GLP-1 and Microvascular Function in Type 2 Diabetes
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2016-02-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Some gut hormones, called incretins, stimulate insulin production in order to control sugar
levels but also activate brain centres and signal to stop eating. Current administration of
incretin-based therapies mimicking these gut hormones is by subcutaneous (just under the
skin) injection and has been routinely available for diabetic patients for more than 4 years.
It is an effective treatment for the lowering of blood glucose with an average weight loss of
about 3-4kg.Recent evidence, from animal studies and limited human studies, suggests that
incretins based treatments may also have beneficial effects on blood vessel function.
However, it is not known whether this effect is by direct action on the blood vessel
independent of an improvement of latent inflammation which is typically associated with
weight loss or an anti-inflammatory effect of the incretin treatment itself. The aim of this
study is to determine whether the incretin-based diabetes treatment with the GLP-1
(Glucagon-like peptide 1) analogue Liraglutide (also known as Victoza), which mimics the
actions of incretins, improves blood vessel function in individuals with type 2 diabetes. It
will determine whether the improvement in blood vessel function is independent of the effect
of weight loss and changes in inflammation. This by the study of vascular function before and
after 4 months of Victoza treatment in subjects with Type 2 diabetes in comparison with 1)
participants randomized to hypo-caloric diet to achieve a similar weight loss than with
Victoza and 2) participants randomized to treatment with once daily aspirin. Comprehensive
assessment of blood vessel function, body fat distribution and metabolic profile at baseline
and at the end of the treatment phase will be combined with assessments of inflammation
markers in blood and in fat tissue biopsies.