Circulating concentrations of GLP-1 are associated with coronary atherosclerosis in humans

Background: GLP-1 is an incretine hormone which gets secreted from
intestinal L-cells in response to nutritional stimuli leading to
pancreatic insulin secretion and suppression of glucagon release.
GLP-1 further inhibits gastric motility and reduces appetite which
in conjunction improves postprandial glucose metabolism. Additional
vasoprotective effects have been described for GLP-1 in
experimental models. Despite these vasoprotective actions,
associations between endogenous levels of GLP-1 and cardiovascular
disease have yet not been investigated in humans which was the aim
of the present study. Methods: GLP-1 serum levels were assessed in
a cohort of 303 patients receiving coronary CT-angiography due to
typical or atypical chest pain. Results: GLP-1 was found to be
positively associated with total coronary plaque burden in a fully
adjusted model containing age, sex, BMI, hypertension, diabetes
mellitus, smoking, triglycerides, LDL-C (low density lipoprotein
cholesterol), hsCRP (high-sensitive C-reactive protein), and eGFR
(estimated glomerular filtration rate) (OR: 2.53 (95\% CI: 1.12 -
6.08; p = 0.03). Conclusion: Circulating GLP-1 was found to be
positivity associated with coronary atherosclerosis in humans. The
clinical relevance of this observation needs further
investigations.