Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors may lower body temperature: A case-control study

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4i) enhance GABAergic transmission via the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)/GLP-1 receptor pathway. Oral γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) administration reduces body temperature in humans; thus, DPP4i may reduce body temperature in humans. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effects of DPP4i administration on the body temperature of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). This study included 128 outpatients with T2D who visited the hospital monthly from May to July 2022. The DPP4i group included 64 patients treated with DPP4i while the non-DPP4i group included 64 patients not treated with DPP4i. Body temperature was measured at the axilla point upon entry to the hospital and was compared between the two groups. The means of age, body mass index, T2D duration, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, serum creatinine level, casual triglyceride level, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, casual plasma glucose level, and glycated hemoglobin level were not significantly different between the two groups. The mean body temperatures (°C) were 36.1 ± 0.2 and 36.4 ± 0.17 in the DPP4i and non-DPP4i groups, respectively (p = 1.123 E−05). DPP4i reduced the body temperature of patients with T2D. •DPP4i reduced the body temperature of patients with T2D.•Medical staff needs to pay attention to the possibility of DPP4i-treated patients showing lower body temperature.•This is the first study to report the effect of DPP4i on body temperature in humans.