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The Best Patients for Liraglutide-Induced Weight Loss
Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol; 2017 Dec; Halawi, et al
Liraglutide’s weight loss effects seem to rely on the drug’s ability to delay gastric emptying, and measuring this variable may help clinicians determine which patients will respond to the medication, according to a randomized placebo-controlled trial.
- The study enrolled 40 adults, dividing them approximately in half.
- Liraglutide delayed gastric emptying of solids by a median of 70 minutes, compared to 4 minutes in the control group.
- Patients on the drug lost 3.7 kg, vs 0.6 kg on placebo by 5 weeks (P<0.0001) and 5.3 kg vs 2.5 kg by 16 weeks (P<0.0009).
- The drug’s half time for gastric emptying of solids at 5 weeks was associated with the change in weight loss at 16 weeks, suggesting that a patient’s response to the medication at 5 weeks may act as a biomarker to help clinicians choose the best candidates for prolonged treatment.
Citation:
Halawi H, Khemani D, Eckert D, et al. Effects of liraglutide on weight, satiation, and gastric functions in obesity: A randomised, placebo-controlled pilot trial. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017;2:890-899. doi:10.1016/S2468-1253(17)30285-6.