Liraglutide changes body composition and lowers added sugar intake in overweight persons with insulin pump-treated type 1 diabetes.

Abstract

AIMS\nA large proportion of persons with type 1 diabetes needs a therapeutic strategy that addresses glucose as well as weight management. Liraglutide as add-on to insulin therapy meets this criterion.\n\n\nMATERIALS AND METHODS\nA 26-week randomized placebo-controlled study investigated the efficacy and safety of liraglutide 1.8 mg daily in 44 overweight adults with insulin pump-treated type 1 diabetes and glucose levels above target and demonstrated significant HbA1c- and body weight-reducing effects. For secondary outcome analysis dual X-ray absorptiometry scans were completed at Week 0 and 26, and questionnaire-based food frequency recordings were obtained at Week 0, 13 and 26 to characterize liraglutide-induced changes in body composition and food intake.\n\n\nRESULTS\nTotal fat and lean body mass decreased in liraglutide treated participants (fat mass -4.6 kg (95%CI -5.7;-3.5), p<0.001; lean mass -2.5 kg (-3.2;-1.7), p<0.001) but remained stable in placebo treated (fat mass -0.3 kg (-1.3;0.8), p=0.604; lean mass 0.0 kg (-0.7;0.7), p=0.965), (between-group p-values <0.001). Participants reduced their energy intake numerically more in the liraglutide arm (-1.1 MJ (-2.0;-0.02), p=0.02) than in the placebo arm (-0.9 MJ (-2.0;0.1), p=0.22), but the between-group difference was statistically insignificant (p=0.42). However, energy derived from added sugars decreased by 27% in the liraglutide arm compared with an increase of 14% in the placebo arm (p=0.004).\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nLiraglutide lowered fat and lean body mass compared with placebo. Further, liraglutide reduced intake of added sugars. However, no significant difference in total daily energy intake was detected between liraglutide and placebo treated participants. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.