The 10+ Benefits of Liraglutide

Liraglutide protects the brain, improves weight loss, and protects against many of the problems associated with metabolic syndromes.  

Liraglutide also goes by Saxenda and Victoza. R

Liraglutide 3.0 mg is currently approved for weight management in Australia, Canada, the European Union, Mexico and the USA. R

It has been proven safe in long term studies. R

It is a great alternative for diabetics afraid of using needles. R

It is being looked into as a replacement for bariatric surgeries such as gastric bypass surgery. R

A lot of its effects with diabetes, obesity and the brain are based on liraglutide's ability to change the composition of the gut microbiome. R

1. Improves Type 2 Diabetes

Liraglutide can help control blood glucose. R

It can also reduce hyperglycemia, especially after meals (via enhanced insulin secretion, delaying gastric emptying and suppressing glucagon secretion) for up to 24 hours. R R R

Liraglutide, like other GLP1 analogues, will only work on glucose when it is introduced into the body, thus preventing hypoglycemia. R

It reduces fasting insulin and fasting glucose. R R

Liraglutide can protect the kidneys when exposed to high amounts of glucose and prevent the progression of diabetic kidney disease. R R

It also reduces hemoglobin A1c. R

In animals, it has shown to inhibit cell death and regenerate beta cells found in the pancreas. R

Liraglutide is even more effective when combined with metformin. R R

Switching from sitagliptin (DPP-4i) to liraglutide is usually not a problem for patients. R

Liraglutide can decrease many of the cognitive problems that are seen with diabetes. R

2. Fights Obesity

Liraglutide is FDA approved for treatment of obesity. R

In animal models, liraglutide can improve cognitive function. R

In stroke, liraglutide significantly decreases the damage size, improves neurologic deficits, and lowers stress-related hyperglycemia (also increasing expression of NeuN, GFAP, vWF, and GLP-1R). R R R

It can do this by lowering the amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the brain and preventing glutamate-induced excitotoxicity. R R

It also crosses the blood brain barrier (BBB). R

Liraglutide can protect the brain from cerebral edema after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and can reduce BBB permeability. R

This makes liraglutide beneficial for patients with hemorrhagic stroke. R

Liraglutide is also protective against Alzheimer's Disease and other dementias. R

In a mouse model of Alzheimer's liraglutide was able to increase memory and hippocampus size. R

It can also promote neurite outgrowth (via MEK-ERK pathway). R

Although, other studies have shown it has no effect on removing beta-amyloid plaque, but it can help prevent the buildup. R R

It can also prevent the toxic effects of beta-amyloid plaque on the brain. R

In diabetic mice, it has shown to prevent tau hyperphosphorylation. R R

Liraglutide may also help patients with Parkinson's Disease, although there is conflicting evidence. R R

When rats with Parkinson's were given liraglutide combined with sitagliptin, there was a reduction in brain damage and pro-inflammatory markers (IL1b, IL6, and TGFB1) with an increase in dopamine, GDNF, and TH+ cells. R

In epileptic mice, liraglutide can decrease the severity of seizures, reduce oxidative stress and restore altered neurotransmitter levels. R

4. Has Anti-Anxiety Properties

Liraglutide in animal models has shown to have anti-anxiety properties. R

It doesn't show as great of an anti-depressant action as sitagliptin. R

5. Has Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Oxidant Properties

In vitro, liraglutide has anti-inflammatory effects on pancreatic cells. R

It's anti-inflammatory properties can protect diabetic rats after having pancreatic graft implants. R

Liraglutide decreases secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 and chemokine CCL2. R

Liraglutide can reduce oxidative stress. R

It can decrease ROS and increase MnSOD (a powerful mitchondrial antioxidant). R

6. Protects The Vascular System

In the LEADER (Liraglutide Effect and Action in Diabetes: Evaluation of Cardiovascular Outcome Results) 2 year study, liraglutide showed to decrease the chance of heart attack. R

Liraglutide can protect the liver from excess inflammation. R

Liraglutide is able to decrease reduce metabolic dysfunction, lipotoxicity, and insulin resistance in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). R R 

