REVIEW article

Front. Immunol.

Sec. Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Disorders: Autoinflammatory Disorders

Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1610368

This article is part of the Research TopicBiomarkers and Beyond: Predicting Course and Tailoring Treatment in Inflammatory Bowel DiseasesView all 9 articles

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in IBD: Exploring the Crossroads of Metabolism and Inflammation

Provisionally accepted
Giulia MigliorisiGiulia Migliorisi1,2Roberto GabbiadiniRoberto Gabbiadini2Arianna Dal BuonoArianna Dal Buono2Matteo FerrarisMatteo Ferraris1,2Giuseppe PriviteraGiuseppe Privitera1,2Lorenzo PetronioLorenzo Petronio1,2Peter BertoliPeter Bertoli1,2Cristina BezzioCristina Bezzio1,2Alessandro ArmuzziAlessandro Armuzzi1,2*
  • 1Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Italy
  • 2IBD Center, Department of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy

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Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) represent a cornerstone in the treatment of diabetes and obesity and have emerged as a promising option for other metabolic disorders, including hepatic steatosis. Recent evidence highlights the direct and indirect anti-inflammatory properties of GLP-1, suggesting a potential additional therapeutic strategy for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, side effects of GLP-1 RAs, particularly those affecting the gastrointestinal system, may limit their use in patients with IBD. The rising prevalence of IBD worldwide and the ageing of the IBD population will likely increase the number of patients with metabolic comorbidities who may potentially benefit from a combination treatment with GLP-1 RAs. A profound comprehension of the physiological function of intestinal homeostasis and permeability is essential to more accurately evaluate the prospective application of GLP-1 RAs in patients with ongoing inflammation. While preclinical studies support this hypothesis, robust clinical evidence remains limited. This narrative review aims to provide a synthesis of current knowledge regarding the antiinflammatory properties of GLP-1, with a particular focus on safety concerns and potential future directions for its use in IBD management.

Keywords: IBD, GLP-1, GLP-1 receptor agonists, diabetes, Obesity

Received: 11 Apr 2025; Accepted: 26 Jun 2025.

Copyright: © 2025 Migliorisi, Gabbiadini, Dal Buono, Ferraris, Privitera, Petronio, Bertoli, Bezzio and Armuzzi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence: Alessandro Armuzzi, IBD Center, Department of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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