Targeting Sarcopenia in CKD: The Emerging Role of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists

Llinares-Arvelo, Vicente; Martínez-Alberto, Carlos E.; González-Luis, Ainhoa; Macía-Heras, Manuel; Siverio-Morales, Orlando; Navarro-González, Juan F.; Donate-Correa, Javier

doi:10.3390/ijms26168096

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Targeting Sarcopenia in CKD: The Emerging Role of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists

by

Vicente Llinares-Arvelo

^1,2,†

,

Carlos E. Martínez-Alberto

^1,†,

Ainhoa González-Luis

^2,3,

Manuel Macía-Heras

⁴,

Orlando Siverio-Morales

^2,4,

Juan F. Navarro-González

^3,4,5,6,7

and

Javier Donate-Correa

^3,5,6,7,*

¹

Escuela de Enfermería Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Carretera General del Rosario, 145, 38010 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

²

Doctoral and Graduate School, University of La Laguna, 38200 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain

³

Research Unit, University Hospital Nuestra Señora de Candelaria (UHNSC), 38010 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

⁴

Nephrology Service, University Hospital Nuestra Señora de Candelaria (UHNSC), 38010 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

⁵

GEENDIAB (Grupo Español Para el Estudio de la Nefropatía Diabética), Sociedad Española de Nefrología, 39000 Santander, Spain

⁶

Instituto de Tecnologías Biomédicas, Universidad de La Laguna, 38000 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

⁷

RICORS2040 (RD24/004/0022), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28000 Madrid, Spain

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

^†

These authors contributed equally to this work.

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(16), 8096; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26168096 (registering DOI)

Submission received: 17 July 2025 / Revised: 10 August 2025 / Accepted: 18 August 2025 / Published: 21 August 2025

(This article belongs to the Collection Latest Review Papers in Endocrinology and Metabolism)

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Abstract

Sarcopenia is a prevalent and disabling complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD), associated with frailty, diminished quality of life, and increased morbidity and mortality. Despite its clinical significance, no pharmacological treatments are currently approved to address muscle wasting in this population. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), widely used in the management of type 2 diabetes and obesity, have shown potential to support muscle mass and function through pleiotropic mechanisms. These include anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions, improvements in insulin sensitivity and energy metabolism, and mitochondrial support. Given the high burden of sarcopenia in CKD and the frequent overlap with metabolic and cardiovascular comorbidities, GLP-1RAs may offer a novel therapeutic approach. This review examines the biological plausibility and emerging evidence supporting the role of GLP-1RAs in preserving muscle health in CKD, highlighting the need for targeted clinical trials and mechanistic investigations to establish their efficacy in this high-risk group.

Keywords: GLP-1 receptor agonists; chronic kidney disease; sarcopenia; muscle mass; frailty

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MDPI and ACS Style

Llinares-Arvelo, V.; Martínez-Alberto, C.E.; González-Luis, A.; Macía-Heras, M.; Siverio-Morales, O.; Navarro-González, J.F.; Donate-Correa, J. Targeting Sarcopenia in CKD: The Emerging Role of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26, 8096. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26168096

AMA Style

Llinares-Arvelo V, Martínez-Alberto CE, González-Luis A, Macía-Heras M, Siverio-Morales O, Navarro-González JF, Donate-Correa J. Targeting Sarcopenia in CKD: The Emerging Role of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2025; 26(16):8096. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26168096

Chicago/Turabian Style

Llinares-Arvelo, Vicente, Carlos E. Martínez-Alberto, Ainhoa González-Luis, Manuel Macía-Heras, Orlando Siverio-Morales, Juan F. Navarro-González, and Javier Donate-Correa. 2025. "Targeting Sarcopenia in CKD: The Emerging Role of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26, no. 16: 8096. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26168096

APA Style

Llinares-Arvelo, V., Martínez-Alberto, C. E., González-Luis, A., Macía-Heras, M., Siverio-Morales, O., Navarro-González, J. F., & Donate-Correa, J. (2025). Targeting Sarcopenia in CKD: The Emerging Role of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(16), 8096. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26168096

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Targeting Sarcopenia in CKD: The Emerging Role of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists

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