A popular drug said to reduce waistlines and control blood sugar levels may also be effective. The topic of alcohol, According to a new study.
Researchers at Virginia Tech’s Fralin Biomedical Research Institute analyzed how 20 obese adults, half of whom had been taking GLP-1 receptor agonists for at least four weeks, responded to alcoholic beverages compared to participants who were not taking the drugs.
Previous studies have demonstrated that GLP-1 drugs are associated with reduced intake in people with the following diseases: alcohol use disorder.
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GLP-1 drugs (such as Ozempic and Wigovy, both semaglutide drugs, and Mounjaro, which contains tirzepatide) mimic natural hormones that regulate blood sugar and appetite. The study included participants taking semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide.
“There is evidence that these drugs reduce drinking outside of the lab,” study co-author Alex DiFeritonio, assistant professor and interim co-director of the institute’s Health Behavior Research Center, told FOX News Digital. “What we wanted to understand with this study was how.”
Both groups fasted overnight, ate the same snacks, and then consumed measured amounts. alcoholic drinks It is designed to reach approximately 0.08 on a breathalyzer.
The researchers tracked participants’ breath alcohol levels, appetite, cravings, nausea, and blood sugar levels, and also asked, “How drunk do you feel?” Rated on a scale of 0 to 10 over 4 hours.
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People taking GLP-1 showed a slower rise in breath alcohol concentration during the first 10 to 20 minutes and lower levels overall. They also reported feeling less intoxicated early on.
Survey resultsThe paper, published Oct. 15 in the journal Scientific Reports, is consistent with how GLP-1 drugs are thought to work in the gut.
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These drugs are known to slow gastric emptying and slow the rate of absorption of alcohol.
“People who drink alcohol know there’s a difference between drinking a glass of wine and drinking a glass of whiskey,” DiFeliciantonio said in a Virginia Tech news release.
“Drugs with a quick-acting effect have a higher potential for abuse,” she continued. “They have different effects on the brain. So if GLP-1 slows the entry of alcohol into the bloodstream, it could reduce the blood flow of alcohol.” effects of alcohol and help people drink less. ”
The research team also found that overall alcohol craving was lower in the GLP-1 group.
Changes in nausea and blood sugar levels were similar between groups, suggesting that the “less buzz” effect was not due to feeling unwell.
More than half of U.S. adults drink alcohol, and about 1 in 10 have an alcohol use disorder, experts said. meanwhile existing medicine Although it primarily acts on the brain to reduce alcohol consumption, GLP-1 appears to act partially through the gut.
The authors cautioned that the trial was a small pilot study and was not randomized, adding that all participants: was obese.
“Further research is needed to establish how effective these drugs are, what the long-term effects are, whether some drugs are better than others, and what doses are most effective for reducing alcohol consumption and controlling blood sugar levels,” DiFeritonio said. “These are all open questions.”
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Dr. Akshaya Bhagavathula, an associate professor of epidemiology at North Dakota State University and a fellow of the American Society of Epidemiology, said the study was too small to prove causation and provided “an interesting signal rather than a conclusion.”
Bhagavathula, who was not involved in the study, cautioned that a weak initial buzz may actually cause some people to drink more.
“Future studies will need to monitor total alcohol intake and craving patterns over time to understand whether this compensation occurs,” he told FOX News Digital.
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New data suggests GLP-1 drugs may be reformed addiction treatmentpointed out Bhagavatura.
“GLP-1 receptors influence reward signaling and desire not only for food but also for substances such as alcohol and nicotine,” he said. “If confirmed in large-scale studies, these drugs could represent a new type of metabolically-based addiction treatment, a bridge between endocrinology and behavioral health.”
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“It’s time to move away from seeing them as ‘.’weight loss mania“GLP-1 drugs regulate appetite, reward, and metabolism in complex ways that go beyond body weight,” the expert added.
He stressed that public messages should emphasize the medical value of drugs and the need for clinical supervision.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the GLP-1 manufacturer for comment.
