The Effect of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Postprandial Lipaemia

Abstract

Purpose of review: To review the currently available data on the effect of Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) on postprandial lipaemia.

Recent findings: Out of the available studies that examined the respective lipid parameter, exenatide reduced postprandial triacyglycerol (TAG) in 4/6, apolipoprotein B-48 in 3/3, non-esterified fatty acids in 2/2, and apolipoprotein C-III and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) in 1/1 studies. Liraglutide reduced postprandial TAG in 2/2, apolipoprotein B-48 in 3/3 and apolipoprotein C-III, chylomicron-TAG and VLDL₁-TAG in 1/1 studies. Lixisenatide reduced postprandial chylomicron-TAG and apolipoprotein B-48 in 1 study. Semaglutide reduced postprandial TAG, apolipoprotein B-48 and VLDL in 1 study. Dulaglutide reduced postprandial apolipoprotein B-48 in 1 study. GLP-1 RAs have consistent beneficial effects on postprandial lipaemia with most of the data coming from studies with exenatide and liraglutide. Reduction of postprandial lipaemia might be one of the mechanisms behind the pleiotropic effects of GLP-1 RAs.

Keywords: Atherosclerosis; Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA); Postprandial lipaemia; Type 2 diabetes (T2DM).