Effects of exercise and liraglutide on vascular health and inflammation during weight loss maintenance: a prespecified secondary analysis of the S-LiTE trial
Obesity and inactivity are linked to endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. In this secondary analysis of the S-LiTE trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04122716 ; EudraCT identifier: 2015-005585-32 ), 130 adults with obesity completed a diet-induced weight loss plan, followed by randomization to weight maintenance with exercise and/or liraglutide for 52 weeks. We show that exercise, alone or in combination with liraglutide, reduces carotid intima-media thickness and systemic pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (interleukin-6 and interferon-γ). Combination treatment also improves endothelial function biomarkers (sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and tPA). Liraglutide alone shows no such improvements. Overall, regular physical activity, with or without GLP-1R agonists, is essential for promoting vascular health in adults with obesity.
Authors
- Rasmus Michael Sandsdal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0590-6285)
- Roopameera Thirumathyam (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8386-4864)
- Lasse Gliemann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0382-2523)
- Signe S. Torekov (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6779-0252)
- Kirstine N. Bojsen‐Møller (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1962-5302)
- Christian R. Juhl (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3024-4017)
- Joachim Størling (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7529-4264)
- Sten Madsbad (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5017-1815)
- Sarah Byberg (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7363-4595)
- Joachim Holt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1307-9680)
- Simon Birk Kjær Jensen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1437-2150)
- Jens Juul Holst (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6853-3805)
- Jens Dahlgaard Hove (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5600-5623)
- Julie Rehné Jørgensen
- Thomas Bandholm (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6884-1971)
- Bente Stallknecht
- Charalambos Antoniades
- Haithem Ghalib Ali Alkhefagie
- Lisa M. Olsen
- Else Marie Bladbjerg
Institutions
- University of Copenhagen (DK)
- Steno Diabetes Centers (DK)
- University of Southern Denmark (DK)
- Hvidovre Hospital (DK)
- Copenhagen University Hospital (DK)
- University of Oxford (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Metabolism
- Published
- 2026-06-24
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-026-01554-4
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Diabetes Treatment and Management
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 9.62
Funders
- Hjerteforeningen
- Novo Nordisk
- Helsefonden
- Hvidovre Hospital
- Novo Nordisk Fonden
- Horizon 2020 Framework Programme