OzempicWegovy, Zepbound and other medications often used for weight loss may help reduce the risk of a wide range of health problems, from diabetes to Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study, but they may also have risks such as pancreatitis and stomach paralysis.
The large observational study, published Monday in Natural medicineis the first of its kind to map the risks and benefits of drugs like Ozempic across 175 potential health outcomes, according to the authors.
These health problems ranged from psychotic disorders, seizures and dementia to gastrointestinal disorders, hypotension and arthritis.
“Given the newness of these drugs and their growing popularity, it is important to systematically examine their effects on all systems of the body – leaving nothing behind – to understand what they do and what they do not do ” said lead study author Ziyad Al. -Aly, a clinical epidemiologist and nephrologist at WashU Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri.
“Our approach allowed us to create a comprehensive atlas mapping GLP-1RA associations spanning all organ systems. The study results provide insight into some known and previously unknown benefits and risks of GLP-1RA that may be useful in informing clinical care and guiding research programs,” he said in a statement. press release Monday.
Glucagon-like peptide 1 (also called GLP-1) receptor agonists, including drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Zepbound, have gained popularity over the years.
Originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, these medications have become increasingly popular over the past decade to manage diabetes, obesity, and other health conditions.
“At a very high level, when you give the drug to someone, you’re kind of telling the body that they just ate a meal. So the effects of this drug are that it acts on the brain to reduce appetite and change the desire to eat and even other things, as shown in this article,” explained Hertzel Gerstein, endocrinologist and professor of medicine at McMaster University in Hamilton. .
According to one study, between 900,000 and 1.4 million Canadians use a GLP-1 drug like Ozempic to manage weight loss and type 2 diabetes. March 2024 survey by the agri-food analysis laboratory at Dalhousie University.
As the popularity of these drugs has increased and more people have started using them, reports of potential risks have also increased, the most concerning being stomach paralysis and other gastrointestinal problems.
But with this new study, researchers have painted what they believe is the clearest picture yet of the effectiveness and risks associated with taking GLP-1.
To do this, researchers studied the health of 215,000 people with type 2 diabetes between 2017 and 2023, maintained by the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Patients included people of varying ages, races, and genders.
They then compared these results to a control group of more than a million people using other diabetes medications. They found that GLP-1 users had a lower risk of developing 42 different health conditions or adverse events, but a higher risk for 19 others.
The study found that GLP-1 medications provided significant neurological and behavioral health benefits, including reduced risks of seizures and dependence on substances like alcohol, cannabis, stimulants and opioids.
People taking these medications also had a reduced risk of suicidal thoughts, self-harm, bulimia and even psychotic disorders like schizophrenia, the study found.
Receive weekly health news
Receive the latest medical news and health information every Sunday.
“Interestingly, GLP-1RA drugs act on receptors expressed in areas of the brain involved in impulse control, reward and addiction, which could explain their effectiveness in reducing appetite and addiction disorders,” Al-Aly said in the press release.
“These medications also reduce inflammation in the brain and cause weight loss; both factors can improve brain health and explain the reduced risk of diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia,” he added.
The results also revealed a reduced risk of neurocognitive disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia – a trend that is consistent with new evidence from previous research.
An October 2024 study in the journal Alzheimer’s and dementia found that semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, appeared to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in people with type 2 diabetes.
The study in Natural medicine also found that the drug had the potential to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular problems.
Although GLP-1 drugs are effective against a wide range of health conditions, the magnitude of the associated benefits is modest: about 10 to 20 percent reduction for most outcomes, according to the study.
“However, this modest effect does not negate the potential value of these drugs, especially for conditions for which there are few effective treatment options, for example dementia,” Al-Aly said.
“It may also imply that these medications are more beneficial when used in conjunction with other interventions, such as lifestyle changes or other medications.”
Side effects are possible with any medication, Gerstein explained.
The study confirmed that GLP-1 drugs cause side effects that increase the chances of constipation, diarrhea, stomach upset, mild nausea and occasional vomiting, he said.
The researchers added that many of the risks associated with drugs like Ozempic, including stomach paralysis, have been observed both in research and anecdotally, and their study confirms these findings.
For example, a 2023 study published in JAMA found that these weight loss medications are associated with an increased risk of stomach paralysis, pancreatitis, and intestinal obstruction.
The study also found that the medications increased the risks of developing gastrointestinal problems, low blood pressure and arthritis.
However, the study also highlighted additional risks that have never been studied before, including the potential negative effects of GLP-1 drugs on the pancreas and kidneys.
“The study raised the possibility that it may increase the risk of kidney stones, which I haven’t seen published before, so that’s what’s summarized in this study,” Gerstein said.
“But nothing in medicine works for everyone and nothing has any side effects. Everything has side effects,” he added.
Although these side effects are rare, they can be very serious; Doctors should be alert for signs of pancreatitis and monitor kidney function in people taking GLP-1RA medications, the researchers noted.
“GLP-1RA drugs may have broad health benefits,” Al-Aly said. “However, they are not without risks. Our results highlight the possibility of broader applications for these drugs, but also highlight important risks that should be carefully monitored in people taking these drugs.
GLP-1 drugs are backed by large randomized trials that show, “unequivocally,” their ability to do much more than just promote weight loss and lower blood sugar, Gerstein said.
These medications have been proven to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease, kidney failure, hospitalization and even death, he said.
“This class of drugs, the GLP-1 receptor agonist class, is a huge game-changer in the management of diabetes,” he said.
However, in reviewing these studies, he said it was important to note that these were results for an average person, so what may work for one person may not work for another.
“That doesn’t mean everyone should go out and get this medicine. This does mean, however, that people should discuss with their doctor the options available to them and the benefits, harms and potential side effects of this medication,” Gerstein said.
He believes the overall benefits of these drugs outweigh the risks for those who need them, but he adds: “There may be harms, and you can’t rule out that possibility.” »
“You need to discuss this (with your doctor) because it won’t be suitable for everyone.”
