Evaluation of the efficacy of low‐dose liraglutide in weight control among Taiwanese non‐diabetes patients

Abstract

Aims/Introduction Obesity and metabolic syndrome are well‐known to be associated with multiple chronic diseases. Currently, high‐dose liraglutide has been used for weight control in non‐diabetic patients. Considering incretin‐based therapy is more effective in Asian populations, the effect of low‐dose liraglutide in weight control among these non‐diabetic groups has not been well evaluated. Our study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of low‐dose liraglutide in weight control among Taiwan patients. Materials and Methods From July 2017 to December 2018, 46 non‐diabetic patients with metabolic syndrome were included. They had received low‐dose liraglutide at 0.6 or 1.2 mg per day for weight reduction for 12 weeks. After then, changes in bodyweight, waist and metabolic factors were examined. Overt bodyweight reduction was defined as a decrease of >5% within 12 weeks. Results With 12 weeks of medication use, both groups showed statistical weight reduction. Higher doses of liraglutide had better efficacy, and 44.4% of patients in the liraglutide 1.2 mg group reached overt weight reduction, whereas just 32.1% in the 0.6 mg group had achieved this. Young age was found to be a predictor factor for a positive finding (odds ratio 0.941, P = 0.037). Early responders with decreased bodyweight of >4.2% within the first 4 weeks indicated a better chance to achieve measurable weight reduction. Conclusions Low‐dose liraglutide still has high efficacy in weight reduction in Taiwanese people, especially for those of younger age.

Real-World Use of Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Type 2 Diabetes: Results from the SURE UK Multicentre, Prospective, Observational Study

“…There is some evidence of differences in the efficacy of incretin-based therapy between Asian and non-Asian populations [ 36 ]; however, because the majority (90.2%) of patients in the SURE UK study were white, it was not possible to determine differences in mean outcome change by race.…”

GLP-1 and Intestinal Diseases

“…Subsequently, liraglutide has been FDA-approved for chronic weight management of obese adults and children above the age of 12 [ 86 ]. The approved dose for weight loss is a high dose of 3.0 mg and the body weight clearly decreases in a dose-dependent manner [ 87 ]. Given this, any consideration of the treatment of intestinal diseases with GLP-1 agonists would have to carefully consider the therapeutic dose to avoid undesired weight loss.…”

Efficacy of Liraglutide in Non-Diabetic Obese Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

“…Some studies have evaluated the efficacy of liraglutide for weight reduction in non-diabetic obese people. For example, a retrospective cohort study [ 5 ] evaluated the efficacy of low-dose liraglutide (0.6 vs. 1.2 mg/day) for 12 weeks on body weight among Taiwanese non-diabetic patients. The authors found that among patients in the liraglutide 1.2 mg group, 5.6% reached weight reduction compared to baseline ( p < 0.001), whereas in the 0.6 mg group 6.4% reached weight reduction ( p < 0.001); however, no significant differences in weight reduction were found between the two dose groups (absolute difference 1.2 mg vs. 0.6 mg −0.8%, 95%CI −0.12 to 0.11).…”

“…A study evaluated the efficacy at 12 weeks of low-dose liraglutide on the weight of Taiwanese patients without T2D. Compared to baseline, 5.6% of patients in the liraglutide 1.2 mg group reached weight reduction ( p < 0.001), whereas in the 0.6 mg group 6.4% reached weight reduction ( p < 0.001) [ 5 ]. However, there was no difference in weight reduction between liraglutide doses (absolute difference 1.2 mg vs. 0.6 mg −0.8%, 95%CI −0.12 to 0.11).…”