Short-term treatment with high dose liraglutide improves lipid and lipoprotein profile and changes hormonal mediators of lipid metabolism in obese patients with no overt type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over, double-blind clinical trial.

Peradze N, Farr OM, Perakakis N, Lázaro I, Sala-Vila A, Mantzoros CS

Cardiovascular diabetology31 Oct 2019Cited by 44 (Europe PMC)

PMID31672146PMCIDPMC6823961DOI10.1186/s12933-019-0945-7PepBankPUB-31672146

Summary

ObjectiveLong-term treatment with up to 1.8 mg liraglutide improves cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes at high risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and is currently under investigation in subjects without diabetes. Aim of our study was to investigate whether high dose (3 mg) short-term (5 weeks) treatment with liraglutide in obese patients with no overt type 2 diabetes affects metabolites, lipid and lipoprotein profile and components of activin-follistatin axis in cardiovascular beneficial or detrimental way.Research design and methodsTwenty obese patients participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over, double-blind study and were administrated liraglutide 3 mg or placebo for 5 weeks. Metabolites, fatty acids, lipid-lipoprotein profile and concentrations of activins and follistatins (250 parameters) were assessed in serum at start and completion of each treatment.ResultsConcentrations of important cardiovascular markers such as total, free and remnant cholesterol were reduced with liraglutide before and after adjusting for weight loss. Similarly, reductions in number of small and medium size LDL particles and in their total lipid concentration were observed with liraglutide and partially weight-loss related. Tyrosine levels were reduced and behenic acid levels were increased whereas only minor changes were observed in HDL, VLDL and IDL. Concentrations of activin AB and follistatin were significantly reduced in liraglutide-treated group.ConclusionsTreatment of obese patients without overt type 2 diabetes with high dose of liraglutide for a short period of time induces changes in lipid-lipoprotein and hormonal profile that are suggestive of lower risk of atherosclerosis and CVD. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02944500. Study ID Number 2015P000327. Registered November 2016.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study10

10 results from studies that gave the peptide. 10 results from people.

