What is GIP?
Key Takeaways
GIP is an incretin, which is a group of metabolic hormones that’s produced in the digestive system in response to food intake.
The other well-known incretin hormone is GLP-1. Medications that mimic GLP-1, such as Semaglutide and Liraglutide, are effective for weight loss and for treating type 2 diabetes.
There are currently no approved medications that target GIP alone, but Tirzepatide is a medication that mimics both GIP and GLP-1 action on receptors.
These medications are only available with a doctor’s prescription. Only your doctor can determine whether a GIP/GLP-1 Receptor Agonist medication would be the best option for you.
The class of medications known as GLP-1 Receptor Agonists (RAs) are highly effective for type 2 diabetes mellitus treatment and weight loss. Medications in this class, such as Semaglutide, Liraglutide, and Dulaglutide,are used to control blood glucose in type 2 diabetes mellitus, and help with weight loss. These medications work by mimicking the actions of a hormone known as glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1.
Although these medications are highly effective, there is a newer class of medications that is similar, but works in a slightly different way. These medications mimic not only GLP-1, but also anotherhormone known as gastric inhibitory polypeptide, or GIP. Both GLP-1 and GIP are incretin hormones, which is a group of metabolic hormones that is produced after eating to regulate pancreatic function for insulin and glucagon hormones, thereby improving blood glucose control in type 2 diabetes mellitus. It also helps to increase the feeling of being full, which helps with weight management. Studies have shown that targeting both hormones at once helps to enhance the effectiveness of the treatment for both blood glucose control in type 2 diabetes mellitus and weight loss.
Whether you’re considering to change or increase your type 2 diabetes mellitus medication, starting a weight loss medication, or are currently taking a GLP-1 RA, it’s a good idea to learn about all of your options. This will allow you to have a more fully-informed discussion with your doctor about your personalized treatment plan.
This article will discuss how medications that target both GIP and GLP-1 are different from those that target only GLP-1.
What is gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP)?
There are a number of different metabolic hormones involved in regulating how the body digests food and processes nutrients and energy. GIP (gastric inhibitory polypeptide, also known as glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide), is one of these incretin hormones.
GIP is produced by specialized cells called K cells, which are found in the upper part of the small intestine. After you eat, these cells detect the nutrients from your food (especially fat), and they secrete GIP in response.
GIP has a number of different actions in the body, including:
Controlling blood sugar. GIP encourages beta cells in the pancreas to make insulin, which is crucial for keeping blood sugar from rising after a meal.
Reducing appetite. GIP acts in the brain, particularly in areas related to appetite. It signals the brain that you’ve already eaten, which reduces your desire for food.
Fat storage. GIP acts on fat cells, but studies have shown that its actions are somewhat complex. GIP appears to promote either the breakdown of stored fat or the storage of extra fat. The specific effect of GIP on fat tissue appears to depend on the context, such as whether insulin levels are high or low.
Recommended Reading: What is GLP-1 and GLP-1 RA?
GIP vs. GLP1 RAs
GIP is an incretin – a hormone that’s produced in response to food intake. The only other known incretin is glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Medications like Semaglutide and Liraglutide target the GLP-1 receptor, mimicking the actions of GLP-1. It makes sense that targeting GIP would have a similar effect.
Right now, there are no approved medications that target only the GIP receptor. However, there is a medication called Tirzepatide that targets both the GIP and GLP-1 receptors. This is a relatively new medication option, which was first approved in Singapore in 2023.
GIP and GLP-1 are closely related hormones, and both are naturally produced when you’ve recently eaten a meal. They have similar but complementary actions, which is why targeting the receptors for both hormones together can help to boost weight loss efforts.
Both hormones act in the brain to reduce appetite.
They also both act in the pancreas, although GIP is generally believed to have a stronger effect on insulin secretion, while GLP-1 has a stronger effect on the secretion of glucagon (another hormone that affects blood sugar levels).
GLP-1 additionally slows down emptying of the stomach, while GIP does not affect stomach emptying..
GIP and Metabolic Disorders
Incretins like GIP play an important role in regulating both body weight and blood sugar. Researchers have discovered that GIP is involved in common metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes and obesity.
GIP and Type 2 Diabetes
Normally, GIP acts in the pancreas to stimulate insulin secretion. Insulin is crucial for controlling blood sugar. It triggers cells throughout the body to absorb glucose from the blood, which prevents blood sugar from building up to high levels.
Research has found that, in people with type 2 diabetes, the pancreas becomes less responsive to GIP. This means that less insulin is secreted after a meal, which can contribute to higher blood sugar levels. Increasing GIP activity can help to increase the secretion of insulin, which in turn helps to keep blood sugar within a more healthy range.
Medications that mimic the actions of GLP-1 are effective at controlling blood sugar, and adding GIP further improves the effectiveness. Several studies have shown that Tirzepatide leads to a greater reduction in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels than Semaglutide.
GIP and Obesity
In the brain, GIP’s effect is to suppress appetite. Because of this, medications that mimic the actions of GIP would be expected to reduce food intake, much like GLP-1 RAs do. This in turn helps to facilitate weight loss.
In fact, studies have shown that medications targeting the receptors for both GIP and GLP-1 are more effective for weight loss than those that target only GLP-1.
Recommended Reading: What is Food Noise, and How Can You Quiet It?
Medication with GIP/GLP-1 RAs
If you’re experiencing a metabolic condition like obesity or type 2 diabetes, then it’s possible that you could be a candidate for receiving treatment with Tirzepatide, which targets both GIP and GLP-1 receptors. By targeting both of these hormones at the same time, Tirzepatide has been shown to be more effective for weight loss and blood sugar control than medications that target only GLP-1 receptors (such as Semaglutide and Liraglutide).
It’s important to recognize that any weight loss medication is not intended to be a replacement for making healthy lifestyle changes, such as increased exercise and a healthy diet. Instead, lifestyle changes are the cornerstone of weight management, and these medications give additional help with managing appetite and cravings, for more successful weight loss.
These medications are only available with a doctor’s prescription. If you’re interested in considering taking one of these medications, you’ll need to schedule a consultation with a qualified medical professional. After a thorough evaluation, they’ll determine whether medication would be a safe and effective option for you, and will let you know which specific medication they would recommend. They’ll also continue to monitor you once you start taking it, and will adjust your treatment plan as needed.