DEFINITION
The incretin effect is the observation that oral glucose evokes a substantially larger insulin response than intravenous glucose delivered to match the same blood glucose profile. In healthy adults, the incretin effect accounts for a significant fraction of postprandial insulin secretion.
Mechanistically it reflects the amplifying action of gut-secreted GLP-1 and GIP on pancreatic β-cells. The incretin effect is diminished in type 2 diabetes, motivating the clinical development of GLP-1 receptor agonists and dual GLP-1 / GIP agonists.
WHY IT MATTERS
The incretin effect is the physiological rationale for the entire GLP-1 receptor agonist and multi-agonist drug class.
RELATED
Compounds