Adelaide study confirms beneficial effects of GLP-1 on gastric emptying

A study in Adelaide has confirmed that glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) has an important physiological role in slowing the rate of gastric empty and diminishing postprandial increases in blood glucose levels. The study involved 10 healthy volunteers who were given a GLP-1 antagonist or placebo at various times before or after a standardised, radio-labelled meal. Abolishing the usual effect of endogenous GLP-1 led to accelerated gastric emptying as measured by gamma scintigraphy. There was an associated increase in the overall glycaemic response to the meal, peak plasma glucose levels and plasma insulin concentrations. Despite strong preclinical evidence suggesting that GLP-1 was a regulator of gastric emptying, a previous study failed to find any effect in humans, probably because of methodological difficulties, the study authors noted. The role of GLP-1 had attracted close attention in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, with GLP-1 agonists and DPP-IV inhibitors now available as a tool for reducing blood glucose levels. The Adelaide researchers noted that even small changes in gastric emptying could have a substantial effect on postprandial blood glucose levels, both in healthy individuals and those with diabetes. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 2009; published online.  ...