Weight loss medication Already known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, they are popular for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity, have been shown to have surprisingly secondary benefits of reducing alcohol intake.
An international team of researchers from Ireland and Saudi Arabia followed 262 obese patients who started taking two GLP-1 drugs: liraglutide or semaglutide.
Among the average drinker, weekly alcohol intake dropped from about 23 alcohol to eight units, a 68% decrease.
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The findings were recently published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism and were published last week at the Spanish European Obesity Conference.
GLP-1 agonist mimics a hormone called GLP-1, which is released from the gastrointestinal system after eating.
The weight loss drug called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist has been shown to have surprisingly secondary benefits of reducing alcohol intake. (iStock)
He told Fox News Digital that the drugs activate GLP-1 receptors in the brain, reducing the sense of "reward" people feel after eating or drinking, ultimately leading to a desire for food and alcohol.
"It is the common point of this function that suggests that the GLP-1 receptor in the brain is not only an obesity disease, but also a therapeutic target for alcohol consumption disorders," the professor said.
Before participants start weight loss medication, they self-report weekly Alcohol intakeThen, it is classified as a non-drinker, a rare drinker or a regular drinker.
About 72% of people had at least two follow-ups, while 68% reported regular alcohol consumption.
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After starting weight loss medication, participants' average weekly alcohol intake decreased by nearly two-thirds overall—about 11 times alcohol to four units after four months of treatment with GLP-1 agonist.
The researchers say that nanophenol can reduce the reduction of alcohol, a drug that can reduce the "buzz" feeling in European patients with alcohol disorders.
Among the average drinker, weekly alcohol intake dropped from about 23 alcohol to eight units, a 68% decrease. (iStock)
For 188 patients with an average of more than four months, no one increased their alcohol intake after starting weight loss pills.
Le Roux noted that patients reported that after dinner, they were too full to enjoy their usual drinks—when they drank, they reported getting very quickly and drinking at a slower rate.
"The findings from this study suggest that we may have just discovered a therapeutic target for alcohol use disorders."
This suggests that the experience is less pleasant, partly due to the reduced rate of alcohol absorption.
Some patients also reported that they did not like the flavor of alcoholic beverages and that hangovers were worse.
All these experiences suggest that weight loss medications create a “protective track” that prevents most patients from overdose, thus giving them some degree of control over their alcohol intake.
After starting weight loss pills, participants' average weekly alcohol intake dropped by nearly two-thirds overall. (iStock)
"The results of this study suggest that we may have just found a therapeutic target for alcohol use disorders - the GLP-1 receptor," the professor told Fox News Digital.
“This discovery may open up the possibility of a completely new pharmacological paradigm that can be used in conjunction with conventional approaches such as behavioral therapy and group support.”
The researchers acknowledged that the study was limited by a relatively small number of patients.
Similarly, researchers were unable to verify participants’ self-reported alcohol intake, with approximately one-third of which were unable to follow up.
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There was also no control group, which meant that researchers could not demonstrate that taking weight loss pills could reduce alcohol intake.
The main advantage of GLP-1 agonists is that they only need to continue working once a week. (iStock)
"Randomized, controlled trials are required, with diverse patient populations, including patients diagnosed with alcohol use disorders, to provide the quality and quantity of applications that can be used to support drug licenses for alcohol use disorders," Le Roux said.
(This type of trial is currently underway in Denmark.)
Le Roux said that since drugs currently available for treatment of alcohol use disorders, the “main issue” is compliance, “because the desire for alcohol is often wasted.”
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"This means that patients may be fully committed to treatment sometime in the week, but then stop taking medication later in the week of desire," the professor added.
"This study shows that GLP-1 analogs have promising auxiliary benefits that may affect alcohol cravings and provide new avenues for managing alcohol drinking disorders," said one doctor. (iStock)
There are currently three FDA-approved drugs to treat alcoholic diseases: naltrexone (which helps reduce cravings by reducing the “buzz” feeling brought by drinking); disulfiram (which can help avoid alcohol by making some people feel uncomfortable when drinking), and gain (restore the balance of hormones in the brain to reduce cravings).
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However, past studies have shown that less than 10% of patients with alcohol use disorders have received appropriate treatment within the first year of treatment.
The main advantage of GLP-1 agonists is that they only need to continue working once a week.
For 188 patients with an average of more than four months, no one increased their alcohol intake after starting weight loss pills. (iStock)
External experts say the findings of the study highlight the potential of weight loss drugs to help treat alcoholic diseases.
Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, "This study shows that the promising auxiliary benefits of GLP-1 analogues may affect alcohol cravings and provide new avenues for managing alcohol use disorders." Obesity medical physician The Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, which does not belong to the study, told Fox News Digital.
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"While the exact mechanism is still being explored, the findings help us understand the broader benefits of GLP-1 analogs beyond obesity treatment," Stanford University added.