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Liraglutide causes large and rapid epicardial fat reduction
Gianluca Iacobellis1, Mahshid Mohseni1, Suzy D Bianco1
1Department of Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA.
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)
|January 27, 2017
Summary
Liraglutide significantly reduced epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) in type 2 diabetes patients. This finding suggests liraglutide
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic Syndrome
Background:
- Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a modifiable cardiovascular risk factor.
- Liraglutide, a GLP-1 analog, treats type 2 diabetes and reduces cardiovascular risk.
- The effect of liraglutide on EAT is currently unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of liraglutide on EAT in patients with type 2 diabetes.
- To determine if liraglutide can reduce EAT volume and thickness.
Main Methods:
- A 6-month randomized, open-label, controlled study.
- 95 type 2 diabetic subjects with BMI ≥27 kg/m² and HbA1c ≤8% on metformin.
- Groups received either additional liraglutide or continued metformin; EAT thickness measured by ultrasound.
Main Results:
- Liraglutide significantly reduced EAT thickness by -29% at 3 months and -36% at 6 months (P<0.001).
- No significant EAT reduction was observed in the metformin-only group.
- Improvements in BMI and HbA1c were noted only in the liraglutide group after 6 months.
Conclusions:
- Liraglutide administration leads to substantial and rapid reduction in epicardial adipose tissue.
- The cardiometabolic benefits of liraglutide may be mediated through EAT reduction.
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