In the LEAN (Liraglutide safety and efficacy in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis study, liraglutide resolved NASH. R

It decreases leptin, increases adiponectin and reduces inflammatory markers like hsCRP. R

Hepatic de novo lipogenesis (DNL) is a major contributor to lipid accumulation in the context of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). R

Liraglutide can significantly reduce hepatic DNL. R

In vitro, it can reduce fatty tissue on the liver in NAFLD. R

Patients with metabolic problems can have high non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) levels. R

Liraglutide is able to reduce fasting NEFA levels. R

It has no effect on gallbladder volume. R

10 May Help With Fatigue

Liraglutide use has been associated with reduction in daytime sleepiness. R

This is more of a benefit for those with type 2 diabetes, than healthy patients. R

These will activate the same pathways and should serve as a replacement to liraglutide. 

Supplements:

• Butyrate R 
• Cinnamon R
• Ginseng R
• Glutamine R
• Olive Oil R
• Resistant Starch R
• Resveratrol R

Drugs:

• Albiglutide R
• Dulaglutide R
• Exenatide R
• Lixisenatide R
• Semaglutide R

Click here for the full list of GLP1 receptor agonists and GLP1 increasers.

Lirglutide may prevent bones from forming properly and may increase chances of osteoporosis and fractures. R

Although some studies have shown the opposite. R

Liraglutide may blunt some of the benefits of exercise. R

Lirglutide may increase the risk for thyroid cancers. R

Serum calcitonin, a biomarker of medullary thyroid cancer, can become slightly increased in some liraglutide patients. R

It's possible for GLP1 analogues, like Lirglutide to cause acute pancreatitis. R

It shouldn't be taken with other GLP1 receptor agonists. R

It shouldn't be taken with insulin. R

Serious side effects reported in patients include gallbladder disease, renal impairment, and suicidal thoughts. R

Less serious ones have been GI upset. R

It can raise heart rate (~2-3bpm higher). R

Liraglutide may also lower testosterone. R

Simple:

• Increases ACTH and coritsol when taken acutely, but chronically taken lowers it R
• Increases adenylate cyclase 3 (AC3) R
• Increases adiponectin R
• Increases AMPK R
• Increases angiogenesis R
• Increases Gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) R
• Increases GLP1 R
• Increases intracellular ROS (decreases it extracellularly) R R
• Increases manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) R
• Increases NO production R
• Increases PI3K/AKT pathway R
• Decreases CCL2 and IL-6 R
• Decreases Leptin R
• Decreases HbA1c (but dulaglutide may be more more effective) R R R
• Decreases hsCRP R
• Decreases mTOR R
• Decreases NF-kB activation R
• Decreases NPY/AgRP R
• Decreases Orexin (possibly) R
• Decreases PDGF R
• Decreases PPARγ R
• Decreases TGF-B R
• Has low immunogenicity R

Advanced:

• Liraglutide is an acylated analogue of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) with an amino acid sequence 97% homologous to human hormone incretin GLP-1. R
• GLP1 is secreted response to ingestion of carbohydrates and lipids, stimulating insulin secretion, suppression of glucagon secretion, slower gastric emptying and increased satiety. R
• Liraglutide stimulates insulin secretion of the pancreas by binding to the same receptors as GLP1, when blood glucose is elevated. R
• It's half-life is around 13 hours when injected subcutaenously, and when GLP1 is produced endogenously, it's half-life is of 1.5-2 minutes. R R
• Receptors for GLP1 are found all over the body: pancreas, lung, kidney, atrial cardiomyocytes, lymphocytes, and the brain. R
• DPP4 breaks down GLP1. R

• rs10305420
  • T allele - has worse response to liraglutide regarding weight loss in obese PCOS women R
• rs6923761
  • A allele - had better response to liraglutide regarding weight loss in obese PCOS women R

• Watch the MOA video and see how Victoza® works in multiple systems. V
• Liraglutide blocks some of the effects of stem cells. R
• Liraglutide protected mice from LPS-induced acute lung injury. R