According to a multi-center study, treatment with the diabetic drug, Liraglutide, along with diet and exercise has led to weight loss and a decrease in cardiovascular health problems, which includes high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The study is very promising when it comes to Liraglutide decreasing heart disease risks.
The study was completed on 3,731 adults who were either overweight or obese and all were non-diabetic. However, each participant has at least one risk factor for diabetes or heart disease such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure or pre-diabetes.
The study’s principal investigator, Carel Le Roux, MD, PhD, Diabetes Complications Research Centre, University College Dublin stated, “If these improvements continue over time, they may result in a lower risk of heart disease.”
The study implemented the drug dosage at 3 mg for long-term weight management as part of the SCALE (Satiety and Clinical Adiposity — Liraglutide Evidence in Non-diabetic and Diabetic Subjects) Obesity and Pre-diabetes trial.
Along with the drug dosage, each participant ate 500 fewer calories a day while also exercising. For 56 weeks, each patient implemented this diet plan and 2,487 participants received a daily injection of 3 mg of liraglutide, while the other 1,244 participants received a placebo.
According to an investigator, the participants who received the drug lost 5.4 percent more of their body weight than those who had the placebo. Those who received the drug also experienced decreases in blood pressure and improvements in both LDL (bad) and HDL (good) cholesterol levels.
Le Roux concluded, “Current obesity treatment options are limited. There is a need for new treatment options for people who struggle with obesity and obesity-related diseases that can help in reducing their weight.”
