Effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 analogs on prolactin: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial

Cyrill Muller; Sophia Lengsfeld; Leila Probst; Fabienne Baur; Emara Yara; Laura Werlen; Deborah Vogt; Cemile Bathelt; Bettina Winzeler

doi:10.1530/endoabs.99.P549

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Endocrine Abstracts (2024) 99 P549 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.99.P549

ECE2024 Poster Presentations Pituitary and Neuroendocrinology (120 abstracts)

Effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 analogs on prolactin: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial

Cyrill Müller ¹ , Sophia Lengsfeld ¹ , Leila Probst ¹ , Fabienne Baur ¹ , Emara Yara ¹ , Laura Werlen ¹ , Deborah Vogt ¹ , Cemile Bathelt ¹ & Bettina Winzeler ¹

Err

Author affiliations

¹University Hospital Basel, Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Basel, Switzerland

Background: Research indicates that prolactin, a hormone linked to lactation, may influence the brain’s reward system by interacting with dopamine. GLP-1 analogues, prescribed for diabetes and obesity, are known for their appetite-suppressant effects. With GLP-1 receptors found in mood and reward-related brain regions, a potential role of GLP-1 in reward regulation is suggested. A knowledge gap exists regarding the interaction between GLP-1 and prolactin in the context of the reward system. This study aims to explore this gap by investigating changes in prolactin on GLP-1 analogue and placebo treatment.

Methods: This is a predefined secondary analysis of a single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial conducted at the University Hospital Basel in Switzerland. We enrolled 26 healthy eugonad men of normal weight (BMI 18.5-25 kg/m² or BMI 25.1-30 kg/m² and waist circumference <102 cm), aged between 18 and 50 years. Participants were randomized to a 4-week treatment of the GLP-1 analogue dulaglutide 1.5 mg/week and placebo in random order. We evaluated the changes in prolactin from baseline to week 4 in dulaglutide and placebo treated participants using paired t-tests.

Results: Between May 2021 and February 2022, 24 out of 26 randomized participants completed the study. Median age at inclusion was 24.5 years old (IQR [21.0, 29.0]), median BMI was 23.9 kg/m² (IQR [22.2, 25.0]). The average change in prolactin levels from baseline to 4 weeks of dulaglutide was -31.1 mU/l (SD 87.0 mU/l) and +44.6 mU/l (SD 113.1 mU/l) on placebo (estimated differences in prolactin levels from baseline to end of treatment under dulaglutide and under placebo -75.68 mU/l (95% CI: [-158.68, 7.33])).

Conclusion: In healthy men, dulaglutide led to a decrease in prolactin levels after 4 weeks of dulaglutide compared to placebo. These preliminary results support the hypothesis that GLP-1 analogues may interact with the dopamine-prolactin pathway.