Clinical Research Directory

Visceral Adipose Tissue and Liver Changes Associated With Semaglutide in CKD

Obesity is considered a global pandemic and is associated with various diseases and metabolic complications, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, cholesterol disorders, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and kidney disease. Obesity can affect the kidneys in two main ways: indirectly, through mechanisms related to diabetes mellitus and/or high blood pressure, and directly, through complex proteins called "adipokines," which are produced by adipocytes. Many of these adipokines are secreted by adipocytes under normal conditions, as they contribute to maintaining immune defenses and energy production. However, in obesity these adipokines acquire harmful properties and produce chronic inflammation in vital organs, such as the heart, blood vessels, the pancreas, and the kidney, leading to a deterioration in liver and kidney function. New drugs such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1Ras / Semaglutide), are not only effective to regulate blood sugar levels, but they produce weight loss improving kidney and liver function. However, little is known about their specific effect on the adipose tissue. Therefore, studies focusing on how these drugs work in fat could help us understand how diseased adipose tissue can affect patients with heart, liver, and kidney disease. Investigators are asking patients who attend the diabetes clinics associated with the University of Alberta to join the study.