The diabetes drug is useful in treating obesity, but could also help with a range of other conditions
by DR EMMA BECKETT Emma is a senior lecturer in the School of Environmental & Life Sciences at the University of Newcastle (Central Coast) and senior food & nutrition scientist at Nutrition Research Australia.
COMMENT
Semaglutide – most often known by the brand name Ozempic, but also sold as Wegovy and Rybelsus – was developed to treat type 2 diabetes, but has been making headlines as a weight-loss drug. Now, with prescriptions for ozempic increasing, reports of other potential benefits are emerging, from reducing addictive behaviours to improving mood and brain function. Are there more uses for Ozempic?
Ozempic mimics the biological actions of a naturally produced hormone called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1). GLP-1 is one of the major hormones secreted by the gut after eating. It forms part of the complex pathways that signal to the rest of the body that food has been eaten. These pathways prevent over-consumption by signalling satiety – the feeling of satisfaction that comes after eating – and trigger the biological pathways that allow the body to use the nutrients that come from food. This includes increasing the production of insulin, which is important in moving sugar (glucose) from the blood into cells so that it can be used as energy.
By enhancing the promotion of insulin secretion, Ozempic and other GLP-1-mimicking drugs can help treat type 2 diabetes and suppress appetite, which can support the treatment of obesity. Ozempic is about 95 per cent similar to natural GLP-1, but the small differences make it easier for it to bind to carriers in the blood and harder for it to be broken down. So instead of peaking then rapidly dipping after a meal, as natural GLP-1 does, it can stay in the system longer, have larger impacts and reach other organs more readily.
Recently, reports have emerged of other potential off-target, but positive effects. Examples include reported reductions in alcohol consumption, smoking and nail-biting, as well as improvements in anxiety, stress and depression. A Danish study following users of semaglutide or liraglutide (another similar drug) for five years found that users had a lower incidence of dementia. These anecdotes and observations raise the possibility that Ozempic could be repurposed to fight other difficult-to-treat conditions.
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