30 Jan Treatment With Liraglutide (Victoza) Reduces Fat Around the Heart
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Gianluca Iacobellis
Gianluca Iacobellis MD PhD
Professor of Clinical Medicine
Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Department of Medicine
University of Miami, FL
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: We know that epicardial fat, the visceral fat of the heart, is associated with coronary artery disease, diabetes and obesity. My studies have shown that epicardial fat can be easily measured with non invasive imaging procedures. Remarkably, epicardial fat has recently emerged as therapeutic target responding to medications targeting the fat. Liraglutide, a GLP-1 analog has shown to provide modest weight loss and beneficial cardiovascular effects beyond its glucose lowering action. So , we sought to evaluate the effects of liraglutide on epicardial fat.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Response: This study shows for the first time that liraglutide induces a substantial and rapid epicardial fat reduction, regardless of diabetes control and weight loss.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Response: We can speculate that liraglutide beneficial cardiovascular effects may be epicardial fat-mediated. Epicardial fat can serve as target for tracking GLP-1 analogues effects on visceral adiposity.
MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Response: Our results may open new avenues in the clinical use of GLP-1 analogues that may go beyond the current indications.
MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.
Citation: Obesity
Treatment with a GLP-1 Analog Rapidly Reduces Epicardial Fat
Gianluca Iacobellis, Mahshid Mohseni, Suzy D. Bianco, and Pritisheel K. Banga
Obesity (2017) 25, 311-316. doi:10.1002/oby.21718
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Last Updated on January 30, 2017 by Marie Benz MD FAAD