GLP-1 Evidence

Not medical advice. A record of published research and our assessments of it. The limits

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists improve biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Design
Meta-analysis · 6749 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] There is strong evidence supporting clinically relevant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of GLP-1RAs. This may be used to guide future targeted clinical use of GLP-1RAs and the development of medications seeking to target the cardioprotective properties of GLP-1RAs.

01Findings

What the study reported

Drugs
Class unspecified
Dose
0.54 mg
Comparator
placebo
Primary outcome
Not extracted
Effect
Not extracted
95% confidence interval
Not extracted
Follow-up
6 months
Adverse events
Not extracted
Limitations
Auto-classified from abstract only; effect estimates, adverse events and limitations not extracted. Requires manual review.

Who was studied

Sex distribution
56.3% female
Diabetes status
type 2 diabetes present (all or most)
Sample size
6749

Study quality details

Study design
Meta-analysis
Sample size
6749
Randomization
n/a
Blinding
not stated
Comparator
placebo
Follow up duration
6 months
Outcome type
mixed
Replication
not assessed (auto)
Consistency with other evidence
not assessed (auto)
Population applicability
INDIRECT
Statistical precision
CI reported: 95% confidence intervals]
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
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 conduct a meta-analysis and systematic review to examine the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) on clinical biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes. [METHODS] Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Library were searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that examined changes with GLP-1RAs in a priori selected biomarkers of inflammation: C-reactive protein (CRP), adiponectin, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, interleukin-6, leptin; and of oxidative stress: malondialdehyde (MDA); 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α; and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). [RESULTS] We included 40 eligible RCTs (n = 6749) with a median follow-up of 6 months, a mean participant age of 53.1 years, 56.3% females, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) 55.6 mmol/mol, body mass index 28.8 kg/m2 and diabetes duration 7.46 years. Analysis of GLP-1RAs versus standard diabetes therapies or placebo revealed significant reductions in CRP, TNFα and MDA, and significant increases in adiponectin for (mean difference -0.54 mg/L [-0.75, -0.34]; standard mean difference [SMD] -0.39 [-0.62, -0.15]; SMD -0.84 [-1.61, -0.06] and SMD 0.30 [0.12, 0.49], respectively [95% confidence intervals]). Systolic blood pressure decreased significantly and was significantly and strongly correlated with a reduction in CRP. Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance was also significantly correlated with a reduction in CRP, but HbA1c was not. [CONCLUSIONS] There is strong evidence supporting clinically relevant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of GLP-1RAs. This may be used to guide future targeted clinical use of GLP-1RAs and the development of medications seeking to target the cardioprotective properties of GLP-1RAs.

Where this record came from

SourceRetrievedIdentifier
pubmedSep 13, 202633830637
first ingestion