01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In obese adults without overt type 2 diabetes, 5 weeks of liraglutide 3 mg reduced total cholesterol, before and after adjusting for weight loss.
In plain wordsIn obese adults without diabetes, 5 weeks of liraglutide lowered total cholesterol, also after allowing for weight loss.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
DecreaseTotal cholesterol
Study
n = 20
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Lipids · Cardiovascular
Studied dose
3 mg · 5 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Concentrations of important cardiovascular markers such as total, free and remnant cholesterol were reduced with liraglutide before and after adjusting for weight loss.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Twenty obese patients participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over, double-blind study and were administrated liraglutide 3 mg or placebo for 5 weeks.
Summary · context
Metabolites, fatty acids, lipid-lipoprotein profile and concentrations of activins and follistatins (250 parameters) were assessed in serum at start and completion of each treatment.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3167214601
02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In obese adults without overt type 2 diabetes, 5 weeks of liraglutide 3 mg reduced free cholesterol, before and after adjusting for weight loss.
In plain wordsIn obese adults without diabetes, 5 weeks of liraglutide lowered free cholesterol, also after allowing for weight loss.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
DecreaseFree cholesterol
Study
n = 20
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Lipids · Cardiovascular
Studied dose
3 mg · 5 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Concentrations of important cardiovascular markers such as total, free and remnant cholesterol were reduced with liraglutide before and after adjusting for weight loss.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Twenty obese patients participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over, double-blind study and were administrated liraglutide 3 mg or placebo for 5 weeks.
Summary · context
Metabolites, fatty acids, lipid-lipoprotein profile and concentrations of activins and follistatins (250 parameters) were assessed in serum at start and completion of each treatment.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3167214602
03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In obese adults without overt type 2 diabetes, 5 weeks of liraglutide 3 mg reduced remnant cholesterol, before and after adjusting for weight loss.
In plain wordsIn obese adults without diabetes, 5 weeks of liraglutide lowered remnant cholesterol, also after allowing for weight loss.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
DecreaseRemnant cholesterol
Study
n = 20
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Lipids · Cardiovascular
Studied dose
3 mg · 5 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Concentrations of important cardiovascular markers such as total, free and remnant cholesterol were reduced with liraglutide before and after adjusting for weight loss.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Twenty obese patients participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over, double-blind study and were administrated liraglutide 3 mg or placebo for 5 weeks.
Summary · context
Metabolites, fatty acids, lipid-lipoprotein profile and concentrations of activins and follistatins (250 parameters) were assessed in serum at start and completion of each treatment.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3167214603
04HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In obese adults without overt type 2 diabetes, liraglutide reduced the number of small and medium size LDL particles; the reduction was partially weight-loss related.
In plain wordsIn obese adults without diabetes, liraglutide lowered the number of small and medium LDL particles, partly through weight loss.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
DecreaseSmall and medium LDL particle number
Study
n = 20
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Lipids · Cardiovascular
Studied dose
3 mg · 5 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Similarly, reductions in number of small and medium size LDL particles
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Twenty obese patients participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over, double-blind study and were administrated liraglutide 3 mg or placebo for 5 weeks.
Summary · context
Metabolites, fatty acids, lipid-lipoprotein profile and concentrations of activins and follistatins (250 parameters) were assessed in serum at start and completion of each treatment.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3167214604
05HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In obese adults without overt type 2 diabetes, liraglutide reduced the total lipid concentration of small and medium LDL particles; the reduction was partially weight-loss related.
In plain wordsIn obese adults without diabetes, liraglutide lowered the lipid content of small and medium LDL particles, partly through weight loss.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
DecreaseTotal lipid concentration of small and medium LDL particles
Study
n = 20
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Lipids · Cardiovascular
Studied dose
3 mg · 5 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Similarly, reductions in number of small and medium size LDL particles and in their total lipid concentration were observed with liraglutide and partially weight-loss related.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Twenty obese patients participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over, double-blind study and were administrated liraglutide 3 mg or placebo for 5 weeks.
Summary · context
Metabolites, fatty acids, lipid-lipoprotein profile and concentrations of activins and follistatins (250 parameters) were assessed in serum at start and completion of each treatment.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3167214605
06HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In obese adults without overt type 2 diabetes, liraglutide reduced tyrosine levels.
In plain wordsIn obese adults without diabetes, liraglutide lowered blood tyrosine, an amino acid.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
DecreaseTyrosine level
Study
n = 20
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Metabolic pathways and metabolomics · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
3 mg · 5 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Tyrosine levels were reduced
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Twenty obese patients participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over, double-blind study and were administrated liraglutide 3 mg or placebo for 5 weeks.
Summary · context
Metabolites, fatty acids, lipid-lipoprotein profile and concentrations of activins and follistatins (250 parameters) were assessed in serum at start and completion of each treatment.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3167214606
07HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In obese adults without overt type 2 diabetes, liraglutide increased behenic acid levels.
In plain wordsIn obese adults without diabetes, liraglutide raised blood levels of behenic acid, a fatty acid.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
IncreaseBehenic acid level
Study
n = 20
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Metabolic pathways and metabolomics · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
3 mg · 5 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
behenic acid levels were increased
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Twenty obese patients participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over, double-blind study and were administrated liraglutide 3 mg or placebo for 5 weeks.
Summary · context
Metabolites, fatty acids, lipid-lipoprotein profile and concentrations of activins and follistatins (250 parameters) were assessed in serum at start and completion of each treatment.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3167214607
08HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In obese adults without overt type 2 diabetes, only minor changes were observed in HDL, VLDL and IDL with liraglutide.
In plain wordsIn obese adults without diabetes, liraglutide caused only small changes in HDL, VLDL and IDL fats.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
No significant changeHDL, VLDL and IDL lipoproteins
Study
n = 20
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Lipids · Cardiovascular
Studied dose
3 mg · 5 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
only minor changes were observed in HDL, VLDL and IDL
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Twenty obese patients participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over, double-blind study and were administrated liraglutide 3 mg or placebo for 5 weeks.
Summary · context
Metabolites, fatty acids, lipid-lipoprotein profile and concentrations of activins and follistatins (250 parameters) were assessed in serum at start and completion of each treatment.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3167214608
09HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In obese adults without overt type 2 diabetes, activin AB concentrations were significantly lower in the liraglutide-treated group.
In plain wordsIn obese adults without diabetes, liraglutide lowered activin AB, a hormone-like protein.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
DecreaseActivin AB concentration
Study
n = 20
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Hormone levels · Endocrine and hormones
Studied dose
3 mg · 5 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Concentrations of activin AB and follistatin were significantly reduced in liraglutide-treated group.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Twenty obese patients participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over, double-blind study and were administrated liraglutide 3 mg or placebo for 5 weeks.
Summary · context
Metabolites, fatty acids, lipid-lipoprotein profile and concentrations of activins and follistatins (250 parameters) were assessed in serum at start and completion of each treatment.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3167214609
10HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In obese adults without overt type 2 diabetes, follistatin concentrations were significantly lower in the liraglutide-treated group.
In plain wordsIn obese adults without diabetes, liraglutide lowered follistatin, a hormone-binding protein.
Peptide
Liraglutide
Outcome
DecreaseFollistatin concentration
Study
n = 20
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Hormone levels · Endocrine and hormones
Studied dose
3 mg · 5 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Concentrations of activin AB and follistatin were significantly reduced in liraglutide-treated group.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Twenty obese patients participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over, double-blind study and were administrated liraglutide 3 mg or placebo for 5 weeks.
Summary · context
Metabolites, fatty acids, lipid-lipoprotein profile and concentrations of activins and follistatins (250 parameters) were assessed in serum at start and completion of each treatment.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3167214610

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Registered trials1

Trials this study reports on, or that list this study as a reference. Registry data from ClinicalTrials.gov.

1 trial · 1 ongoing · source ClinicalTrials.gov (opens in a new tab)

Active, not recruitingPhase 4NCT02944500

Saxenda: Underlying Mechanisms and Clinical Outcomes

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centern = 28Nov 2016 to est. Jun 2027

Obesity

Trial page ClinicalTrials.govUpdated 1 May 2026

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
12 Oct 2026, 12:10 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 03:05 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.

Short-term treatment with high dose liraglutide improves lipid and lipoprotein profile and changes hormonal mediators of lipid metabolism in obese patients with no overt type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over, double-blind clinical trial.

Summary

Results from this study10

Registered trials1

Saxenda: Underlying Mechanisms and Clinical Outcomes

Version history

Subjects

Publication types

MeSH terms

Keywords