Ozempic may reduce severe liver disease risk: new study

Health

By Alex Mitchell

Ozempic, the diabetes drug currently enjoying widespread popularity as a weight loss aid and appetite supressant may also act as a preventive measure against certain kinds of cancer, new research finds.

The trendy semaglutide injection, belonging to a class of medications known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, was shown to reduce risks of liver cancer and cirrhosis for individuals who suffer from both chronic liver disease and type 2 diabetes, according to a study from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden.

“Our findings are interesting because there are currently no approved drugs to reduce this risk,” first author Axel Wester said.

The new data, now published in the journal Gut, observed all Swedish residents who had both type 2 diabetes and chronic liver disease.

That sample was then divided into those who had taken GLP-1 medications and those who did not.

The population who were taking Ozempic and related GLP1’s over a lengthy period of time were seen to have a lower risk of the two liver diseases.

Researchers have now created a new database to study a broader range of people to further potential results.

“If we get similar results, it would further strengthen the hypothesis that GLP1 agonists can be used to reduce the risk of severe liver disease,” said study author Hannes Hagström.

Though, Wester said that “it will take many years” to round out proper research on the matter.

As Ozempic’s popularity has sharply risen in recent months — especially within the Hollywood community — so have calls of overdose, per America’s Poison Centers.

The study also is the latest in a series of claims regarding positive side-effects of the drug — late last year, research was published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry suggesting that taking Ozempic could help cure alcohol cravings.