Tejal Somvanshi
With better health facilities, the longevity of human life is extended in modern times. But there is a problem of obesity or fatness due to the intake of more carbohydrates. Also, there is an increase in consumption of alcohol.
Now a new study has shown that semaglutide – popularly known in the West as Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for obesity – could help people cut down on their alcohol intake. Semaglutide is a class of medicines known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists or GLP-1RAs. It mimics the GLP-1 hormone, released in the gut in response to eating.
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According to Dr. Shashank Joshi, an endocrinologist, GLP-1 receptor agonist works in the brain center for appetite, having an anti-binge/craving effect. However, apart from its proven action on diabetes and weight loss, other effects are experimental. Its attractive impact on alcohol craving may be tempered due to the rare side effect of pancreatitis known with these drugs.
According to a University of North Carolina School of Medicine study published in JAMA Psychiatry, weekly semaglutide injections reduced alcohol craving. It also reduced drinking quantity and the frequency of heavy drinking days in adults with alcohol use disorder. The study found that the use of semaglutide reduced average consumption of cigarettes per day compared to those in the placebo group. This was revealed among the participants who smoked cigarettes.
Recently, alcohol has become a public health issue. In India, the largest populated country, 26 million deaths each year are caused by alcohol consumption, according to WHO (World Health Organization). In the USA, 1.78 deaths are due to alcohol, which is linked to liver disease, cardiovascular disease and is a known cause of cancer.
Thus, it kills several birds with one stone, as the proverb goes.
