Liraglutide changes body composition and lowers added sugar intake in overweight persons with insulin pump‐treated type 1 diabetes

Abstract Aims To present secondary outcome analyses of liraglutide treatment in overweight adults with insulin pump‐treated type 1 diabetes (T1D), focusing on changes in body composition and dimensions, and to evaluate changes in food intake to identify potential dietary drivers of liraglutide‐associated weight loss. Materials and methods A 26‐week randomized placebo‐controlled study was conducted to investigate the efficacy and safety of liraglutide 1.8 mg daily in 44 overweight adults with insulin pump‐treated T1D and glucose levels above target, and demonstrated significant glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c)‐ and body weight‐reducing effects. For secondary outcome analysis, dual X‐ray absorptiometry scans were completed at Weeks 0 and 26, and questionnaire‐based food frequency recordings were obtained at Weeks 0, 13 and 26 to characterize liraglutide‐induced changes in body composition and food intake. Results Total fat and lean body mass decreased in liraglutide‐treated participants (fat mass −4.6 kg [95% confidence interval {CI} −5.7; −3.5], P < 0.001; lean mass −2.5 kg [95% CI −3.2;‐1.7], P < 0.001), but remained stable in placebo‐treated participants (fat mass −0.3 kg [95% CI −1.3;0.8], P = 0.604; lean mass 0.0 kg [95% CI −0.7;0.7]; P = 0.965 [between‐group P values <0.001]). Participants reduced their energy intake numerically more in the liraglutide arm (−1.1 MJ [95% CI −2.0;‐0.02], P = 0.02) than in the placebo arm (−0.9 MJ [95% CI −2.0;0.1], P = 0.22), but the between‐group difference was statistically insignificant ( P = 0.42). However, energy derived from added sugars decreased by 27% in the liraglutide arm compared with an increase of 14% in the placebo arm ( P = 0.004). Conclusions Liraglutide lowered fat and lean body mass compared with placebo. Further, liraglutide reduced intake of added sugars. However, no significant difference in total daily energy intake was detected between liraglutide‐ and placebo‐treated participants.