Exendin-4 reduces fasting and postprandial glucose and decreases energy intake in healthy volunteers

• Published in: American journal of physiology: endocrinology and metabolism Vol. 281; no. 1; pp. E155 - E161
• Main Authors: Edwards, C. Mark B, Stanley, Sarah A, Davis, Rachel, Brynes, Audrey E, Frost, Gary S, Seal, Leighton J, Ghatei, Mohammad A, Bloom, Stephen R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.07.2001
• Subjects: Acetaminophen - blood; Adult; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic - blood; Animals; Area Under Curve; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Depression, Chemical; Energy Intake - drug effects; Energy Metabolism - drug effects; Fasting - metabolism; Female; Gastric Emptying - drug effects; Glucagon - blood; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; Hormones - blood; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Insulin - blood; Lizards - physiology; Male; Nausea - chemically induced; Peptide Fragments - blood; Peptides - administration & dosage; Peptides - adverse effects; Peptides - pharmacology; Postprandial Period - drug effects; Postprandial Period - physiology; Protein Precursors - blood; Satiety Response - drug effects; Venoms - administration & dosage; Venoms - adverse effects; Venoms - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0193-1849; 1522-1555
• DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.2001.281.1.e155

1  Endocrine Unit, and 2  Department of Dietetics, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom Exendin-4 is a long-acting potent agonist of the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor and may be useful in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. We examined the effects of an intravenous infusion of exendin-4 (0.05 pmol · kg 1 · min 1 ) compared with a control saline infusion in healthy volunteers. Exendin-4 reduced fasting plasma glucose levels and reduced the peak change of postprandial glucose from baseline (exendin-4, 1.5 ± 0.3 vs. saline, 2.2 ± 0.3 mmol/l, P <  0.05). Gastric emptying was delayed, as measured by the paracetamol absorption method. Volunteers consumed 19% fewer calories at a free-choice buffet lunch with exendin-4 (exendin-4, 867 ± 79 vs. saline 1,075 ± 93   kcal, P =  0.012), without reported side effects. Thus our results are in accord with the possibility that exendin-4 may be a potential treatment for type 2 diabetes, particularly for obese patients, because it acts to reduce plasma glucose at least partly by a delay in gastric emptying, as well as by reducing calorie intake. glucagon-like peptide 1; glycemia; gastric emptying; type 2 diabetes