The load-loss jab Wegovy made its debut on June 4 2021. It was the primary new weight-loss drug to be authorized by the US Meals and Drug Administration since 2014.
There was quite a lot of pleasure because the launch. Not solely is the drug extraordinarily efficient (folks lose about 15 % of their physique weight in a 12 months), it additionally seems to have many advantages past simply weight reduction.
It is value noting that the drug (generic title: semaglutide) was first used to deal with diabetes, and certainly remains to be a blockbuster diabetes drug. In order that’s two advantages already. Let us take a look at a few of the different potential advantages. Listed below are eight (and the record is not exhaustive).
1. Knee osteoarthritis
Knee cartilage just isn’t designed for top stress masses. People who find themselves obese or overweight are at the next threat of creating osteoarthritis due to the additional stress on their knee joints, with many individuals ultimately requiring knee-replacement surgical procedure.
A current examine, revealed within the New England Journal of Drugs, adopted a bunch of 407 overweight folks with knee osteoarthritis for 68 weeks. A number of the group obtained semaglutide and a few a placebo. Each teams additionally obtained counselling on bodily exercise and a reduced-calorie weight-reduction plan.
The group that obtained semaglutide (versus a placebo), reported an enormous lower in ache from 71 to 42 factors on a typical ache scale (zero to 100, the place a bigger quantity equals extra ache). In addition they reported higher mobility. The identical was not skilled within the placebo group.
The explanations for the advance are in all probability as a result of fast weight reduction mixed with the anti-inflammatory properties of semaglutide. It is not clear, although, if semaglutide would have the identical impact on folks with knee osteoarthritis who aren’t overweight.
2. Fatty liver illness
About one in 4 folks, globally, has fatty liver illness – a long-lasting liver situation that may progresses to cirrhosis (liver scarring). Within the late phases, it may be deadly.
Preliminary scientific trial information has proven very promising outcomes with semaglutide, with a vital discount in liver fats of 31 %. In one other scientific examine, fatty liver was utterly resolved in a 3rd of sufferers after simply 24 weeks.
The subsequent query is whether or not semaglutide can reverse the extra extreme types of fatty liver illness, the place scarring has begun. A number of research are underway to check this.
3. Parkinson’s
In research utilizing mind cells (neurons) in a Petri dish and in mouse fashions of Parkinson’s, semaglutide has been proven to have useful results on a number of “pathological hallmarks” of the neurological illness.
There may be even a touch that semaglutide may fit at slowing the worsening of Parkinson’s in people. A French examine, revealed earlier this 12 months, utilizing the same drug (known as a GLP-1 receptor agonist), discovered that the motor abilities of individuals with early-stage Parkinson’s given the therapy confirmed nearly no worsening of signs in contrast with folks given a placebo.
We must look ahead to the outcomes of present trials to see if semaglutide has the same impact.
4. Alzheimer’s
Semaglutide could present some safety in folks with Alzheimer’s as many individuals with the situation even have diabetes, suggesting that top glucose is concerned.
In mouse research and human organoid fashions of Alzheimer’s, semaglutide has been proven to scale back deposits of tau and amyloid (the 2 proteins that accumulate within the brains of individuals with Alzheimer’s). And a current “meta-analysis” of seven scientific trials of individuals with kind 2 diabetes however undiagnosed Alzheimer’s, confirmed that over three years, 40 percent-70 % of sufferers on semaglutide had a decrease threat of an Alzheimer’s prognosis.
On condition that there are at the moment no cures for Alzheimer’s illness, prevention appears to be the best choice, particularly for these at greater threat of the illness (that’s, these with diabetes and weight problems).
5. Continual kidney illness
Continual kidney illness is irreversible, so managing the trigger is essential. The main reason behind kidney failure is diabetes, the place excessive glucose ranges harm the small blood vessels within the kidneys.
Two current randomised scientific trials learning semaglutide for 3 to 5 years had been accomplished in 2024 and confirmed {that a} biomarker of kidney harm (microalbumin) was decrease in sufferers taking semaglutide. Sufferers within the semaglutide group additionally had a decrease threat of creating kidney failure (24 %) and a decrease threat of demise (20 %) over the examine interval.
6. Addictions
The GLP-1 system that semaglutide depends on for its results is understood to be concerned within the neurobiology of dependancy. Certainly, in research of mice fed alcohol, semaglutide lowered binge ingesting within the rodents.
And preliminary information in folks with alcohol use dysfunction given semaglutide or a placebo, discovered that these on semaglutide had “greater reductions in drinking quantity and heavy drinking” in contrast with these within the placebo group.
And a new examine from Sweden confirmed that folks with alcohol dependence had been a lot much less more likely to be hospitalised as a consequence of bodily sickness when utilizing semaglutide.
These research recommend semaglutide could present an alternate therapy possibility for folks with dependancy issues.
7. Coronary heart illness
As glucose-lowering medicine reminiscent of semaglutide decrease an individual’s cardiovascular threat by 14 % in folks with diabetes, the usage of semaglutide has been studied in a spread of coronary heart illness circumstances.
A scientific examine confirmed that sufferers with present heart problems who’re overweight or obese, however with out diabetes, taking semaglutide for as much as 4 years confirmed decrease charges of coronary heart assault and stroke over a 3 and a half 12 months interval.
Additionally, in a examine of over 4,000 folks, weekly semaglutide considerably lowered coronary heart failure, clogged arteries and demise from any trigger, in contrast with a placebo. Because of these findings, the US Meals and Drug Administration authorized semaglutide to assist stop life-threatening cardiovascular occasions in folks with present coronary heart illness who’re both obese or overweight.
8. Lung problems
Due to semaglutide’s wider protecting properties, reminiscent of its anti-inflammatory options, it has been studied in varied lung problems.
In a mouse mannequin of acute lung damage, the place unregulated irritation happens resulting in excessive demise charges, semaglutide lowered lung swelling, irritation, white blood cell infiltration and cell demise.
A massive evaluate of 28 scientific research confirmed that semaglutide therapy led to an 18 % discount within the improvement of respiratory ailments.
A scientific trial is underway to check the safety supplied in sufferers with superior interstitial lung illness, which contains numerous lung problems (over 200) the place there’s harm to the tissues between the small air sacs within the lungs (alveoli) and the blood vessels round them, inflicting irritation and scarring (fibrosis).
Vinood B. Patel, Professor in Medical Biochemistry, College of Westminster
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