The load-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 because the launch. Not solely is the drug extraordinarily efficient (folks 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 identify: semaglutide) was first used to deal with diabetes, and certainly continues to be a blockbuster diabetes drug. In order that’s two advantages already. Let us take a look at a number of the different potential advantages. Listed here are eight (and the checklist is not exhaustive).
1. Knee osteoarthritis
Knee cartilage isn’t designed for prime stress hundreds. People who find themselves chubby or overweight are at a better danger of creating osteoarthritis due to the additional stress on their knee joints, with many individuals finally requiring knee-replacement surgical procedure.
A current research, printed within the New England Journal of Drugs, adopted a bunch of 407 overweight folks with knee osteoarthritis for 68 weeks. Among the group acquired semaglutide and a few a placebo. Each teams additionally acquired counselling on bodily exercise and a reduced-calorie weight loss program.
The group that acquired semaglutide (versus a placebo), reported an enormous lower in ache from 71 to 42 factors on a regular ache scale (zero to 100, the place a bigger quantity equals extra ache). Additionally they reported higher mobility. The identical was not skilled within the placebo group.
The explanations for the advance are most likely because of the speedy weight reduction mixed with the anti-inflammatory properties of semaglutide. It isn’t 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 knowledge has proven very promising outcomes with semaglutide, with a important discount in liver fats of 31 p.c. In one other scientific research, fatty liver was utterly resolved in a 3rd of sufferers after simply 24 weeks.
The following 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 match at slowing the worsening of Parkinson’s in people. A French research, printed 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 folks given a placebo.
We must look forward 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 prime 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 current “meta-analysis” of seven scientific 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 analysis.
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 larger danger of the illness (that’s, these with diabetes and weight problems).
5. Persistent kidney illness
Persistent kidney illness is irreversible, so managing the trigger is vital. The main reason for 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 have 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 dying (20 p.c) over the research interval.
6. Addictions
The GLP-1 system that semaglutide depends on for its results is understood to be concerned within the neurobiology of habit. Certainly, in research of mice fed alcohol, semaglutide diminished binge ingesting within the rodents.
And preliminary knowledge 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 research from Sweden confirmed that folks with alcohol dependence have been a lot much less more likely to be hospitalised because of bodily sickness when utilizing semaglutide.
These research recommend semaglutide could present an alternate remedy choice for folks with habit issues.
7. Coronary heart illness
As glucose-lowering medication equivalent to semaglutide decrease an individual’s cardiovascular danger by 14 p.c in folks with diabetes, the usage of semaglutide has been studied in a variety of coronary heart illness circumstances.
A scientific research confirmed that sufferers with current heart problems who’re overweight or chubby, 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 research of over 4,000 folks, weekly semaglutide considerably diminished coronary heart failure, clogged arteries and dying from any trigger, in contrast with a placebo. Because of these findings, the US Meals and Drug Administration accredited semaglutide to assist forestall life-threatening cardiovascular occasions in folks with current coronary heart illness who’re both chubby or overweight.
8. Lung problems
Due to semaglutide’s wider protecting properties, equivalent to its anti-inflammatory options, it has been studied in numerous lung problems.
In a mouse mannequin of acute lung harm, the place unregulated irritation happens resulting in excessive dying charges, semaglutide diminished lung swelling, irritation, white blood cell infiltration and cell dying.
A massive assessment of 28 scientific research confirmed that semaglutide remedy led to an 18 p.c discount within the growth of respiratory illnesses.
A scientific trial is underway to review the safety supplied in sufferers with superior interstitial lung illness, which contains a lot of 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 Scientific Biochemistry, College of Westminster
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