Weight loss drugs Known as a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist that has gained popularity in treating type 2 diabetes and obesity, it has been shown to have an incredible secondary benefit of reducing alcohol intake.
An international team of researchers from Ireland and Saudi Arabia followed 262 adult obese patients who began taking two GLP-1 medications, either liraglutide or semaglutide.
Among regular drinkers, weekly Alcohol intake It reduced by 68% from about 23 units of alcohol to about 8 units.
The findings were recently published in the Journal of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, and were published last week at the European Conference on Obesity in Spain.
GLP-1 agonists mimic a hormone called GLP-1. Gastrointestinal system After eating, according to Carel Le Roux, a research co-author who is a professor at Dublin University.
Weight loss drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists have been shown to have an incredible secondary benefit in reducing alcohol intake. (istock)
These drugs activate GLP-1 receptors in the brain, reducing the sensations people feel after eating or drinking, and ultimately reduced cravings for both food and alcohol, he told Fox News Digital.
“It is the commonality of this function that suggests that GLP-1 receptors in the brain may be a therapeutic target for alcohol use disorders as well as obesity diseases,” the professor said.
Survey results
They self-reported each week before participants began weight loss medication Alcohol intakeand was then classified as non-dlinker, rare drinkers, or regular drinkers.
Approximately 72% had at least two follow-up visits, and 68% reported regular alcohol consumption.
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After starting weight loss medication, participants’ average weekly alcohol intake decreased by almost two-thirds overall, from approximately 11 units of alcohol to four units after 4 months of treatment with a GLP-1 agonist.
Researchers say the reduction in alcohol use was comparable to the reduction that could be achieved by nalmefene, a drug that reduces the feeling of “talk” in people with alcohol use disorders in Europe.
Among regular drinkers, weekly alcohol intake decreased by 68% from around 23 units of alcohol to around 8 units. (istock)
For 188 patients who were tracked over an average of four months, they did not increase their alcohol intake after startup. Weight loss drugs.
The patient reported that he was too full for a regular drink after dinner. And when they drank their drinks they reported that they were filling up very quickly and drinking at a slow pace, Le Roux pointed out.
“The results of this study suggest that they may just have found a therapeutic target for alcohol use disorder.”
This suggests that the experience is not particularly enjoyable, as it is caused by a reduced alcohol absorption rate.
Some patients also Alcoholic beverages Likewise, and the hangover was much worse.
All of these experiences have shown that weight loss medications create a “guardrail” that prevents most patients from taking excessive amounts of alcohol, allowing some control over their alcohol intake.
After starting weight loss medication, participants’ average weekly alcohol intake decreased by almost two-thirds overall. (istock)
“The results of this study suggest that we may have just found Treatment target About alcohol use disorders – GLP-1 receptor,” the professor told Fox News Digital.
“This discovery could open up the possibilities of an entirely new pharmacological treatment paradigm, which can be used in conjunction with traditional methods. Behavioral therapy Group support. ”
Potential limitations
The study was limited by a relatively small number of patients, the researchers acknowledged.
Additionally, researchers were unable to verify participants’ self-reported alcohol intake, with about a third of which not available for follow-up.
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There were no control groups either. That is, researchers were unable to prove that taking weight loss medication reduces alcohol intake.
The main benefit of GLP-1 agonists is that they only need to take it once a week and continue working for a week. (istock)
“Randomization, Controlled test “In a diverse patient population, including patients diagnosed with alcohol use disorder, it is necessary to provide the quality and quantity of data that can be used to support applications for licensing drugs for the treatment of alcohol use disorders,” said Le Roux.
(As of such trials are currently underway in Denmark.)
The meaning of research
With current drug therapy available to treat alcohol use disorders, the “major problem” is compliance, said Le Lou — “Because alcohol cravings tend to be waves.”
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“This means that patients may be fully committed to treatment at some point in the week, but then stop taking the medication later in the week when craving comes,” the professor added.
“This study suggests promising supplemental benefits of GLP-1 analogues, which could affect alcohol cravings and provide new ways to manage alcohol use disorders,” the doctor said. (istock)
Currently there are three FDA-approved medications to treat alcohol use disorders. Naltrexone (which helps reduce cravings by reducing the “buzz” sensation associated with alcohol drinking). Disulfiram (helps avoid alcohol by feeling sick when drinking), and asanprosate (restores the balance) Brain hormones (To reduce cravings), according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
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However, less than 10% of people with alcohol use disorders receive appropriate treatment and many resume within the first year of treatment, past research shows.
The main benefit of GLP-1 agonists is that they need to take once a week and continue working for a week.
For 188 patients who were tracked over an average of four months, none of them increased their alcohol intake after starting weight loss medication. (istock)
External experts say the findings of the study highlight the potential weight loss medications that can help treat alcohol use disorders.
“This study suggests promising supplementary benefits of GLP-1 analogues, which may affect alcohol cravings and provide new ways to manage alcohol use disorders.” Obese doctor Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, which was not part of the study, told Fox News Digital.
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“While the exact mechanism is still under investigation, the findings contribute to an understanding of the broader benefits of GLP-1 analogs beyond obesity treatment,” added Stanford.
