The effect of GLP-1 receptor agonists on circulating inflammatory markers in type 2 diabetes patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis
- Design
- Meta-analysis · 4734 participants · Mixed 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 2[Auto] Systematic review/meta-analysis of randomized trials (auto-provisional; heterogeneity and included-study quality not assessed).
- 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] Our meta-analysis demonstrates that GLP-1 RAs exert significant anti-inflammatory effects in patients with T2DM. Our findings provide important insights that may guide the therapeutic application of GLP-1 RAs and inform the development of related therapies.
01Findings
What the study reported
- Drugs
- Class unspecified
- Comparator
- placebo
- Primary outcome
- Not extracted
- Effect
- Not extracted
- 95% confidence interval
- Not extracted
- Follow-up
- 24 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
- Mean age
- 54.13
- Sex distribution
- 44.46% female
- Diabetes status
- type 2 diabetes present (all or most)
- Sample size
- 4734
Study quality details
- Study design
- Meta-analysis
- Sample size
- 4734
- Randomization
- n/a
- Blinding
- not stated
- Comparator
- placebo
- Follow up duration
- 24 weeks
- Outcome type
- mixed
- Replication
- not assessed (auto)
- Consistency with other evidence
- not assessed (auto)
- Population applicability
- INDIRECT
- Statistical precision
- not extracted
- Risk of bias
- not assessed (auto)
- Funding conflicts
- no
- Peer review status
- yes
02Funding
Funding and conflicts
- Funding
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Industry funded
- No
- Manufacturer
- None identified
- Sponsor role
- no manufacturer funding identified
- Author conflicts
- not available in metadata
- Independent replication
- unknown
Funding is shown on every study and never used to score it.
04Source
The source, as retrieved
Abstract
[AIM] To investigate whether the antidiabetic agent glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) can exert anti-inflammatory effects while lowering blood glucose, we performed a meta-analysis and systematic review. [METHODS] We searched 4 online databases (Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library and the Web of Science) for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that examined changes after GLP-1RAs intervention in commonly accepted biomarkers of inflammation: C-reactive protein (CRP), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), leptin, adiponectin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), monocyte chemotactic protein-1(MCP-1) and advanced glycation end products (AGEs). [RESULTS] This meta-analysis included 52 eligible RCTs (n = 4734) with a median follow-up of 24 weeks, a mean age of 54.13 years, 44.46% females, body mass index (BMI) 29.80 kg/m2, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) 8.28% and diabetes duration 7.27 years. GLP-1 RAs treatment, compared to placebo or conventional diabetes therapies (including oral medicine and insulin), resulted in significant reductions in CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and leptin (standard mean difference [SMD] -0.63 [-1.03, -0.23]; SMD -0.92 [-1.57, -0.27]; SMD -0.76 [-1.32, -0.20], SMD -3.89 [-6.56, -1.22], SMD -0.67 [-1.09, -0.26], respectively), as well as significant increases in adiponectin (SMD 0.69 [0.19, 1.19]). [CONCLUSIONS] Our meta-analysis demonstrates that GLP-1 RAs exert significant anti-inflammatory effects in patients with T2DM. Our findings provide important insights that may guide the therapeutic application of GLP-1 RAs and inform the development of related therapies.
Where this record came from
| Source | Retrieved | Identifier |
|---|---|---|
| pubmed | Sep 13, 2026 | 40230207 first ingestion |