Common weight-loss drug successfully targets fat that can endanger heart health

Date:
August 4, 2021
Source:
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Summary:
Researchers have announced successful results of a clinical trial
for a commonly prescribed weight-loss drug called liraglutide. In
adults who are overweight or have obesity combined with high
cardiovascular risk, once-daily liraglutide combined with lifestyle
interventions significantly lowered two types of fat that have been
associated with risk to heart health: visceral fat and ectopic fat.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Researchers at UT Southwestern announced successful results of a
clinical trial for a commonly prescribed weight-loss drug called
liraglutide. In adults who are overweight or have obesity combined
with high cardiovascular risk, once- daily liraglutide combined with
lifestyle interventions significantly lowered two types of fat that have
been associated with risk to heart health: visceral fat and ectopic fat.


==========================================================================
"Our study used the latest imaging technology to evaluate different fat components in the body. The main finding was a significant decrease in
visceral fat in patients without diabetes but who were overweight or had obesity. These results show the potential of liraglutide treatment for significantly lowering the risk of chronic disease in this population,"
said Parag Joshi, M.D., preventive cardiologist, Assistant Professor
of Cardiology, and senior author of the study published in The Lancet
Diabetes & Endocrinology.

Visceral fat is stored within the abdominal cavity around important
internal organs, such as the liver, pancreas, and intestines. Ectopic
fat is stored in tissues that normally contain small amounts of fat,
such as the liver, skeletal muscle, heart, and pancreas.

The 185 study participants were given a once-daily injection of
liraglutide over 40 weeks of treatment. The relative effects of
liraglutide on fat reduction were two-fold greater in the abdominal
tissues and six-fold greater in the liver than seen on overall body
weight. The treatment effect was consistent across race/ethnicity
and BMI categories, and among those with or without baseline
prediabetes. Liraglutide also reduced fasting blood glucose and
inflammation in this trial population without diabetes, the majority of
whom had normal blood sugar levels at baseline.

In a 2016 study led by UTSW investigators called the Leader trial,
the rate of the first occurrence of death from cardiovascular causes,
nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke among patients with
type 2 diabetes was lower in those treated with liraglutide than with
placebo. "Our findings help add a possible mechanism for why there is
a benefit of liraglutide on cardiovascular outcomes while also showing
its benefits in people without diabetes," said Dr.

Joshi.

According to the researchers, obesity affects an estimated 1 in every
4 adults and 1 in every 5 youths, leading to substantial risk of
cardiovascular disease and mortality. "Excess visceral fat and ectopic
(e.g., liver) fat are central to the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease," said Dr.

Joshi. "It remains challenging to identify those at highest risk, in
order to offer them treatment in addition to lifestyle changes such as
diet and exercise." The study was funded by an investigator-initiated
grant from Novo Nordisk.

Other UT Southwestern researchers who contributed to the study include
Colby R.

Ayers, Bienka Lewis, Robert Oslica, Susan Rodder, and Ambarish Pandey.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by UT_Southwestern_Medical_Center. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Ian J Neeland, Steven P Marso, Colby R Ayers, Bienka Lewis, Robert
Oslica, Wynona Francis, Susan Rodder, Ambarish Pandey, Parag
H Joshi.

Effects of liraglutide on visceral and ectopic fat in adults with
overweight and obesity at high cardiovascular risk: a randomised,
double- blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial. The Lancet
Diabetes & Endocrinology, 2021; DOI: 10.1016/S2213-8587(21)00179-0 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210804123709.htm

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