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Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 94 · 2024

5 results

Growth differentiation factor 15 is not modified after weight loss induced by liraglutide in South Asians and Europids with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Hoekx CA, Straat ME, Bizino MB, van Eyk HJ, Lamb HJ, Smit JWA, Jazet IM, de Jager SCA, Boon MR, Martinez-Tellez B

Experimental physiology4 Jul 2024Cited by 3 (Europe PMC)

PMID38965822 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC11291866 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1113/ep091815 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-38965822
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Summary

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists induce weight loss in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Recently, the mechanism by which metformin induces weight loss could be explained by an increase in growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), which suppresses appetite. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether the GLP-1R agonist liraglutide modifies plasma GDF15 levels in patients with T2DM. GDF15 levels were measured in plasma samples obtained from Dutch Europids and Dutch South Asians with T2DM before and after 26 weeks of treatment with daily liraglutide (n = 44) or placebo (n = 50) added to standard care. At baseline, circulating GDF15 levels did not differ between South Asians and Europids with T2DM. Treatment with liraglutide, compared to placebo, decreased body weight, but did not modify plasma GDF15 levels in all patients, or when data were split by ethnicity. Also, the change in plasma GDF15 levels after treatment with liraglutide did not correlate with changes in body weight or HbA1c levels. In addition, the dose of metformin used did not correlate with baseline plasma GDF15 levels. Compared to placebo, liraglutide treatment for 26 weeks does not modify plasma GDF15 levels in Dutch Europid or South Asian patients with T2DM. Thus, the weight loss induced by liraglutide is likely explained by other mechanisms beyond the GDF15 pathway. HIGHLIGHTS: What is the central question of this study? Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) suppresses appetite and is increased by metformin: does the GLP-1R agonist liraglutide modify plasma GDF15 levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)? What is the main finding and its importance? Plasma GDF15 levels did not differ between South Asians and Europids with T2DM and were not modified by 26 weeks of liraglutide in either ethnicity. Moreover, there was no correlation between the changes in plasma GDF15 levels and dosage of metformin administered, changes in body weight or HbA1c levels. The appetite-suppressing effect of liraglutide is likely exerted via pathways other than GDF15.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study5

5 results from studies that gave the peptide. 5 results from people.

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In adults with type 2 diabetes, 26 weeks of liraglutide decreased body weight compared with placebo.

    In plain wordsIn adults with type 2 diabetes, liraglutide lowered body weight more than placebo over 26 weeks.

    Peptide
    Liraglutide
    Outcome
    DecreaseBody weight
    Study

    n = 94

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Body weight · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · 26 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Treatment with liraglutide, compared to placebo, decreased body weight
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    GDF15 levels were measured in plasma samples obtained from Dutch Europids and Dutch South Asians with T2DM before and after 26 weeks of treatment with daily liraglutide (n = 44) or placebo (n = 50) added to standard care.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism

    In adults with type 2 diabetes, liraglutide did not change plasma GDF15 levels compared with placebo.

    In plain wordsIn adults with type 2 diabetes, liraglutide did not change blood GDF15 levels compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Liraglutide
    Outcome
    No significant changePlasma GDF15 level, all patients
    Study

    n = 94

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Receptor activity and mechanism · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · 26 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Treatment with liraglutide, compared to placebo, decreased body weight, but did not modify plasma GDF15 levels in all patients, or when data were split by ethnicity.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    GDF15 levels were measured in plasma samples obtained from Dutch Europids and Dutch South Asians with T2DM before and after 26 weeks of treatment with daily liraglutide (n = 44) or placebo (n = 50) added to standard care.
  3. 03HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism

    In Dutch South Asian and Europid adults with type 2 diabetes analysed separately, liraglutide did not change plasma GDF15 levels compared with placebo.

    In plain wordsIn South Asian and European-origin adults with type 2 diabetes, liraglutide did not change blood GDF15 levels compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Liraglutide
    Outcome
    No significant changePlasma GDF15 level by ethnicity
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Receptor activity and mechanism · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · 26 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Treatment with liraglutide, compared to placebo, decreased body weight, but did not modify plasma GDF15 levels in all patients, or when data were split by ethnicity.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    GDF15 levels were measured in plasma samples obtained from Dutch Europids and Dutch South Asians with T2DM before and after 26 weeks of treatment with daily liraglutide (n = 44) or placebo (n = 50) added to standard care.
  4. 04HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism

    In adults with type 2 diabetes on liraglutide, the change in plasma GDF15 did not correlate with the change in body weight.

    In plain wordsIn adults with type 2 diabetes on liraglutide, changes in blood GDF15 did not track changes in body weight.

    Peptide
    Liraglutide
    Outcome
    No significant changeCorrelation of GDF15 change with body weight change
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Receptor activity and mechanism · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · 26 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Also, the change in plasma GDF15 levels after treatment with liraglutide did not correlate with changes in body weight or HbA1c levels.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    GDF15 levels were measured in plasma samples obtained from Dutch Europids and Dutch South Asians with T2DM before and after 26 weeks of treatment with daily liraglutide (n = 44) or placebo (n = 50) added to standard care.
  5. 05HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism

    In adults with type 2 diabetes on liraglutide, the change in plasma GDF15 did not correlate with the change in HbA1c.

    In plain wordsIn adults with type 2 diabetes on liraglutide, changes in blood GDF15 did not track changes in HbA1c.

    Peptide
    Liraglutide
    Outcome
    No significant changeCorrelation of GDF15 change with HbA1c change
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Receptor activity and mechanism · Metabolic and weight
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · 26 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Also, the change in plasma GDF15 levels after treatment with liraglutide did not correlate with changes in body weight or HbA1c levels.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    GDF15 levels were measured in plasma samples obtained from Dutch Europids and Dutch South Asians with T2DM before and after 26 weeks of treatment with daily liraglutide (n = 44) or placebo (n = 50) added to standard care.

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

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.

  1. Version 2Current

    12 Oct 2026, 11:11 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 03:04 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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