Once-Weekly Semaglutide Induces an Early Improvement in Body Composition in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A 26-Week Prospective Real-Life Study

Overview

Journal Nutrients

Date 2022 Jun 24

PMID 35745144

Authors

Sara Volpe

Giuseppe Lisco

Davide Racaniello

Margherita Fanelli

Valentina Colaianni

Alfredo Vozza

Vincenzo Triggiani

Carlo Sabba

Cosimo Tortorella

Giovanni De Pergola

Giuseppina Piazzolla

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Body weight (BW) loss is an essential therapeutic goal in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists are effective in reducing BW, but their effect on body composition has not yet been fully explored. The study aim was to assess the impact of Semaglutide on body composition in patients with T2D.

Methods: Forty patients with T2D were treated with subcutaneous Semaglutide and evaluated at the baseline (T0) and after three (T3) and six (T6) months. Body composition was assessed by a phase-sensitive bioimpedance analyzer. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) thickness was also measured with an ultrasonographic method (US-VAT). Anthropometric variables, muscular strength, and laboratory tests were analyzed and compared.

Results: A significant decrease in VAT, the fat mass index (FMI), and BW loss was observed at all observation times. US-VAT, the skeletal mass index (SMI), the fat-free mass index (FFMI), waist circumferences, and glycated hemoglobin had lessened after three months and remained stable at T6. No variations in muscle strength, the muscle quality index, and body water were found.

Discussion: In a real-life setting, Semaglutide provided significant weight loss mainly due to a reduction in the FMI and VAT, with non-clinically relevant changes in the SMI, the FFMI, and muscle strength. Most importantly, the results were obtained after three months of treatment and persisted thereafter.

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