Effects of lixisenatide versus liraglutide (short- and long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonists) on esophageal and gastric function in patients with type 2 diabetes

<b>Objective</b> <p>Short-acting GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) decelerate gastric emptying more than long-acting GLP-1 RAs. Delayed gastric emptying is a risk factor for gastroesophageal reflux disease. We aimed to measure esophageal reflux and function as well as gastric emptying and acid secretion during treatment with short- (lixisenatide) and long-acting (liraglutide) GLP-1 RAs.</p> <p><b>Research Design and Methods</b></p> <p>57 subjects with type 2 diabetes were randomized to a 10-week treatment with lixisenatide or liraglutide. Changes from baseline in the number of reflux episodes during 24-hour pH registration in the lower esophagus, lower esophagus sphincter pressure, gastric emptying (¹³C-sodium octanoate acid breath test) and gastric acid secretion (¹³C-calcium carbonate breath test) were analyzed.</p> <p><b>Results</b></p> <p>Gastric emptying half-time was delayed by 52 min (16, 88) min with lixisenatide (p = 0.0065) and by 25 min (3, 46) with liraglutide (p = 0.025). There was no difference in the number of reflux episodes (33.7±4.1 vs. 40.1±5.3, p = 0.17) or the extent of gastroesophageal reflux (DeMeester-Score) (35.1±6.7 vs. 39.7±7.5, p = 0.61) with similar results for the individual GLP-1 RAs. No significant changes from baseline in other parameters of esophageal motility and lower esophageal sphincter function were observed. Gastric acidity decreased significantly by -20.7 (-40.6, -0.8) % (p = 0.042) with the GLP-1 RAs.</p> <p><b>Conclusions</b></p> <p>Lixisenatide exerted a more pronounced influence on gastric emptying after breakfast than liraglutide. Neither lixisenatide, nor liraglutide had significant effects on esophageal reflux or motility. Gastric acid secretion appears to be slightly reduced by GLP-1 RAs.</p> <br> <br>