Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) has become an important target in the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and obesity due to its metabolic effects, such as inducing insulin secretion, delaying gastric emptying, and reducing appetite. GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) provide glycemic control without increasing the risk of hypoglycemia and contribute to weight loss. Liraglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide are prominent agents in this group. Liraglutide was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of obesity in 2014, semaglutide in 2021, and tirzepatide in 2023. Semaglutide, with its longer duration of action, offers ease of use by being administered once a week. Tirzepatide, on the other hand, is an agonist of both GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptors and has potent effects in T2DM and obesity. Clinical studies show that these agents provide significant improvements in body weight loss, HbA1c levels, and cardiometabolic risk factors. However, gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, and constipation are common but generally not severe. Risks of nutritional deficiencies due to energy restriction, loss of muscle and bone mass, and decreased treatment compliance have been reported with long-term use. Nevertheless, GLP-1RAs stand out among the promising pharmacological agents for the treatment of obesity and their cardiovascular and renal protective effects. In the future, it is thought that the development of combined strategies with personalized medical nutrition therapies may increase the effectiveness of these treatment agents.
Büyükdere et al. (Wed,) studied this question.