Society of Diabetic Nephropathy Prevention Journal of Nephropharmacology 2345-4202 16 1 2027 01 01 Impact of GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy on oxidative stress and adiponectin axis: Implications for renal health in adults with obesity e12887 e12887 10.34172/npj.12887 EN Miqat Abdulkadhim Jawad https://orcid.org/0009-0007-8011-7813 Hasan Haider Alsalamy https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9823-9043 Mudhafar Sami Khazal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7212-6118 Journal Article 10.34172/npj.12887 2026 05 30 2026 07 27 Obesity is a major contributor to the development and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and represents a global health problem. The pathophysiology of obesity-related kidney injury is fundamentally based on a vicious cycle of oxidative stress and the dysregulation of key adipokines, mainly adiponectin. Chronic obesity leads to a greater production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that damage the glomerular filtration barrier, leading to podocyte loss and albuminuria. Paradoxically, with fat accumulation, the level of the renoprotective hormone adiponectin decreases, depriving the kidney of crucial anti-inflammatory and antioxidant defenses. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) have recently become a breakthrough class of drugs with significant renal benefits beyond weight loss. While their indirect metabolic and anti-inflammatory systemic actions are well-established, emerging data from animal and in vitro models suggest potential target-specific pathways on the renal microenvironment, potentially modulating oxidative damage and restoring adiponectin signaling. Accumulating clinical trial data, including secondary analyses from cohorts investigating non-diabetic populations with obesity, demonstrate that these therapies effectively mitigate albuminuria and slow progressive glomerular strain, independently of classic metabolic dynamics. The present review gathers available literature to understand the molecular actions of GLP-1 RAs on the adiponectin–oxidative stress axis, emphasizing the relevance of these pathways in maintaining podocyte integrity and preventing tubulointerstitial fibrosis. This integrative paradigm positions GLP-1 RAs as a key element in managing obesity-related nephropathy, providing a promising option to lessen the clinical and economic burden of renal failure.