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Liraglutide Prevents Post-Menopausal Weight and Fat Gain in Rats

RPEP-091722024Rossetti, Camila Lüdke; Andrade, Iris Soares; Fonte Boa, Luiz Fernando; Neves, Marcelo Barbosa; Fassarella, Larissa Brito; Bertasso, Iala Milene; Souza, Maria das Graças Coelho de; Bouskela, Eliete; Lisboa, Patrícia Cristina; Takyia, Christina Maeda; Trevenzoli, Isis Hara; Fortunato, Rodrigo Soares; Carvalho, Denise Pires de
Animal StudyPreliminary evidence
The takeaway

Liraglutide prevented body weight gain, fat mass accumulation, and glucose intolerance in ovariectomized rats, a model for post-menopausal metabolic changes.

All metabolic changes prevented

Liraglutide blocked every measured metabolic consequence of ovariectomy: weight gain, fat accumulation, blood sugar rise, and glucose intolerance

What the researchers found

Liraglutide prevented body weight gain, fat mass accumulation, and glucose intolerance in ovariectomized rats, a model of post-menopausal metabolic changes.

Why it matters

Many women gain significant weight during menopause due to declining estrogen. GLP-1 drugs might offer a targeted treatment option for this specific type of weight gain.

The numbers in context

Ovariectomy led to increased body weight, adipose tissue mass, basal blood glucose, and impaired glucose tolerance. Liraglutide prevented these effects.

How the study worked

Animal study using Wistar rats — control group, ovariectomized group, and ovariectomized + liraglutide group.

Who was studied

Ovariectomized Wistar rats (model of post-menopausal metabolic changes)

What this study cannot tell us

This is a rat study, and results may not directly translate to human menopause. Ovariectomy in young rats is not identical to natural menopause.

How to read the evidence

Rated preliminary: well-controlled animal study, but ovariectomy in young rats differs from natural human menopause.

When this study was published

Published in 2024. Contributes to growing interest in GLP-1 drugs for menopause-related metabolic issues.

The bigger picture

Many women gain significant weight during menopause due to estrogen decline. GLP-1 drugs might offer a targeted treatment option for this specific type of metabolic deterioration, though human studies are needed.

Questions still open

  • Does liraglutide compensate for estrogen loss or work through independent mechanisms?
  • Would this translate to human menopausal women?

Common questions

Can GLP-1 drugs help with menopausal weight gain?
In rats, liraglutide completely prevented the weight and metabolic changes from estrogen loss. Human studies in menopausal women are needed.
Why do women gain weight during menopause?
Declining estrogen levels reduce energy expenditure and increase fat storage, particularly in the abdomen. Insulin resistance also worsens.

Read the original research

Liraglutide prevents body and fat mass gain in ovariectomized Wistar rats.

Molecular and cellular endocrinology, 594, 112374

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Rossetti, Camila Lüdke; Andrade, Iris Soares; Fonte Boa, Luiz Fernando; Neves, Marcelo Barbosa; Fassarella, Larissa Brito; Bertasso, Iala Milene; Souza, Maria das Graças Coelho de; Bouskela, Eliete; Lisboa, Patrícia Cristina; Takyia, Christina Maeda; Trevenzoli, Isis Hara; Fortunato, Rodrigo Soares; Carvalho, Denise Pires de. (2024). Liraglutide prevents body and fat mass gain in ovariectomized Wistar rats.. Molecular and cellular endocrinology, 594, 112374. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mce.2024.112374