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GLP-1 reduced endothelial dysfunction in type 1 diabetes
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The literature has established that hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia are believed to be risk factors for cardiovascular disease in patients with type 1 diabetes.
Furthermore, acute hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia have a tendency to induce endothelial dysfunction and inflammation, thus increasing oxidative stress.
In a recent study, researchers examined the effects of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) as a form of protection for endothelial function.
“It is of interest that our study confirms that both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia can be considered equivalent as proatherosclerotic risk factors, and that they seem to work through the same pathways and mainly by generating oxidative stress,” the researchers wrote.
They evaluated the effect of acute hyperglycemia and acute hypoglycemia in type 1 diabetes, with or without the simultaneous infusion of GLP-1 on oxidative stress and inflammation, on two groups of 15 matched patients with type 1 diabetes.
According to researchers, the results were similar to previous studies. After 2 hours of hypoglycemia, flow-mediated dilation (FMD) significantly decreased. However, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), plasma 8-iso prostaglandin F2alpha (8-iso-PGF2a), nitrotyrosine and interleukin-6 significantly increased compared with basal values.
Moreover, when hypoglycemia was accompanied by simultaneous infusion of GLP-1, researchers wrote that the increased levels were significantly lessened. In addition, FMD decreased less, and sICAM-1, 8-iso-PGF2a, nitrotyrosine and IL-6 were not as increased.
“This study confirms that both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia induce endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation in people with type 1 diabetes,” the researchers concluded. “However, [this study] for the first time, shows that GLP-1 administration during hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia can counterbalance the deleterious effects.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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