University of Aberdeen study says weight loss jabs may aid asthma
GLP-1s mimic a naturally-occurring hormone and help regulate blood sugar, insulin and control appetite.Prof David Price from the University of Aberdeen said: "People with obesity and asthma are unique in that they are often resistant to steroid treatments."We know that GLP-1s work on inflammatory responses in the airways in a different way to traditionally used steroids."We found compelling evidence that GLP-1s, as well as increasing weight loss, also improved asthma symptoms."He said their findings suggested the drugs might have beneficial effects on asthma control for people with obesity and that should be "explored further".
'Promising alternative'
Dr Erika Kennington, head of research and innovation at Asthma + Lung UK, said research had previously shown than people living with obesity who lost weight saw "improved control" of their asthma.She said it was "encouraging" the study had shown that was still the case when using weight loss drugs."Although exercise can help people lose weight, for some people it can cause anxiety about becoming breathless or having an asthma attack," she said."So people are stuck in a vicious cycle of not being able to lose weight and their asthma worsening."Therefore, where exercise hasn't worked for someone these drugs that support weight loss could offer a promising alternative."However, she said it was "too early to say" whether the drugs would be effective for people with asthma more widely."More research is needed to understand how these drugs actually improve asthma control," she added."Funding for lung health research is on life support and urgent action is needed to increase investment."
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