Liraglutide reduces the body weight and waist circumference in Chinese overweight and obese type 2 diabetic patients

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the effects of liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor activator, on body weight and waist circumference in Chinese overweight and obese type 2 diabetic patients. Methods: A total of 328 Chinese overweight and obese type 2 diabetic patients were included in this multi-center, open-labeled and self-controlled clinical study. The patients were subcutaneously injected with liraglutide once daily for 24 weeks as add-on therapy to their previous hypoglycemic treatments. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software package version 11.5 for Windows. Results: Liraglutide treatment caused significant reduction of the mean body weight (from 86.61±14.09 to 79.10±13.55 kg) and waist circumference (from 101.81±13.96 to 94.29±14.17 cm), resulting in body weight lose of 5%-10% in 43.67% patients, and body weight loss above 10% in 34.06% patients, who had significant lower plasma creatinine levels. Baseline waist circumference, BMI and HOMA-IR were independently correlated with the body weight loss. Furthermore, liraglutide treatment significantly decreased HbA1c levels (from 8.66%±2.17% to 6.92%±0.95%) with HbA1c<7.0% in 35.37% patients, who had a significantly lower baseline level of HbA1c, but higher baseline levels of C peptide and glucagon. Moreover, liraglutide treatment resulted in greater body weight loss in patients with a long duration of diabetes, and better glycemic control in patients with a short duration of diabetes. Conclusion: Liraglutide significantly reduces body weight and waist circumference in Chinese overweight and obese type 2 diabetic patients. Patients with apparent visceral obesity, insulin resistance and a long duration of diabetes may have greater body weight loss; whereas patients with high insulin-secreting ability, hyperglucagonemia, and short-duration diabetes may obtain better glycemic control with liraglutide.

Long-Term Effectiveness of Liraglutide for Weight Management and Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes

“…Both baseline BMI and female gender were the main determinants of the decrease in body weight, which occurred independently from other clinical or biochemical features or Liraglutide dosage (1.2 or 1.8 mg). These findings are partially in line with those reported in a Chinese population [24], in which patients with higher baseline BMI values showed greater body weight reduction after 24 weeks of Liraglutide treatment, and in a Northern East Italian cohort [25], where weight loss was related with baseline body weight. Also, the results of this study are in agreement with earlier investigations by our group, which showed the impact of female gender on the glycemic effectiveness of Liraglutide [26].…”

Beneficial Effects of Incretin-Based Therapy on Glycemic Control, Adipokines, Insulin Sensitivity Parameters and Weight Loss in Overweight or Obese Patients With Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Study

“…The effect of GLP-1 administration on HOMA has been previously studied [14,15]. In our study, all the three kinds of treatment showed statistically significantly lower insulin resistance and higher insulin secretion compared with baseline.…”

Glucagon-like peptide-1 mimetics, optimal for Asian type 2 diabetes patients with and without overweight/obesity: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

“…As increased BMI impairs GLP-1 secretion and aggravates insulin resistance, the supraphysiological infusions of GLP-1 may act as a positive feedback signal in obese patients to improve insulin sensitivity and reduce chronic obesity. Although the underlying mechanism is only partly understood, several previous studies on liraglutide intervention reported that patients with higher BMI achieved greater body weight loss, suggesting that GLP-1RAs guarantee stable weight maintenance on lean patients 41 , 44 , 45 .…”