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Updated: Jan 29, 2026
Determining Basal Energy Expenditure and the Capacity of Thermogenic Adipocytes to Expend Energy in Obese Mice
Published on: November 11, 2021
Intranasal glucagon acutely increases energy expenditure without inducing hyperglycaemia in overweight/obese adults
Priska Stahel1, So Jeong Lee1, Shawn K Sud1
1Departments of Medicine and Physiology, Banting and Best Diabetes Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Aim:
To assess the acute effects of 0.7 mg intranasal glucagon (ING) vs intranasal placebo (INP) on food intake and resting energy expenditure (REE).
Methods:
A single-blind, crossover study was conducted in 19 overweight/obese adults (15 men, 4 women). REE was assessed by indirect calorimetry over 90 minutes, after which appetite was assessed using a visual analogue scale, and ad libitum caloric intake was assessed. Plasma samples were obtained at baseline and at 15-minute intervals post-treatment up to 90 minutes.
Results:
ING increased total REE (INP 61.5 ± 1.2 kcal vs ING 69.4 ± 1.2 kcal; P = 0.027). There were no between-treatment differences in blood glucose, food intake and appetite. There were no adverse effects.
Conclusion:
ING acutely increases REE without increasing plasma glucose. Longer term studies with multiple daily dosing will establish whether this affects body weight.
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