Exenatide Protects Against Glucose- and Lipid-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction: Evidence for Direct Vasodilation Effect of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Humans

What Was Tested

Researchers studied Exenatide and Glucagon in this randomized controlled trial publication.

The current study determined the effect of GLP-1R agonist exenatide on postprandial EF in type 2 diabetes and the mechanisms underlying GLP-1R agonist-mediated vasodilation.

Two crossover studies were conducted: 36 participants with type 2 diabetes received subcutaneous exenatide or placebo for 11 days and EF, and glucose and lipid responses to breakfast and lunch were determined; and 32 participants with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or diet-controlled type 2 diabetes had EF measured before and after intravenous exenatide, with or without the GLP-1R antagonist exendin-9.

Who Took Part

The study group was 36 participants.

PubMed tags the participants as both men and women.

How the Study Was Run

The researchers set it up as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled and crossover study.

The participants were allocated by chance, so the Exenatide group and the comparison group should start out alike.

Neither the participants nor the staff measuring them knew who was on Exenatide, so expectations could not easily colour the readings.

Some participants received a placebo instead of Exenatide, giving a reference point.

Each person switched between Exenatide and the comparison at some point, usually with a gap in between.

The timeline in the abstract includes 11 days.

What Was Measured

Two crossover studies were conducted: 36 participants with type 2 diabetes received subcutaneous exenatide or placebo for 11 days and EF, and glucose and lipid responses to breakfast and lunch were determined; and 32 participants with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or diet-controlled type 2 diabetes had EF measured before and after intravenous exenatide, with or without the GLP-1R antagonist exendin-9.

PubMed files the paper under topics including AMP-Activated Protein Kinases, Blood Glucose, Cells, Cultured, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Endothelial Cells, Exenatide and Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of Exenatide and Glucagon in 36 participants over 11 days.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The publication is from 2015 (Diabetes), a journal based in United States.

More context: the Exenatide compound page and the Glucagon compound page, all human trials.