The effect of liraglutide on MMC activity, gastrointestinal hormones, hunger ratings and ad libitum food intake in healthy volunteers.
This clinical trial is exploring how liraglutide (also known as Victoza) works in the body. Liraglutide is a medicine often used to treat diabetes and help with weight management. Researchers want to understand how it affects gut movements, natural stomach hormones, blood sugar, and hunger levels in healthy adult volunteers. During the trial, volunteers will receive either liraglutide or a dummy injection (placebo) made of saltwater. Scientists will track how the gut naturally cleans and empties itself between meals, known as gut motility. They will also measure how full participants feel and how much food they eat when offered a meal. This research aims to provide deeper insight into how weight-management medicines work inside the human digestive system.
At a glance
What is this study about?
Many people struggle with their weight, and scientists are constantly working to understand how our brains and stomachs talk to each other. When we eat, our digestive system releases natural hormones that tell our brain when we are full. Between meals, our gut also has a natural cleaning wave that sweeps through the stomach and intestines. This study aims to discover how a medicine called liraglutide changes these normal gut processes.
Liraglutide is an injection that mimics a natural gut hormone. Doctors already know it can help lower blood sugar and reduce appetite, but they want to look much closer at how it changes stomach movements. In this study, researchers will compare liraglutide against a harmless saltwater injection (a placebo) to see the exact differences it makes to stomach activity and natural hormone levels.
Participants will also be asked to rate their hunger levels and will be offered food to see how much they eat naturally. By learning how liraglutide alters gut movements and feelings of fullness in healthy adults, researchers hope to better understand how modern weight-loss medicines work, which could help improve future treatments for obesity.
Key takeaways
- Tests how the medicine liraglutide affects digestive movement and hunger.
- Open to healthy adult volunteers aged 18 and over.
- Compares the active medicine to a harmless dummy saltwater injection.
- Involves clinic visits, blood tests, and hunger surveys.
- Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Who may be eligible?
This trial is open to healthy adult volunteers aged 18 and older. Both men and women are welcome to take part. Because the trial aims to understand how the medicine works in a standard digestive system, researchers are looking for people in generally good health.
While the study focuses on obesity, participants will need to meet specific health checks to ensure it is safe for them to join. People with certain chronic digestive illnesses, serious medical conditions, or allergies to the study medicine may not be able to participate.
A medical screening will take place before anyone is enrolled. The research team will review your medical history and run standard health checks to confirm whether this trial is a good and safe fit for you.
Could this study suit you?
Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.
- I am aged 18 or older.
- I consider myself to be in generally good health.
- I am comfortable receiving injections under the skin.
- I am willing to have blood tests and gut monitoring.
- I can attend the required study visits at the research clinic.
What does participation involve?
If you take part, you will be asked to attend a research clinic for tests and monitoring. During the trial, you will receive an injection of either liraglutide or a dummy saltwater solution using a pre-filled pen. Because this is a controlled study, neither you nor the doctors may know which one you receive on a given day.
While at the clinic, the research team will measure your digestive system activity using specialised, non-invasive monitoring equipment. They will also take blood samples to check your blood sugar and gut hormone levels. You will fill out simple questionnaires about how hungry or full you feel, and you will be provided with meals so the team can measure how much you eat.
The trial requires dedicated study visits that may last several hours to track your gut over time. The study team will explain the exact number of visits, tests, and total weeks involved before you agree to join.
Potential risks and benefits
Locations (1)
- —UnverifiedBelgium
Common questions
What is liraglutide?
Liraglutide is a medicine that acts like a natural gut hormone. It is commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes and to support weight loss.
What is a placebo?
A placebo is a dummy treatment with no active medicine, such as sterile saltwater. It allows researchers to see if changes are truly caused by the drug being tested.
Will taking part help me lose weight?
This short-term study is designed to measure body processes rather than provide a long-term weight-loss treatment, so you should not expect lasting weight changes.
Are the injections painful?
The injections use a very fine needle just under the skin, similar to an insulin pen, which usually causes only brief, minor discomfort.
Can I leave the study if I change my mind?
Yes. Taking part is completely voluntary, and you can withdraw at any point without giving a reason.
How to find out more
Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.
Interested in taking part?
Discussion
Community discussion
Powered by our forum at community.patient.info. Please be respectful — this is not medical advice.