Effects of glucagon-like peptide 1 on appetite and body weight: focus on the CNS
- Diabetes Centre, VU University Medical Centre, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Correspondence should be addressed to L van Bloemendaal; Email: l.vanbloemendaal{at}vumc.nl
Abstract
The delivery of nutrients to the gastrointestinal tract after food ingestion activates the secretion of several gut-derived mediators, including the incretin hormone glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1). GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA), such as exenatide and liraglutide, are currently employed successfully in the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. GLP-1RA improve glycaemic control and stimulate satiety, leading to reductions in food intake and body weight. Besides gastric distension and peripheral vagal nerve activation, GLP-1RA induce satiety by influencing brain regions involved in the regulation of feeding, and several routes of action have been proposed. This review summarises the evidence for a physiological role of GLP-1 in the central regulation of feeding behaviour and the different routes of action involved. Also, we provide an overview of presently available data on pharmacological stimulation of GLP-1 pathways leading to alterations in CNS activity, reductions in food intake and weight loss.
- Received in final form 28 November 2013
- Accepted 9 December 2013
- Made available online as an Accepted Preprint 9 December 2013
- © 2014 Society for Endocrinology
