A recent study shows the benefit of treating overweight patients with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists, liraglutide and exenatide specifically, regardless of whether or not they have Type-2 diabetes. These drugs mimic a gut hormone which suppresses appetite. The systemic review (literature review) and meta-analysis (interrogation of previously published relevant clinical data) was carried out in Denmark at the University of Copenhagen. It was observed that the participants given the medications with the active ingredients at a clinical relevant dosage had lowered blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
GLP-1R is already in use as a treatment for Type-2 diabetes and this is injected in order to regulate blood sugar levels. The authors searched major medical databases for all studies involving GLP-1R agonists and looked at 25 previous studies involving 6,411 overweight or obese patients who were given GLP-1R agonists (either liraglutide or exenatide) over a period of at least 20 weeks. Some of the patients had diabetes.
The authors state that their study highlights the potential for GLP-1 clinical usage when administered to those with or without diabetes. Positive effects on cholesterol levels and blood pressure readings were also noted as well as a drop in weight. Those in the control groups had been given a placebo or treatment for diabetes such as insulin. Weight loss was noted in both patients with and without diabetes but was more dramatic for those who did not suffer from this illness.
Researchers are looking at the possibility of prescribing the treatment to patients who are overweight and who do not have diabetes but it will take an estimated 2 to 3 years to discover whether or not this is safe. The study’s authors suggest that using this medication is likely to cause nausea and with taking the drug comes the risk of damaging the thyroid and the pancreas. However, the results are still promising and investigation is on-going.
Liraglutide (Victoza) has a head start on the other GLP-1R antagonists having produced significant results including substantial weight loss in previous studies. We believe that Liraglutide is currently undergoing human trials as a weight loss treatment although it is not expected to be available to prescribe any time soon.