Personalized GLP-1 & GLP-1/GIP Medications

What's the difference between GLP-1 and GIP? Both sound similar, and do similar things, but what is the difference?

Well, both of them are "incretin hormones," hormones that cause reductions in blood sugar. Incretin hormones are important to weight loss and type 2 diabetes management because they reduce blood sugar. Incretin hormones make your body release more insulin, which controls what your body does with blood sugar, turning it into muscle or fat, for example.

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GLP-1 stands for "Glucagon-Like Peptide 1." GLP-1 is a hormone that your body produces naturally while helping you reduce appetite and feel fuller. Normally GLP-1 is used in the phrase "GLP1 Receptor Agonist," which is the general name for a class of drugs, which helps treat type 2 diabetes and manage weight. GLP-1 drugs work by triggering the same reactions that natural GLP-1 does in your body.

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GLP-1 is well studied, and its effects are well known, but in general it:

• Encourages the release of insulin

• Delays movement speed of food through the intestines

• Encourages positive cell regeneration in the brain

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GIP, on the other hand, stands for "Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide." Its name is a lot longer than GLP-1, but it works in a very similar way, in that GIP also helps influence memory formation and regulate appetite and feelings of fullness. While GIP is much less well studied than GLP-1, its major functionality encouraging insulin production makes it a great pair to boost the effectiveness of GLP-1.

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Now that you're more familiar with what GLP-1 and GIP are, here's how they're actually different:

• GIP and GLP-1 bind to different hormone receptors

• GIP is thought to promote bone formation

• GIP increases fat accumulation

• GLP1 has positive protective effects on the heart

• GLP1 considered more likely to suppress appetite

• GLP1 has more neuroprotective effects (it is being investigated as a treatment for Alzheimer's, for example)

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It's important to know the difference between these two because different formulations of GLP-1 drugs can have both GLP-1 and GIP agonists in them. For example,

Tirzepatide is a combination of both GLP-1 and GIP agonists. 

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Knowing whether a weight loss medication is primarily GIP or GLP-1 is important and can change how it works and affects patients. Is a formulation consisting of both GLP-1 and GIP right for you? That's a conversation to have with your primary care physician or other qualified medical professional. We advise everyone considering GLP-1 or GIP medications, to always consult a physician/doctor for personalized medical advice.

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This information we are providing is widely recognized and available and is not intended to circumvent a doctor/patient conversation.

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