GLP-1 Evidence

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

Effects of liraglutide versus sitagliptin on circulating cardiovascular biomarkers, including circulating progenitor cells, in individuals with type 2 diabetes and obesity: Analyses from the LYDIA trial

Design
Design unknown · 61 participants · Mixed outcome
Match to healthy normal-weight adults aged 55–75
Population unclear[Auto] Review/guidance/regulatory document rather than a primary study; applicability depends on the underlying studies.
Could weight loss explain it?
Not applicable[Auto] Not a primary outcome study.
Study tier
Not rated[Auto] Review, guidance, regulatory document or model without new primary outcome data.
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; last sentences of abstract] However, these are secondary analyses from a previous trial and thus hypothesis-generating. Purposive trials are required to examine these findings further.

01Findings

What the study reported

Drugs
Liraglutide
Dose
1.8 mg
Comparator
sitagliptin
Primary outcome
Not extracted
Effect
Not extracted
95% confidence interval
Not extracted
Follow-up
6.5 years
Adverse events
Not extracted
Limitations
Auto-classified from abstract only; effect estimates, adverse events and limitations not extracted. Requires manual review.

Who was studied

Obesity status
obesity/overweight present (all or most)
Diabetes status
type 2 diabetes present (all or most)
Cvd status
cardiovascular disease present in population (see abstract)
Sample size
61

Study quality details

Study design
Unknown
Sample size
61
Randomization
no
Blinding
not stated
Comparator
active comparator
Follow up duration
6.5 years
Outcome type
mixed
Replication
not assessed (auto)
Consistency with other evidence
not assessed (auto)
Population applicability
UNKNOWN
Statistical precision
CI reported: 95% CI]: 77
Risk of bias
not assessed (auto)
Funding conflicts
no
Peer review status
yes
02Funding

Funding and conflicts

Funding
Department of Health; British Heart Foundation
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

The mechanisms behind the beneficial cardiovascular effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) compared with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4is) remain largely unknown, despite both targeting the incretin pathway to improve glycaemic control. In these prespecified secondary analyses of the LYDIA trial, we examined the impact of the GLP-1RA liraglutide (1.8 mg once-daily) and the DPP4i sitagliptin (100 mg once-daily) on circulating cardiovascular biomarkers associated with atherosclerotic risk, including circulating progenitor cells (CPCs). LYDIA was a 26-week, randomized, active-comparator trial in 61 adults with type 2 diabetes and obesity (mean ± SD: age 43.8 ± 6.5 years, body mass index 35.3 ± 6.4 kg/m2 , HbA1c 7.5% ± 0.83% [58.5 ± 9.1 mmol/mol]). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and stromal cell-derived factor-1-alpha (SDF-1ɑ), both of which are implicated in endothelial function, were higher at 26 weeks with liraglutide therapy compared with sitagliptin (mean between-group difference [95% CI]: 77.03 [18.29, 135.77] pg/mL, p = .010; and 996.25 [818.85, 1173.64] pg/mL, p < .001, respectively). There were no between-group differences in CPCs, nitric oxide, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor alpha and advanced glycation end-products. These analyses suggest a favourable impact of liraglutide on VEGF and SDF-1ɑ levels compared with sitagliptin. These factors may therefore be implicated in the differential cardiovascular effects observed between these agents in large cardiovascular outcome trials. However, these are secondary analyses from a previous trial and thus hypothesis-generating. Purposive trials are required to examine these findings further.

Where this record came from

SourceRetrievedIdentifier
pubmedSep 13, 202633565691
first ingestion