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Review
. 2024 Apr 29:11:1398059.
doi: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1398059. eCollection 2024.

Molecular mechanisms of semaglutide and liraglutide as a therapeutic option for obesity

Rafael Tamayo-Trujillo #  1 , Viviana A Ruiz-Pozo #  1 , Santiago Cadena-Ullauri  1 , Patricia Guevara-Ramírez  1 , Elius Paz-Cruz  1 , Raynier Zambrano-Villacres  2 , Daniel Simancas-Racines  3 , Ana Karina Zambrano  1
Affiliations
Review

Molecular mechanisms of semaglutide and liraglutide as a therapeutic option for obesity

Rafael Tamayo-Trujillo et al. Front Nutr. .

Abstract

Obesity, a chronic global health problem, is associated with an increase in various comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and certain types of cancer. The increasing global prevalence of obesity requires research into new therapeutic strategies. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, specifically semaglutide and liraglutide, designed for type 2 diabetes mellitus treatment, have been explored as drugs for the treatment of obesity. This minireview describes the molecular mechanisms of semaglutide and liraglutide in different metabolic pathways, and its mechanism of action in processes such as appetite regulation, insulin secretion, glucose homeostasis, energy expenditure, and lipid metabolism. Finally, several clinical trial outcomes are described to show the safety and efficacy of these drugs in obesity management.

Keywords: liraglutide; molecular mechanism; obesity; semaglutide; weight loss.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Metabolic outcomes of semaglutide and liraglutide treatment. It shows the molecular structure and recommended dose of GLP-1RA (semaglutide and liraglutide). Mechanisms of action of semaglutide and liraglutide in several metabolic pathways related with body weight loss.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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