Effect of tirzepatide on body fat distribution pattern in people with type 2 diabetes
Authors' conclusion
In this exploratory analysis, treatment with tirzepatide in people with T2D resulted in a significant reduction of z-VAT and z-LF, while z-aSAT was increased from an initially negative value, suggesting a possible treatment-related shift towards a more balanced fat distribution pattern with prominent VAT and LF loss.
Study context
- Population
- Participants with T2D in the SURPASS-3 MRI substudy; virtual control groups of ≥150 same-sex, similar-BMI participants from UK Biobank imaging studyUK Biobank imaging study 40,172
- Participants
- 296 participants
- Comparison
- Tirzepatide vs insulin degludec, each vs matched virtual control groups
- Primary endpoint
- Change in BMI-independent fat distribution z-scores (z-VAT, z-aSAT, z-LF) vs matched virtual control groups
- Follow-up
- Baseline to Week 52
Methodological detailsexploratory analysis, sex- and body mass index (BMI)-matched virtual control groups from UK Biobank imaging study
- Exploratory analysis
- Sex- and BMI-matched virtual control groups from UK Biobank imaging study
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Change in fat distribution z-scores
- Tirzepatide: change in z-VAT, mean (SD) (p < 0.001)
- −0.18 (0.58)
- Tirzepatide: change in z-LF, mean (SD) (p < 0.001)
- −0.54 (0.84)
- Tirzepatide: change in z-aSAT, mean (SD) (p = 0.012)
- +0.11 (0.50)
- Insulin degludec (IDeg): change in z-LF, mean (SD) (p = 0.001)
- −0.46 (0.90)
- IDeg: change in z-VAT, mean (SD) (p = 0.096)
- +0.13 (0.52)
- IDeg: change in z-aSAT, mean (SD) (p = 0.303)
- +0.09 (0.61)
Further findings
Baseline fat distribution vs matched virtual control groups (VCGs) (all SURPASS-3 participants)
- z-VAT, mean (SD) (p < 0.001)
- +0.42 (1.23)
- z-LF, mean (SD) (p < 0.001)
- +1.24 (0.92)
- z-aSAT, mean (SD) (p = 0.083)
- −0.13 (1.11)
- Baseline patterns similar across pooled tirzepatide and IDeg arms
Original publication
Effect of tirzepatide on body fat distribution pattern in people with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published 26 March 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →