Subgroup analysis based on whether or not NAFLD was merged with T2DM showed that SGLT-2 inhibitors significantly reduced SAT in patients with NAFLD in T2DM (SMD = − 2.05; 95% CI [− 3.92, − 0.17]; I2 = 96%; p = 0.03) compared with that in patients without NAFLD in T2DM (SMD = − 0.65; 95% CI [− 1.27, − 0.03]; I2 = 81%; p = 0.04; Fig. 6D). Here, SLC5A2 is linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus.