It’s hard to overstate just how revolutionary the development of medications like Ozempic and Wegovy has been for managing type 2 diabetes and promoting weight loss. Far from being just an aesthetic change, the ability for some people to finally shed pounds is also helping them tackle other health issues. And now, new research shows that patients taking weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy might also be protecting their hearts and livers in the process.
In a series of recently published studies, it appears that GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy can have protective benefits for some of our most vital organs. One study found that diabetic patients taking the medications were less likely to die of any cause than patients who were not. Another study aimed at non-diabetic patients suffering from PAD found that those taking weight loss drugs were significantly less likely to experience a serious cardiac event compared to those patients who were not using GLP-1 drugs. Here's what this new wave of research is finding and what it means for you if you're taking a GLP-1 medication.
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Weight loss drugs may reduce the risk of death for those with type 2 diabetes
In one of two recent studies presented at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) Scientific Session conference in Washington, D.C., last week, a research team decided to analyze percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Nearly 900,000 patients (often with type 2 diabetes) undergo the procedure annually in the U.S. as a treatment for blocked arteries. In this case, scientists hoped to examine how GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic could help manage patients' health following PCI.
To do this, the team analyzed medical records from 1,552 patients with type 2 diabetes who underwent the procedure from 2015 to 2022 following a heart attack. The researchers then divided the patients into separate groups based on whether or not they were taking GLP-1 drugs.
The researchers found that while taking the drugs didn’t affect whether or not someone might need additional heart procedures down the line, those on GLP-1 medication were less likely to die for any reason within the next three years.
This has significant and positive health implications, the researchers concluded.
“Since our analysis showed improved all-cause mortality outcomes in our target population, we hope GLP-1 use can be considered in a patient’s treatment plan to improve outcomes,” Moses Sghayyer, MD, the study’s lead author from the University of Alabama, said in a press release.
The drugs may also protect the heart in other ways
In the second study, a separate research team chose to consider peripheral artery disease (PAD) in non-diabetic patients. This condition occurs when patients have narrowed or blocked arteries in their extremities that limit proper blood flow, ultimately increasing their risk of cardiovascular-related death eight times more than average.
The researchers considered ten years of medical data from 8,956 patients (most of whom were white women with a mean age of 59) who were not diagnosed with diabetes. Similar to the other study, the group was then split into patients who had taken GLP-1 drugs for a minimum of a year and those who had not.
The results found that patients taking the weight loss drugs experienced fewer serious cardiac incidents—including strokes, heart attacks, or all-cause mortality—and were less likely to be hospitalized for emergencies stemming from high blood pressure. But while the GLP-1 cohort didn’t see any improved odds of facing amputation or future artery procedures, they were far less likely to experience a serious cardiac event (79.5% chance) than the non-drug group (87.53% chance).
“PAD presents a serious health crisis that many at-risk patients are completely unaware of,” Emmanuel Daniel, MD, the study’s lead author, said in a press release. “We were impressed by the reduction of hospitalization and hypertensive emergency GLP-1RAs can offer this patient population, but surprised by the lack of significant difference in amputation and revascularization procedures. Using this therapy as a tool to treat PAD in patients without diabetes may be a game-changer in terms of reducing morbidity and mortality.”
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Other research looked at GLP-1 drugs’ protective effect on the liver
It’s not just cardiac issues that could be at play. A study published last month in the New England Journal of Medicine focused on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a severe condition in which fat accumulation in the liver leads to damage and scarring, according to The New York Times. This serious ailment—which is significantly linked to type 2 diabetes and is what most commonly leads to a liver transplant—afflicts roughly 15 million Americans.
To conduct their study, the researchers prescribed 1,197 adult patients diagnosed with MASH to receive a weekly injection of a semaglutide medication (GLP-1). The published study (which was sponsored by Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company that produces Wegovy and Ozempic) looked at the first 800 patients after 72 weeks of injections as part of an interim analysis.
Results showed that about 63% of participants receiving GLP-1 drugs saw their liver inflammation stabilize or dissipate, and new liver scarring stop. Only 34% of patients receiving placebo shots saw the same results.
Moreover, about 37% of patients receiving weight loss drug injections had less scar tissue on the liver at the end of the 72-week period—compared to 22% of patients in the placebo group.
The research team also noted that all participants in both groups received fitness and nutrition guidance, which caused participants in both groups to lose weight. This may be why some members of the placebo group saw liver health benefits despite not being on a semaglutide medication.
Still, the team pointed out that the participant pool was demographically limited (it included only five Black patients overall) and focused heavily on patients with obesity, which means that those without too much excess weight might not see the same benefits. However, they plan on looking at the longer-term data to help assess if the drugs can ultimately help protect the liver and reduce reliance on surgery or transplants, The Times reports.
What this means for you
The body of research surrounding GLP-1 and other weight loss medications is growing rapidly. With every new study, it's clear that these new drugs may start to be considered and approved as potential treatment options for more health conditions and diseases than just type 2 diabetes and weight loss down the road.
That said, these medications should only be used for their currently approved uses. If you're interested in taking them, you should talk to your doctor to see if you're a potential candidate.
It's also important to know the pros, cons, and potential side effects before starting any new medication.
