Research Summary

Analyzed using Evidence Intelligence™

Liraglutide shows no effect on plasma GDF15 levels

Last updated July 4, 2026

Key finding

Liraglutide treatment decreased body weight significantly.

This study investigated the effects of liraglutide on plasma GDF15 levels in patients with type 2 diabetes, finding no significant changes in GDF15 levels.

Quick read

Study at a glance

The essential study design details in one scan.

EvidenceScore™

Moderate

Study type

RCTs

Follow-up

Medium-Term (3–12 mo)

Risk of bias

Some Concerns

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Plain-language summary

What this paper says

A plain-language read of the study’s main message and where it applies.

Study focus

This study investigated the effects of liraglutide on plasma GDF15 levels in patients with type 2 diabetes, finding no significant changes in GDF15 levels.

Clinical relevance

Understanding the effects of liraglutide on weight and biomarkers like GDF15 is crucial for diabetes management. While weight loss is beneficial for patients with type 2 diabetes, the lack of effect on GDF15 levels suggests that liraglutide may not influence this particular biomarker, which could have implications for understanding its overall metabolic effects.

Keep in mind

The study did not assess long-term effects of liraglutide on GDF15 levels. Sample size and population characteristics may limit generalizability. The effectiveness of liraglutide on other metabolic parameters was not evaluated.

Published in

Journal Reference

Publication details and source links for this paper.

Carlijn AH, Maaike ES, Maurice BB, et al. Liraglutide treatment does not modify plasma GDF15 levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. Experimental Physiology. 2024;109(8):1292-1304. doi:10.1113/EP091815

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Main Effects

Liraglutide treatment resulted in a significant decrease in body weight by 4.5 kg (p=0.01).

Liraglutide did not modify plasma GDF15 levels in any patients.

Placebo treatment also did not affect plasma GDF15 levels.

Evidence network

How this study fits

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Evidence Context

This study contributes evidence to Liraglutide and Body weight, Growth differentiation factor 15.

This study contributes evidence to

Intervention

Liraglutide

Outcome

Body weight

Evidence topic

Weight Loss

Primary intervention

Liraglutide

Primary outcomes

Body weight
Growth differentiation factor 15

Evidence topics

Weight Loss GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Liraglutide

Primary intervention

Liraglutide

Primary outcomes

Body weight Growth differentiation factor 15

Evidence relationships

Intervention and outcome relationships this study adds to the evidence network.

Evidence pairs

Relationships

Evidence topics

contributes_evidence

Editorial context

Why this study matters

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Evidence network role

This section describes how the study fits into the current evidence network. It does not determine whether an intervention works on its own.

Moderate contributionModerate confidenceNetwork score: 60

Why it is useful

Contributes to 2 evidence relationships
Includes primary outcome data
Linked to 3 direct semantic evidence topics

Topic contributions

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

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Primary evidence

Evidence relationship

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Body Weight

Related evidence

Evidence relationship

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Inflammatory Markers

Save evidence

Evidence topic

Weight Loss

Save evidence

Core evidence

Study findings

The primary outcomes reported in this study.

Body weight

Liraglutide → Body weight

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: 83; Strong
ImpactScore™: 83; Positive
ConsistencyScore™: 100; consistent

Based on 6 studies

Add to Evidence Tracker

Growth differentiation factor 15

Liraglutide → Growth differentiation factor 15

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: Emerging; Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™: 50; Neutral
ConsistencyScore™: unclear; Not enough independent studies

Based on 1 study

Add to Evidence Tracker

Evidence Library

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Evidence Suggest

Liraglutide led to a weight reduction of 4.5 kg (p=0.01).
No change in plasma GDF15 levels was observed with liraglutide.
Placebo also showed no effect on GDF15 levels.

Who this applies to

Adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Patients undergoing treatment with liraglutide.

Keep in Mind

The study focused solely on the effects of liraglutide and did not explore other treatments.
Findings may not apply to populations outside the study's sample.
The lack of effect on GDF15 levels suggests further research is needed to understand liraglutide's mechanisms.

Between the Lines

The study did not assess long-term effects of liraglutide on GDF15 levels.
Sample size and population characteristics may limit generalizability.
The effectiveness of liraglutide on other metabolic parameters was not evaluated.

Evidence Library

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Connected Evidence

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Relationships organized using the Dediabetes Evidence Intelligence™ framework.

This study contributes to evidence on GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Body Weight, GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Inflammatory Markers.

Related evidence relationships

Explore in Evidence Explorer

This study contributes to the evidence on the following intervention-outcome relationships.

Medications

Detailed evidence

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists → Body Weight

Medications

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: 83; Strong
ImpactScore™: 83; Positive
ConsistencyScore™: 100; consistent

Based on 6 studies

View evidence

Medications

Detailed evidence

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists → Inflammatory Markers

Medications

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: Emerging; Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™: 50; Neutral
ConsistencyScore™: unclear; Not enough independent studies

Based on 1 study

View evidence

Included in these evidence collections

Curated evidence collections and hubs this study is part of.

Body Weight Evidence Hub

All studies measuring Body Weight

6 studies

outcome_hub

Measures Body Weight as a key outcome.

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Evidence Hub

All studies on GLP-1 Receptor Agonists

6 studies

intervention_hub

Contributes to GLP-1 Receptor Agonists evidence base.

Inflammatory Markers Evidence Hub

All studies measuring Inflammatory Markers

1 studies

outcome_hub

Measures Inflammatory Markers as a key outcome.

Recent Diabetes Research

Latest published studies

recency_collection

Published within the last 2 years.

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All studies on Liraglutide and Body weight

Intervention: LiraglutideOutcome: Body weight

6 results

All studies on Liraglutide and Growth differentiation factor 15

Intervention: LiraglutideOutcome: Growth differentiation factor 15

1 results

All studies on Liraglutide

Intervention: Liraglutide

6 results

All studies measuring Body weight

Outcome: Body weight

6 results

All studies measuring Growth differentiation factor 15

Outcome: Growth differentiation factor 15

1 results

Questions answered by this study

Generated from the study's connected evidence using Evidence Intelligence™.

Does GLP-1 Receptor Agonists affect body weight?

Strong Evidence

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists may improve Body Weight.

ConsistencyScore™: Results are consistent across studies.

Ranked evidence signals

1
Body weight
EvidenceScore™ Strong | EvidenceScore™ 82.9 | moderate positive | ConsistencyScore™ Consistent | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on 33 supporting studies with consistent results and a positive effect signal.

Limitations

Population details are unavailable.

View Full Evidence

Does GLP-1 Receptor Agonists improve inflammatory markers?

Strong Evidence

Current evidence does not show a clear benefit of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists for Inflammatory Markers.

ConsistencyScore™: Results are consistent across studies.

Ranked evidence signals

1
Growth differentiation factor 15
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | neutral | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on 3 supporting studies and existing graph evidence signals.

Limitations

Population details are unavailable.

View Full Evidence

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Next steps

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Evidence topics

Follow the topics this study contributes to.

Weight Loss Evidence Hub GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Evidence Hub Liraglutide Evidence Hub

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All studies on Liraglutide and Body weight All studies on Liraglutide and Growth differentiation factor 15

Related research

Read related research summaries.

Liraglutide is well tolerated in diabetes patients undergoing hemodialysis.Liraglutide may reduce stroke recurrence in type 2 diabetes patients GLP-1RA improves metabolic outcomes in MASLD Liraglutide 3 mg pathway improves weight loss.Liraglutide improves glycaemic control in adults with T2D

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