The Study
Action of glucagon and glucagon-like peptide-1-(7-36) amide on lipolysis in human subcutaneous adipose tissue and skeletal muscle in vivo.
This study tested two hormones in 9 people’s muscles and belly fat to see if they made fat break down. It found no change, but it only looked at one tiny situation — like checking if a single key opens one door, then saying it can’t open any door ever. We can’t say it’s true for everyone or in real life.
Analysis score
Maximum 44 for a cross-sectional study.
Where the score came from
Scientists tested if two hormones, glucagon and GLP-1, make fat cells break down fat in humans, using a tiny probe inserted under the skin.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 527 / 100
Quality score
Snapshots of a population at a single point in time, or descriptions of small groups. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine cause and effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1The hormones didn't trigger fat burning in humans under these conditions, but the test worked because another chemical (isoprenaline) clearly did.
- 2Glucagon and GLP-1 did not change fat breakdown.
- 3Isoprenaline made fat breakdown go up by 249% in fat tissue and 72% in muscle.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
Year
2001
Authors
É. Bertin, Peter Arner, J. Bolinder, E. Hagström-Toft
Related Content
Claims (4)
The balance between insulin and glucagon in the blood controls how much fat is broken down in human fat tissue.
When glucagon and glucagon-like peptide-1-(7-36) amide are delivered locally at a concentration of 10⁻⁶ mol/L to fat and muscle tissue under the skin in healthy people, there is no measurable change in fat breakdown or blood flow in those tissues.
When human fat and muscle tissue are exposed to isoprenaline at a specific concentration, glycerol levels in the surrounding fluid rise by 249% in fat and 72% in muscle, showing that the microdialysis technique can reliably measure this biological response.
In laboratory tests using human fat tissue, isoprenaline triggers the breakdown of fat, but glucagon and GLP-1 do not trigger fat breakdown under the same conditions.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.