The burden-loss jab Wegovy made its debut on June 4 2021. It was the primary new weight-loss drug to be accredited by the US Meals and Drug Administration since 2014.
There was a number of pleasure for the reason that launch. Not solely is the drug extraordinarily efficient (individuals lose about 15 p.c of their physique weight in a 12 months), it additionally seems to have many advantages past simply weight reduction.
It is price 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’s take a look at a number of the different potential advantages. Listed below are eight (and the checklist is not exhaustive).
1. Knee osteoarthritis
Knee cartilage shouldn’t be designed for top stress hundreds. People who find themselves obese or overweight are at the next danger of creating osteoarthritis due to the additional stress on their knee joints, with many individuals finally requiring knee-replacement surgical procedure.
A latest examine, revealed within the New England Journal of Medication, adopted a gaggle of 407 overweight individuals 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 loss 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 larger mobility. The identical was not skilled within the placebo group.
The explanations for the development are most likely as a result of speedy weight reduction mixed with the anti-inflammatory properties of semaglutide. It is not clear, although, if semaglutide would have the identical impact on individuals with knee osteoarthritis who aren’t overweight.
2. Fatty liver illness
About one in 4 individuals, globally, has fatty liver illness – a long-lasting liver situation that may progresses to cirrhosis (liver scarring). Within the late levels, it may be deadly.
Preliminary medical trial information has proven very promising outcomes with semaglutide, with a vital discount in liver fats of 31 p.c. In one other medical 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’s 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 expertise of individuals with early-stage Parkinson’s given the remedy confirmed virtually no worsening of signs in contrast with individuals given a placebo.
We must anticipate the outcomes of present trials to see if semaglutide has the same impact.
4. Alzheimer’s
Semaglutide might present some safety in individuals 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 cut back deposits of tau and amyloid (the 2 proteins that accumulate within the brains of individuals with Alzheimer’s). And a latest “meta-analysis” of seven medical trials of individuals with sort 2 diabetes however undiagnosed Alzheimer’s, confirmed that over three years, 40 percent-70 p.c of sufferers on semaglutide had a decrease danger of an Alzheimer’s prognosis.
Provided that there are at the moment no cures for Alzheimer’s illness, prevention appears to be the best choice, particularly for these at greater danger of the illness (that’s, these with diabetes and weight problems).
5. Power kidney illness
Power kidney illness is irreversible, so managing the trigger is vital. The main explanation for kidney failure is diabetes, the place excessive glucose ranges harm the small blood vessels within the kidneys.
Two latest randomised medical trials finding out 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 danger of creating kidney failure (24 p.c) and a decrease danger of loss of life (20 p.c) over the examine interval.
6. Addictions
The GLP-1 system that semaglutide depends on for its results is thought to be concerned within the neurobiology of habit. Certainly, in research of mice fed alcohol, semaglutide lowered binge consuming within the rodents.
And preliminary information in individuals 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 individuals with alcohol dependence had been a lot much less more likely to be hospitalised attributable to bodily sickness when utilizing semaglutide.
These research recommend semaglutide might present another remedy possibility for individuals with habit issues.
7. Coronary heart illness
As glucose-lowering medicine similar to semaglutide decrease an individual’s cardiovascular danger by 14 p.c in individuals with diabetes, the usage of semaglutide has been studied in a spread of coronary heart illness situations.
A medical examine confirmed that sufferers with current 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 individuals, weekly semaglutide considerably lowered coronary heart failure, clogged arteries and loss of life from any trigger, in contrast with a placebo. Because of these findings, the US Meals and Drug Administration accredited semaglutide to assist stop life-threatening cardiovascular occasions in individuals with current coronary heart illness who’re both obese or overweight.
8. Lung issues
Due to semaglutide’s wider protecting properties, similar to its anti-inflammatory options, it has been studied in varied lung issues.
In a mouse mannequin of acute lung damage, the place unregulated irritation happens resulting in excessive loss of life charges, semaglutide lowered lung swelling, irritation, white blood cell infiltration and cell loss of life.
A massive evaluate of 28 medical research confirmed that semaglutide remedy led to an 18 p.c discount within the improvement of respiratory ailments.
A medical trial is underway to check the safety supplied in sufferers with superior interstitial lung illness, which contains a lot of lung issues (over 200) the place there may be 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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