Abstract
BackgroundGLP-1 is an incretine hormone which gets secreted from intestinal L-cells in response to nutritional stimuli leading to pancreatic insulin secretion and suppression of glucagon release. GLP-1 further inhibits gastric motility and reduces appetite which in conjunction improves postprandial glucose metabolism. Additional vasoprotective effects have been described for GLP-1 in experimental models. Despite these vasoprotective actions, associations between endogenous levels of GLP-1 and cardiovascular disease have yet not been investigated in humans which was the aim of the present study.MethodsGLP-1 serum levels were assessed in a cohort of 303 patients receiving coronary CT-angiography due to typical or atypical chest pain.ResultsGLP-1 was found to be positively associated with total coronary plaque burden in a fully adjusted model containing age, sex, BMI, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, triglycerides, LDL-C (low density lipoprotein cholesterol), hsCRP (high-sensitive C-reactive protein), and eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) (OR: 2.53 (95% CI: 1.12 – 6.08; p = 0.03).ConclusionCirculating GLP-1 was found to be positivity associated with coronary atherosclerosis in humans. The clinical relevance of this observation needs further investigations.
Highlights
Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is an incretine hormone which gets secreted from intestinal L-cells in response to nutritional stimuli leading to pancreatic insulin secretion and suppression of glucagon release
Levels of total GLP-1 are associated with coronary plaque burden in humans Serum concentrations of GLP-1 were assessed in a cohort of 303 patients undergoing coronary artery CT angiography due to typical or atypical chest pain
The mean age of the study population was 63 years, 33% were female, the body mass index was 26.2 kg/m2, hypertension was present in 48%, family history of coronary artery disease (CAD) in 25%, 7.2% were smokers and 7% had diabetes
Summary
GLP-1 is an incretine hormone which gets secreted from intestinal L-cells in response to nutritional stimuli leading to pancreatic insulin secretion and suppression of glucagon release. Additional vasoprotective effects have been described for GLP-1 in experimental models Despite these vasoprotective actions, associations between endogenous levels of GLP-1 and cardiovascular disease have yet not been investigated in humans which was the aim of the present study. GLP-1 suppresses glucagon release from pancreatic alpha cells, impairs gastric motility and reduces appetite which in conjunction improves postprandial glucose metabolism [5]. Relevance of endogenous GLP-1 serum levels for cardiovascular risk prediction in humans has so far not been considered. Impaired GLP-1 secretion has been reported in obese and diabetic subjects in some studies [6,7,8]. This study aimed to assess associations between GLP-1 serum levels and coronary atherosclerosis in humans
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