Effect of liraglutide on lipids in patients with type 2 diabetes: a pilot study

Endocr J. 2020 Sep 28;67(9):957-962. doi: 10.1507/endocrj.EJ19-0464. Epub 2020 Jun 16.

Abstract

The mechanism for the cholesterol-lowering effect of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) remains unknown in patients with type 2 diabetes. We evaluated the effect of liraglutide on serum lipid profiles, including cholesterol synthesis and absorption markers, during daily clinical practice in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes. We enrolled 38 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were not treated with a GLP-1 RA (≥20 years of age, HbA1c ≥6.5%). Liraglutide, a GLP-1 RA, was administered subcutaneously once a day for three months to these patients. Blood samples and body weights were collected at 0, 1, and 3 months. Total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) at 1 month, and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) and calculated TC at 1 and 3 months, were decreased, while the cholesterol synthesis and cholesterol absorption markers were unchanged by this treatment. In patients with LDL-C levels over 100 mg/dL, LDL-C, non-HDL-C, TC, and calculated TC levels were decreased significantly by the treatment at 1 and 3 months, and the cholesterol absorption marker, campesterol, was decreased at 3 months. The administration of liraglutide for 3 months decreased non-HDL-C and calculated TC significantly, while the cholesterol synthesis and absorption markers were not changed by this treatment.

Keywords: Cholesterol; Liraglutide; Type 2 diabetes.

MeSH terms

  • Blood Glucose
  • Cholesterol, HDL / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / drug therapy*
  • Female
  • Glycated Hemoglobin
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Lipids / blood*
  • Liraglutide / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pilot Projects
  • Triglycerides / blood

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Glycated Hemoglobin A
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Lipids
  • Triglycerides
  • Liraglutide