Original Article

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

Ping FENG, De-min YU, Li-ming CHEN, Bao-cheng CHANG, Qiu-di JI, Shu-ying LI, Mei ZHU, Sheng-hua DING, Baozhen ZHANG, Su-li WANG, Hong-tao LI, Jing-na LIN, Mao-jun WANG, Jian-chao GUO, Jie LIU, Zhong-dong LIU, Shentao WU, Ju-hong YANG, Clinical Cooperation Group of Liraglutid in Chinese Type 2 Diabetes
DOI: 10.1038/aps.2014.136

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.
Keywords: liraglutide; diabetes; Chinese type 2 diabetic patients; obesity; body weight; waist circumference; creatinine; HbA1c; C peptide; glucagon

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