Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 19, 2025

Incorporation of a Survivable Liver Biopsy Procedure in Mice to Assess Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis NASH Resolution
04:14

Incorporation of a Survivable Liver Biopsy Procedure in Mice to Assess Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis NASH Resolution

Published on: April 16, 2019

12.1K

Association of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists With Liver-Related Outcomes and All-Cause Mortality in

Binu V John1,2, Dustin Bastaich3, Daniella Marchetti4

  • 1Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Miami VA Health System, Miami, Florida, USA.

The American Journal of Gastroenterology
|June 9, 2025
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) show promise in reducing liver issues and death in patients with alcohol use disorders. GLP-1 RA use was linked to better liver outcomes and lower mortality rates.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Hepatology
  • Addiction Medicine

Background:

  • Anecdotal evidence suggests glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) may decrease alcohol craving.
  • GLP-1 RAs are increasingly prescribed for metabolic conditions, leading to broader patient populations.
  • Harmful alcohol use poses significant risks for liver disease and mortality.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of GLP-1 RAs on liver-related outcomes and mortality in individuals with harmful alcohol use.
  • To investigate the association between GLP-1 RA initiation and key adverse health events in this population.

Main Methods:

  • A target trial emulation study using electronic health records of US Veterans with positive AUDIT-C scores.
  • Propensity score matching (1:1) to compare new GLP-1 RA initiators with non-initiators.
  • Primary outcomes included decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver-related death, and all-cause mortality.

Main Results:

  • GLP-1 RA use was associated with a significantly lower risk of composite liver-related outcomes (aHR=0.70) and death (aHR=0.43).
  • Increased semaglutide dosage correlated with further risk reduction for liver outcomes and death.
  • GLP-1 RA users showed reduced odds of positive AUDIT-C scores during follow-up (aOR=0.75).

Conclusions:

  • GLP-1 RA use is associated with improved liver outcomes and reduced mortality in patients with harmful alcohol use.
  • Findings support the potential therapeutic role of GLP-1 RAs beyond metabolic control.
  • Further research into GLP-1 RAs for alcohol use disorder management is warranted.
Keywords:
AUDIT-Calcohol use disorderalcohol-associated liver diseasesemaglutide

More Related Videos

Assessment of Glutamine as a Fuel Source for Alveolar Macrophages Exposed to Chronic Ethanol Using an Extracellular Flux Bioanalyzer08:37

Assessment of Glutamine as a Fuel Source for Alveolar Macrophages Exposed to Chronic Ethanol Using an Extracellular Flux Bioanalyzer

Published on: November 15, 2024

401
Human Liver Microphysiological System for Assessing Drug-Induced Liver Toxicity In Vitro11:06

Human Liver Microphysiological System for Assessing Drug-Induced Liver Toxicity In Vitro

Published on: January 31, 2022

4.8K

Related Concept Videos

Glucagon-like Receptor Agonists01:24

Glucagon-like Receptor Agonists

Incretins include glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), which stimulate insulin secretion post-meals. In type 2 diabetes, GIP's efficacy is reduced, making GLP-1 a viable drug target. GIP originates from preproGIP.
GLP-1, when administered in high doses intravenously, triggers insulin secretion, inhibits glucagon release, slows gastric emptying, reduces food intake, and restores normal insulin secretion. However, its rapid inactivation by...
438
Hypoglycemia and Glucagon01:15

Hypoglycemia and Glucagon

Without prolonged fasting, healthy individuals maintain blood glucose levels above 3.5 mM due to a well-adapted neuroendocrine counterregulatory system that effectively prevents acute hypoglycemia, a potentially life-threatening condition. The primary clinical scenarios for hypoglycemia encompass diabetes treatment, inappropriate production of endogenous insulin or insulin-like substances by tumors, and the use of glucose-lowering agents in non-diabetic individuals. Notably, hypoglycemia in the...
353
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: α-Glucosidase Inhibitors01:19

Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: α-Glucosidase Inhibitors

α-glucosidase inhibitors, including acarbose (Precose), miglitol (Glyset), and voglibose (Voglib) (primarily available in Asia), are drugs that control blood sugar levels by delaying the digestion of starch and disaccharides. They achieve this by inhibiting α-glucosidase enzymes in the intestine, which slow the absorption of carbohydrates in the intestine, which in turn leads to a prolonged release of the glucoregulatory hormone GLP-1 from intestinal L-cells.
Acarbose and miglitol are...
278
Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors01:23

Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors

Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) is a serine protease widely distributed in the body. It's involved in the inactivation of GLP-1 and GIP hormones, which are crucial for insulin regulation. DPP-4 inhibitors, such as sitagliptin (Januvia), saxagliptin (Onglyza), linagliptin (Tradjenta), alogliptin (Nesina), and vildagliptin (Galvus), help increase the proportion of active GLP-1, enhancing insulin secretion. These inhibitors work by competitively binding to DPP-4. This binding causes a...
271