Weight Loss Drugs Like Ozempic Shrink Heart Muscle, Research Finds

Until now, Ozempic has only been linked to mild side effects like nausea, indigestion etc but recent research has linked it to a life-threatening consequence. A new study by scientists from the University of Alberta suggests that weight loss medications like semaglutide, marketed as Ozempic and Wegrovy, may shrink heart muscle in addition to reducing body weight. Their findings showed that semaglutide reduced heart muscle mass in both lean and obese mice, as well as in lab-grown human heart cells. It was published in JACC: Basic to Translational Science.

Semaglutide and Muscle Loss

Semaglutide is primarily an antidiabetic medication used to treat Type 2 diabetes. While weight loss is one of its side effects, a new study has found that this drug may also lead to significant muscle loss. What is particularly concerning is that up to 40% of the weight lost from semaglutide could actually be muscle mass. This could result in long-term risks like weakened immunity, higher infection susceptibility, and slower wound healing.

In the study, mice on a high-fat, high-sucrose diet were transitioned to a standard diet, simulating reduced calorie intake. After three weeks of semaglutide treatment, the mice lost around 30% of their body weight and 65% of their fat mass. However, their hearts showed signs of muscle loss, particularly in the left ventricles, the heart's main pumping chamber. Despite the reduction in heart mass, the heart's ability to pump blood and relax between beats remained unaffected. Lean mice also experienced muscle loss, losing 8.2% of their skeletal muscle mass without significant changes in body weight or heart function.

How Can It Affect Overall Health?

Muscle mass is pivotal to normal functioning muscles release molecules that support the immune system. Losing muscle mass could have broader health implications, especially for conditions like sarcopenic obesity, where high body fat and low muscle mass increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. These findings may serve as a cautionary note for individuals using semaglutide who are not obese or don't have cardiovascular disease, as the long-term effects on heart and muscle health need further.

How Does Semaglutide Function?

Ozempic (semaglutide) has become a widely used prescription medication for managing blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes and reducing cardiovascular risks. Its off-label use for weight loss has further increased its popularity. However, discussions around its potential side effects—particularly whether they affect females more than males—have raised important questions.

While clinical studies suggest that side effects are generally similar across sexes, some evidence points to a higher prevalence of certain reactions in women as compared to men.

Ozempic belongs to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. Commonly reported side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fatigue, and abdominal pain. A 2022 study involving semaglutide found that 36.6% of participants experienced nausea and vomiting, while 8.6% reported diarrhoea. Notably, a majority (75%) of participants in this study were female, highlighting the importance of examining gender-related differences in drug reactions.