Study finds Ozempic may reverse signs of disease that contributes to 2,000,000 deaths per year
A study has found that Ozempic may reverse signs of a disease that contributes to 2,000,000 deaths per year.
New research has discovered that there could be more effects associated with the drug than just weight loss.
The study, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that medications that are now being widely used for things such as diabetes and obesity have the potential to offer other health benefits.
This includes treatment for people with liver disease who have seen positive effects from taking semaglutide, which is popularly sold as Wegovy and Ozempic.
The weight loss drugs have been found to effectively treat metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).
MASH is a type of chronic liver disease diagnosed when there is excessive fat build-up in the liver, and at least one metabolic risk factor.
The condition can cause liver scarring, cirrhosis, liver failure and cancer.
Talking about these health benefits, Dr. Celine Gounder, who is a CBS News medical contributor and editor-at-large for public health at KFF Health News, said: 'Almost two-thirds of people had a reduction in liver inflammation related to this fatty liver condition, and over a third had a reduction in liver scarring.'
Speaking about the severity of the condition, Gounder added: 'The life-threatening consequences can be very real.'
However, things could all turn around
Throughout the study, 800 patients were monitored for up to 72 weeks where they documented significant improvements to their liver health while receiving the semaglutide drug.
MASH is a major driver of liver cancer, which contributes to two million deaths per year.
If the drug proves to be a viable treatment for patients with MASH, this could be life changing.
However, despite the fact that study looks promising, Gounder has warned that more research will be needed, specifically longer studies.
She added: 'Seventy-two weeks, that's not very long.'
Examining the results, the study read: 'In part 1 of our trial, patients who received a weekly dose of 2.4 mg of semaglutide had better results regarding steatohepatitis and fibrosis than those who received placebo. Patients in the semaglutide group also had more weight loss.
'Although formal hypothesis tests were not planned or conducted, semaglutide appeared to be associated with improvements in glucometabolic factors and noninvasive markers of liver health. Changes in bodily pain did not differ significantly between the groups.
'The findings were similar regardless of the presence or absence of type 2 diabetes or obesity and regardless of age, sex, or fibrosis stage.'
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33 minutes ago
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Novo's Ozempic Linked to Rare Cases Of Serious Eye Disorder, EU Regulator Says
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Ozempic makes you twice as likely to develop this debilitating condition — what that really means for your risk
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Some of them show a slight increase, but we're talking about a handful of patients who might have an increase in retinopathy compared to the millions of patients on these medications,' Kaden said. 3 In older people, AMD is a leading cause of irreversible blindness. StockPhotoPro – Researchers think that declining blood glucose levels caused by GLP-1s could trigger abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina. Further, there are GLP-1 receptors in the retina, and these drugs increase the levels of molecules that lead to harmful blood vessel formation. 'Seeing such a clear signal in our study was striking,' co-author Reut Shor of the University of Toronto told STAT. 'The absolute risk remains low, but the advanced form of AMD is a condition with serious implications for vision and quality of life. So a doubling of risk is clinically meaningful, particularly for vulnerable populations like older adults who may already be at elevated baseline risk.' Shor and his team note that more research is necessary to determine whether direct or indirect effects are causing the increased risk of nAMD. Shor and Kaden maintain that these findings should not be cause for alarm nor a reason to halt the prescription or use of these medications; rather, patients should be made aware of the risk and monitor their vision accordingly. Kaden, the study authors, and other experts recommend that GLP-1 users be on the lookout for any vision changes that could indicate early signs of AMD. 'We really want you to look for anything blurring, any new distortion. If you're looking at a flagpole or a doorframe, that should be a straight line. If all of a sudden that line looks wavy or curvy, that's a reason to seek a consultation with a retina specialist,' said Kaden.
