Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist drugs have been prescribed for people with type 2 diabetes and obesity for nearly 20 years, as they were first licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2005.
Since then, a number of long-term studies have emerged evaluating both their benefits and their risks, with some results suggesting potential for further uses.
Glucagon Trusted Source is a hormone released from the islets of Langerhans Trusted Source in the pancreas, and it plays an important role in maintaining sugar levels in the body.
When blood sugar rises, glucagon binds to a specific receptor on the surface of beta cells in the pancreas, causing them to release insulin to convert the sugar in the blood and store the excess glucose into glycogen.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when a person cannot create enough insulin for the body to function or their cells are not sensitive to insulin, meaning they need more of it than normal.
This same receptor on the pancreatic beta cells is bound to another hormone called glucagon-like peptide. The glucagon-like peptide is released by the intestines within minutes of eating food.
Researchers initially thought this hormone only affected insulin release, but further research showed that its presence increased glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis in cells, delayed gastric emptying, and increased the feeling of fullness after eating. Glucagon levels are lower in the presence of glucagon-like peptides.
GLP-1 agonists are drugs developed to act analogously to glucagon-like peptides; by binding to the same receptor on pancreatic beta cells, they increase the release of insulin.
This improves glucose metabolism and, therefore, blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
GLP-1 receptors are also present in the hypothalamus, a region of the brain involved in the regulation of food intake and energy balance, and activation of these receptors can reduce caloric intake, leading to weight loss.
Weight loss achieved by using the drug further improves outcomes for people with type 2 diabetes, meaning this is a desirable side effect for this group of patients.
However, the drug is not currently licensed to treat obesity by the FDA in the United States, but it is sometimes prescribed off-label by trusted sources for this purpose. The drug is not without potential side effects, most notably gastric upset.
Moreover, a warning issued by the FDA Trusted Source on May 31, 2023, emphasizes that, in the US, "there are no approved generic versions" of drugs like Ozempic, and while altered versions of the original formulation of these drugs may circulate on the market, these are apt to cause various side effects.
Such altered versions of the drug, known as compounded Semaglutide, "may not contain the same active ingredient as FDA-approved Semaglutide products" and "have not been shown to be safe and effective," the official warning states, and people should avoid purchasing these compounds.
The myriad actions of GLP-1 drugs could be viewed as something of a double-edged sword. While they may have a vast range of potential effects on the body, these could be beneficial to some patient populations and problematic for others. Research needs to take a granular approach to disentangle these questions.
You must be logged in to post a comment.