Effects of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists on Weight Loss in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

To evaluate the effectiveness of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) on weight reduction in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (Type 2 DM), a network meta-analysis was conducted. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials. gov were searched from 1950 to October 2013. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving GLP-1 RAs were included if they provided information on body weight. A total of 51 RCTs were included and 17521 participants were enrolled. The mean duration of 51 RCTs was 31 weeks. Exenatide 10.. g twice daily (EX10BID) reduced weight compared with exenatide 5.. g twice daily (EX5BID), liraglutide 0.6mg once daily (LIR0.6QD), liraglutide-1.2mg once daily (LIR1.2QD), and placebo treatment, with mean differences of -1.07 kg (95% CI: -2.41, -0.02), -2.38 kg (95% CI: -3.71, -1.06), -1.62 kg (95% CI: -2.79, -0.43), and -1.92 kg (95% CI: -2.61, -1.24), respectively. Reductions of weight treated with liraglutide-1.8mg once daily (LIR1.8QD) reach statistical significance (-1.43 kg (95% CI: -2.73, -0.15)) versus LIR1.2QD and (-0.98 kg (95% CI: -1.94, -0.02)) versus placebo. Network meta-analysis found that EX10BID, LIR1.8QD, and EX2QW obtained a higher proportion of patients with weight loss than other traditional hypoglycemic agents. Our results suggest GLP-1 RAs are promising candidates for weight control in comparison with traditional hypoglycemic drugs, and EX10BID, LIR1.8QD, and EX2QWrank the top three drugs.