The effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists on metabolic inflammatory markers in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Design
- Meta-analysis · 1878 participants · Biomarker outcome
- Match to healthy normal-weight adults aged 55–75
- Different population[Auto] Synthesis of studies conducted predominantly in people with type 2 diabetes.
- Could weight loss explain it?
- Possibly[Auto] Participants had obesity and/or type 2 diabetes and the abstract does not separate direct drug effects from weight loss or glycaemic improvement.
- Study tier
- Study tier 3[Auto] Systematic review/meta-analysis including observational studies (auto-provisional).
- Assessment
- Version 1 · automatic, not yet reviewed by a person · Sep 13, 2026
Study facts come from the paper. Population match, weight-loss explanation and study tier are our judgments, made against the reference group of healthy normal-weight adults aged 55–75.
[Auto, unreviewed; quoted from abstract conclusions] GLP-1 RAs exhibit a certain degree of anti-inflammatory effect in patients with T2DM, effectively reducing CRP and TNF-α levels. The anti-inflammatory efficacy appears to be influenced by both the type of drug used and the duration of treatment, with more pronounced effects observed for specific drug classes and with longer treatment periods. These findings provide further evidence supporting the use of GLP-1 RAs in the anti-inflammatory management of T2DM.
01Findings
What the study reported
- Drugs
- Class unspecified
- Primary outcome
- Not extracted
- Effect
- Not extracted
- 95% confidence interval
- Not extracted
- Follow-up
- 36 weeks
- Adverse events
- Not extracted
- Limitations
- Auto-classified from abstract only; effect estimates, adverse events and limitations not extracted. Requires manual review.
Who was studied
- Diabetes status
- type 2 diabetes present (all or most)
- Sample size
- 1878
Study quality details
- Study design
- Meta-analysis
- Sample size
- 1878
- Randomization
- n/a
- Blinding
- not stated
- Comparator
- not stated
- Follow up duration
- 36 weeks
- Outcome type
- biomarker
- Replication
- not assessed (auto)
- Consistency with other evidence
- not assessed (auto)
- Population applicability
- INDIRECT
- Statistical precision
- CI reported: 95% CI [-0
- Risk of bias
- not assessed (auto)
- Funding conflicts
- unclear
- Peer review status
- yes
02Funding
Funding and conflicts
- Funding
- not reported in abstract
- Industry funded
- Unclear
- Manufacturer
- None identified
- Sponsor role
- not reported in abstract
- Author conflicts
- The authors declare there are no competing interests.
- Independent replication
- unknown
Funding is shown on every study and never used to score it.
04Source
The source, as retrieved
Abstract
[OBJECTIVE] This study aimed to evaluate the impact of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) on metabolic inflammatory markers in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), providing evidence-based insights for their potential application in anti-inflammatory therapy. [METHODS] Research questions were developed using the PICOS framework, and the study strictly adhered to PRISMA guidelines. Comprehensive literature searches were conducted across PubMed, EBSCO, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. Data synthesis and subgroup analyses (focusing on GLP-1 RA subtypes, treatment duration, and administration frequency) were performed using RevMan 5.4 software. [RESULTS] Out of 1,347 articles retrieved, 25 studies were ultimately included, comprising a total sample of 1,878 participants (879 in the experimental groups and 999 in the control groups). Quality assessment indicated that most studies exhibited a low risk of bias, with only one study rated as high risk and three studies showing some concerns. Meta-analysis results demonstrated that 18 studies reported a significant reduction in CRP levels in T2DM patients treated with GLP-1 RAs (SMD = -0.39, 95% CI [-0.72 to -0.06], P = 0.02, I2 = 88%). Although the results from 13 studies indicated a decreasing trend in IL-6 levels (SMD = -0.52), this change was not statistically significant (95% CI [-1.34 to 0.29], P = 0.21, I2 = 96%). Additionally, 14 studies showed that GLP-1 RAs significantly reduced TNF-α levels (SMD = -0.51, 95% CI [-0.81 to -0.20], P = 0.001, I2 = 81%). Subgroup analyses revealed that both the type of GLP-1 RA and a longer treatment duration (≥36 weeks) were associated with more pronounced improvements in inflammatory markers. [CONCLUSION] GLP-1 RAs exhibit a certain degree of anti-inflammatory effect in patients with T2DM, effectively reducing CRP and TNF-α levels. The anti-inflammatory efficacy appears to be influenced by both the type of drug used and the duration of treatment, with more pronounced effects observed for specific drug classes and with longer treatment periods. These findings provide further evidence supporting the use of GLP-1 RAs in the anti-inflammatory management of T2DM.
Where this record came from
| Source | Retrieved | Identifier |
|---|---|---|
| pubmed | Sep 13, 2026 | 41660088 first ingestion |