Experts Express Concerns Over Potential Muscle Loss from Drugs Like Ozempic

Medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy are well-known for their ability to aid weight loss, but some scientists are now investigating how these drugs may affect muscle mass.

In a recent commentary published in The Lancet, an international group of researchers highlights the lack of sufficient studies on the impact of GLP-1 receptor agonists on muscles.

Positive Effects of GLP-1 Agonists

The team acknowledges that GLP-1 agonists have provided “substantial benefits” for many people worldwide. Initial research shows that these medications, originally approved to treat type 2 diabetes, have also been effective in aiding weight loss.

Additionally, even individuals who do not lose weight have experienced improvements in kidney and heart health, reducing their risk of conditions like stroke and cardiac arrest.

Despite the positive outcomes, the researchers are concerned by early findings regarding GLP-1 agonists, which suggest that these drugs may lead to slightly higher rates of non-fat tissue loss compared to weight loss from lifestyle changes alone.

The Need for Further Research on Muscle Loss

Although the loss of fat-free tissue might not directly indicate muscle loss, and muscle loss does not always negatively affect strength or mobility, experts like dietitian Carla Prado, biomedical researchers Stuart Phillips and Steven Heymsfield, and nutritionist Cristina Gonzalez emphasize the need for more research to draw definitive conclusions.

The researchers note, “At this point, no data confirm whether GLP-1 receptor agonist treatment is linked to physical frailty or muscle mass loss.”

They add that researchers still need to conduct long-term studies to address these concerns, as current research was not designed to explore these specific questions.

Muscle Strength Is Just One Aspect of Muscle Health

While early studies indicate that GLP-1 agonists do not significantly affect strength, the authors point out that strength is just one aspect of the vital roles muscles play.

Muscles are not only essential for movement, but they also influence metabolism, immune function, and our ability to cope with stress and injury. Furthermore, muscle mass is key to the body’s ability to absorb glucose in response to insulin.

The researchers worry that muscle loss could worsen risk factors associated with GLP-1 agonists, including metabolic issues, inflammation, poor diet, and low physical activity.

Given these concerns, the authors conclude that doctors should use these medications with caution and alongside strategies like improved nutrition and exercise interventions, despite their effectiveness.

Research shows that after weight loss, increasing protein intake or incorporating exercise can partly mitigate a decrease in skeletal muscle mass. Resistance training, for example, can reduce fat-free mass loss by 50 to 95 percent.

Importance of Complementary Exercise and Nutrition

This supports the idea that exercise and nutrition should complement GLP-1 agonist treatments to optimize results.

Typically, patients regain about two-thirds of the weight they lost after discontinuing these appetite-suppressing medications. However, a recent clinical trial showed that those who participated in supervised exercise programs were more successful in maintaining their weight loss.

“Additionally,” the researchers note, “ongoing studies are exploring methods to prevent or reduce muscle loss during weight loss treatments… which could offer solutions to help preserve muscle mass.”

Although the possibility of muscle loss does not suggest that patients should stop using GLP-1 agonists, the researchers argue that, given the importance of muscles for overall health, they need to conduct more research.

Raed the original article on: Science Alert

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