Ladies and older adults taking the anti-obesity drug semaglutide could also be at increased danger for muscle loss, however increased protein consumption might assist stop muscle loss in these sufferers, in line with a small research being offered Saturday at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society’s annual assembly in San Francisco, Calif.
Shedding muscle (or lean mass) is a typical aspect impact of weight reduction in adults with weight problems and should negatively have an effect on metabolism and bone well being. It is because muscle helps management blood sugar after meals and performs an vital position in protecting bones robust, in line with research lead researcher Melanie Haines, M.D., of Massachusetts Basic Hospital and Harvard Medical College in Boston, Mass.
Roughly 40% of the load misplaced from taking semaglutide—a sort of weight-loss remedy often known as a GLP-1—comes from lean mass, together with muscle. It’s not but recognized who’s at highest danger for muscle loss or the way it impacts blood sugar ranges, Haines mentioned.
The researchers studied 40 adults with weight problems for 3 months. Of those sufferers, 23 had been prescribed semaglutide, whereas 17 adopted a eating regimen and life-style program for weight reduction known as Wholesome Habits for Life (HHL). The researchers evaluated how their muscle mass modified.
Research individuals who had been prescribed semaglutide misplaced extra weight than those that participated within the eating regimen and life-style program, however the p.c of weight reduction that was lean mass was comparable between the 2 teams.
After accounting for weight reduction, the researchers discovered that within the semaglutide group, being older, feminine or consuming much less protein was linked to larger muscle loss. Additionally on this group, shedding extra muscle was linked to much less enchancment in blood sugar (HbA1c ranges).
“Older adults and girls could also be extra prone to lose muscle on semaglutide, however consuming extra protein might assist defend in opposition to this,” Haines mentioned. “Shedding an excessive amount of muscle might cut back the advantages of semaglutide on blood sugar management. This implies preserving muscle throughout weight reduction with semaglutide could also be vital to cut back insulin resistance and stop frailty in individuals with weight problems.”
Haines mentioned that extra research are wanted to seek out the easiest way to lose fats however hold muscle when utilizing GLP-1 medicines.
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Consuming extra protein might defend sufferers taking anti-obesity drug from muscle loss (2025, July 12)
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