study, the group taking dapagliflozin had significantly higher levels of this heart fat compared to the standard care group. Over the follow-up period, the group taking the medication saw a significant reduction in fat volume. The standard care group showed no significant change. The difference between the two groups at the end of the study was not statistically significant, but the medication group did show a clear drop in fat.
No safety issues were reported in this small study. However, the researchers note that the study was not randomized. This means the results are considered an association rather than proof of cause and effect. The findings warrant confirmation in larger, randomized trials before they change medical practice.
