ReviewInternational journal of molecular sciences2026
Incretin-Based Therapies in Sports: Pharmacological Mechanisms, Performance-Enhancing Potential, and Anti-Doping Implications-A Narrative Review.
Review in International journal of molecular sciences, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Incretin-based therapies, including glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, have revolutionized the management of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Recent evidence suggests these agents may influence athletic performance through effects on body composition, energy metabolism, and cardiovascular function. This narrative review critically evaluates whether incretin therapies could constitute doping under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) criteria. We narratively reviewed the literature on incretin pharmacology, metabolic effects relevant to athletic performance, and anti-doping regulations, searching PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science using terms including "GLP-1 receptor agonists", "DPP-4 inhibitors", "doping", "athletic performance", "WADA", and "sports pharmacology", without date restrictions. GLP-1 RAs (semaglutide, liraglutide, tirzepatide, exenatide) induce substantial weight loss (predominantly fat mass) but also reduce lean mass by 20-30% of total weight loss. Preclinical studies demonstrate enhanced exercise endurance, mitochondrial biogenesis, and glucose uptake via GLP-1R/AMPK signaling. However, clinical trials show no consistent improvement in physical performance in humans. Currently, incretin therapies are not listed on the WADA Prohibited List. While incretin therapies offer theoretical performance-enhancing potential through weight management and metabolic optimization, current evidence does not support classification as doping agents. Continued surveillance is warranted as misuse patterns emerge.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.