Effects of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist dulaglutide on sexuality in healthy men: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study.

GLP-1 Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis Reward Sexual desire Sperm parameters

Journal

EBioMedicine
ISSN: 2352-3964
Titre abrégé: EBioMedicine
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 101647039

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
03 Sep 2024
Historique:
received: 26 01 2024
revised: 31 07 2024
accepted: 31 07 2024
medline: 5 9 2024
pubmed: 5 9 2024
entrez: 4 9 2024
Statut: aheadofprint

Résumé

The reward-regulatory properties of GLP-1 are attracting increasing interest. Animal studies show that GLP-1 receptor agonists not only reduce consumption of addictive substances, but also influence sexual behaviour. We aimed to investigate the effect of dulaglutide versus placebo on sexual desire in humans. In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial, healthy eugonadal men of normal weight, aged 18-50 years with active and satisfactory sex lifes were (1:1) randomly allocated to dulaglutide or placebo for four weeks. We assessed sexual desire (Massachusetts General Hospital-Sexual Functioning Questionnaire [MGH-SFQ]), hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (total testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH], luteinizing hormone [LH]) and sperm parameters. Changes in these parameters were compared under dulaglutide versus placebo using paired t-tests. 24 out of 26 randomised participants completed the study (13 participants randomised to dulaglutide first and 13 to placebo first). No change in the MGH-SFQ was observed after four weeks of dulaglutide versus placebo (estimated difference 0.58 [95% CI -0.83 to 2.00], p-value = 0.402). Hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (estimated differences: total testosterone (nmol/l) 0.9 [95% CI -1.5 to 3.3], FSH (IU/l) -0.2 [95% CI -0.3 to 0.0] and LH (IU/l) -0.8 [95% CI -1.5 to 0.0]) as well as sperm parameters all remained in the normal range without significant differences between the treatments. No severe adverse events occurred. In this study of healthy men, we found no evidence of negative impacts of a four-week treatment with the widely used GLP-1 receptor agonist dulaglutide on sexual desire, hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis hormones or sperm parameters. Swiss National Science Foundation (PZ00P3_193206), Gottfried and Julia Bangerter-Rhyner Foundation, Goldschmidt-Jacobson Foundation, Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
The reward-regulatory properties of GLP-1 are attracting increasing interest. Animal studies show that GLP-1 receptor agonists not only reduce consumption of addictive substances, but also influence sexual behaviour. We aimed to investigate the effect of dulaglutide versus placebo on sexual desire in humans.
METHODS METHODS
In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial, healthy eugonadal men of normal weight, aged 18-50 years with active and satisfactory sex lifes were (1:1) randomly allocated to dulaglutide or placebo for four weeks. We assessed sexual desire (Massachusetts General Hospital-Sexual Functioning Questionnaire [MGH-SFQ]), hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (total testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH], luteinizing hormone [LH]) and sperm parameters. Changes in these parameters were compared under dulaglutide versus placebo using paired t-tests.
FINDINGS RESULTS
24 out of 26 randomised participants completed the study (13 participants randomised to dulaglutide first and 13 to placebo first). No change in the MGH-SFQ was observed after four weeks of dulaglutide versus placebo (estimated difference 0.58 [95% CI -0.83 to 2.00], p-value = 0.402). Hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (estimated differences: total testosterone (nmol/l) 0.9 [95% CI -1.5 to 3.3], FSH (IU/l) -0.2 [95% CI -0.3 to 0.0] and LH (IU/l) -0.8 [95% CI -1.5 to 0.0]) as well as sperm parameters all remained in the normal range without significant differences between the treatments. No severe adverse events occurred.
INTERPRETATION CONCLUSIONS
In this study of healthy men, we found no evidence of negative impacts of a four-week treatment with the widely used GLP-1 receptor agonist dulaglutide on sexual desire, hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis hormones or sperm parameters.
FUNDING BACKGROUND
Swiss National Science Foundation (PZ00P3_193206), Gottfried and Julia Bangerter-Rhyner Foundation, Goldschmidt-Jacobson Foundation, Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences.

Identifiants

DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105284 PMID: 39232425
pubmed: 39232425
pii: S2352-3964(24)00320-7
doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105284
pii:
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Sous-ensembles de citation

IM

Pagination

105284

Informations de copyright

Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Declaration of interests The authors have declared that no conflict of interest exists.

Auteurs

Sophia Lengsfeld (S)

Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 8/12, 4031 Basel, Switzerland.

Leila Probst (L)

Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 8/12, 4031 Basel, Switzerland.

Yara Emara (Y)

Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 8/12, 4031 Basel, Switzerland.

Laura Werlen (L)

Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 8/12, 4031 Basel, Switzerland.

Deborah R Vogt (DR)

Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 8/12, 4031 Basel, Switzerland.

Cemile Bathelt (C)

Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 8/12, 4031 Basel, Switzerland.

Fabienne Baur (F)

Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 8/12, 4031 Basel, Switzerland.

Brida Caviezel (B)

Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 8/12, 4031 Basel, Switzerland.

Tanja Vukajlovic (T)

Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 8/12, 4031 Basel, Switzerland.

Manuel Fischer (M)

Reproductive Medicine and Gynecological Endocrinology (RME), Women's Health Clinic, University Hospital Basel, Vogesenstrasse 134, 4031 Basel, Switzerland.

Bettina Winzeler (B)

Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 8/12, 4031 Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address: bettina.winzeler@usb.ch.

Classifications MeSH