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Beyond Glycemic Control: GLP-1RA–Based Therapies and Emerging Targets Beyond the Metabolic Axis
Matuszewski W, Wołos-Kłosowicz K, Włodarczyk P, Waśniewska P, Modzelewski R, Górny JM, Szklarz M, Juranek J.. Journal of clinical medicine, 2026-02-06
Topic: Gut, metabolism and diet
Background: /Objectives. Modern diabetology is not only about reducing glycemia, it has a real impact on many other factors leading to the development of complications, deterioration of quality and shortening of life. GLP-1 receptor agonists fit perfectly into this model of diabetes therapy, which, apart from their excel-lent effect on the metabolic-renal-cardiac axis, also show many pleiotropic effects and innovative potential applications, which we described in this paper. Methods. The study presents an analysis of current literature data on the use of GLP-1RA, with particular emphasis on their pleiotropic effects. Results. GLP-1RAs have been shown to support the treatment of substance use disorders, including alcohol, cannabinoids, cocaine, and opioids. They are associated with improvements in mental health outcomes, including a reduction in de-pressive symptoms. GLP-1 RAs also demonstrate neuroprotective properties, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. While they are currently the most effective pharmacological agents for the treat-ment of obesity, they also significantly reduce hepatic steatosis and are associated with a decreased risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma. Another promising area of investigation is their positive impact on the genitourinary system, including potential protective effects against prostate cancer, improvements in libido, beneficial effects in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and even enhancements in fertility. Additionally, this class of medications has been reported to exert favorable effects on pain associated with osteoarthritis and to reduce the frequency of obstructive sleep apnea episodes. Conclusions. Considering the overall sci-entific evidence presented, it is important to note that GLPs are no longer just antihyperglycemic drugs but are remarkably versatile, with a future in almost every field of medicine. GLP-1 RAs represent a break-through and the future of many new areas of activity, and their full potential has yet to be fully discovered.
Key findings
- They are associated with improvements in mental health outcomes, including a reduction in de-pressive symptoms.
- While they are currently the most effective pharmacological agents for the treat-ment of obesity, they also significantly reduce hepatic steatosis and are associated with a decreased risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma.
- Additionally, this class of medications has been reported to exert favorable effects on pain associated with osteoarthritis and to reduce the frequency of obstructive sleep apnea episodes.
- Considering the overall sci-entific evidence presented, it is important to note that GLPs are no longer just antihyperglycemic drugs but are remarkably versatile, with a future in almost every field of medicine.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 41/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on journal's citation record, times cited, citations per year, impact for its field and year, cited by studies here, still being cited, senior author's track record, institution's track record and multi-centre collaboration, so those were left out: it earned 24 of the 58 points we could judge it on, which is 41 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of clinical medicine) |
| Journal's citation record | — / 4 | No journal record from OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | — / 7 | No citation count (not found in OpenAlex) — left out of this score |
| Citations per year | — / 5 | No citation count or no year — left out of this score |
| Impact for its field and year | — / 6 | No field-weighted citation impact (OpenAlex has none yet) — left out of this score |
| Cited by studies here | — / 6 | Not yet checked against this library's citation graph — left out of this score |
| Still being cited | — / 4 | No yearly citation counts — left out of this score |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | Senior author's record not available — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | — / 3 | No institution listed in OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Multi-centre collaboration | — / 3 | Institutions not listed — left out of this score |
| Indexed in PubMed | 1 / 2 | Not in PubMed, but has a DOI |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 24 / 58 | Scored on 11 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 24 of the 58 points we could judge it on is 41 out of 100. |
| Total | 41 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Matuszewski, W., Wołos-Kłosowicz, K., Włodarczyk, P., Waśniewska, P., Modzelewski, R., Górny, J. M., et al. (2026). Beyond Glycemic Control: GLP-1RA–Based Therapies and Emerging Targets Beyond the Metabolic Axis. Journal of clinical medicine. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202602.0277.v1
Vancouver
Matuszewski W, Wołos-Kłosowicz K, Włodarczyk P, Waśniewska P, Modzelewski R, Górny JM, et al. Beyond Glycemic Control: GLP-1RA–Based Therapies and Emerging Targets Beyond the Metabolic Axis. Journal of clinical medicine. 2026. doi:10.20944/preprints202602.0277.v1.
BibTeX
@article{matuszewski2026-fe439787,
author = {Matuszewski, W. and Wołos-Kłosowicz, K. and Włodarczyk, P. and Waśniewska, P. and Modzelewski, R. and Górny, J. M. and Szklarz, M. and Juranek, J.},
title = {{Beyond Glycemic Control: GLP-1RA–Based Therapies and Emerging Targets Beyond the Metabolic Axis}},
journal = {Journal of clinical medicine},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.20944/preprints202602.0277.v1},
url = {https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202602.0277.v1}
}
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