MISSISSAUGA, Ontario A new study conducted by University of Toronto researchers found that GLP-1 analogues not only help to lower blood-glucose levels, but also have the added benefit of reducing body mass index and waist circumference.

Study author Bernard Zinman, a professor of medicine at the University of Toronto, found that patients treated with a liraglutide, a GLP-1 analogue, achieved "significant" reductions in both BMI and waist circumference at the 26-week mark of the study. “In this context, we continue to explore innovations in diabetes management,” Zinman said.

Examples of GLP-1 analogues are Novo Nordisk's Victoza (liraglutide) and Lilly's Byetta (exenatide).

The findings of the study, "The human GLP-1 analogue, liraglutide, improves BMI and waist circumference in patients with Type 2 diabetes: Meta-analysis of six phase 3 trials," were presented at The Canadian Diabetes Association/The Canadian Society for Endocrinology and Metabolism Professional Conference and Annual Meetings, held last month in Edmonton, Ontario.