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Acta Diabetologica
Published in: Acta Diabetologica 4/2015

01-08-2015 | Original Article

Short-term effects of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists on fat distribution in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: an ultrasonography study

Authors: Susanna Morano, Elisabetta Romagnoli, Tiziana Filardi, Luciano Nieddu, Elisabetta Mandosi, Mara Fallarino, Irene Turinese, Mariangela Pia Dagostino, Andrea Lenzi, Vincenzo Carnevale

Published in: Acta Diabetologica | Issue 4/2015

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Abstract

Aims

Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) induce weight loss and reduction in adipose tissue, but the effects of GLP-1 RA on the distribution of fat deposits have been poorly investigated.

Methods

In 25 patients with type 2 diabetes (16 females and 9 males, mean age 63.5 ± 8.8 years), treated with GLP-1 RA (exenatide, n. 12; liraglutide, n.13), both before and 3 months after starting treatment, an abdominal ultrasonographic scan, with Doppler of renal arteries, and echocardiography were performed. Subcutaneous fat width (peri-umbilical and sub-xiphoid), deep fat deposits (pre-aortic, peri-renal, and epicardial), and renal resistive index (RI) were evaluated.

Results

GLP-1 RA induced highly significant (p < 0.001) decrease in BMI and in fat thickness at all the assessed sites, without differences between exenatide and liraglutide treatment. A slight decrease in RI (p = 0.055) was also found. The percent changes of fat thickness was different between sites (p < 0.025), and the changes in subcutaneous deposits showed no significant correlation (p = 0.064) with those of deep fat deposits.

Conclusions

A short course of treatment with GLP-1 RA, besides weight loss, induces a redistribution of adipose tissue deposits, possibly contributing to a better cardiovascular risk profile in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
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Metadata
Title
Short-term effects of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists on fat distribution in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: an ultrasonography study
Authors
Susanna Morano
Elisabetta Romagnoli
Tiziana Filardi
Luciano Nieddu
Elisabetta Mandosi
Mara Fallarino
Irene Turinese
Mariangela Pia Dagostino
Andrea Lenzi
Vincenzo Carnevale
Publication date
01-08-2015
Publisher
Springer Milan
Published in
Acta Diabetologica / Issue 4/2015
Print ISSN: 0940-5429
Electronic ISSN: 1432-5233
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00592-014-0710-z

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