Liraglutide treatment and acylcarnitine profiles in Egyptian obese insulin-resistant females

Abstract

Using metabolomics technique to investigate the response to liraglutide treatment produces helpful information regarding the effects of drug on metabolic regulation. This study tested whether loss of weight by liraglutide combined with decreasing acylcarnitines (AcylCNs) represent an effective strategy to improve insulin sensitivity in obese insulin-resistant females. AcylCN profiles by tandem mass spectrometry, plasma glycosylated hemoglobin, lactate, pyruvate, serum fasting glucose, creatinine, and insulin were assessed for obese insulin-resistant females before and after treatment with liraglutide for 3 months and non-obese females. All studied parameters in obese insulin-resistant females before treatment were significantly higher than control subjects except C0 and C3 levels which were significantly low. Liraglutide treatment was effective in weight loss, increased C0 and C3 levels and decreased values of all other studied parameters comparing with before treatment but still higher than control. However, creatinine level was unaffected by treatment. This study can conclude that circulating AcylCN profiles can reflect mitochondrial overload that happen in response to obesity. Also, AcylCNs can be used as markers for diagnosis of metabolic disorders. Liraglutide treatment leads to durable improvements in weight reduction and glycometabolic control and the utilization of intracellular glucose.