Ozempic and Vigovi, which include the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) semaglutide, proceed to be blockbuster medication for Danish pharmaceutical large Novo Nordisk, which noticed its complete gross sales double year-over-year to a staggering $1.35 billion, in accordance with a Could 2024 report from Forbes.1
Whereas these choices could seem handy, obsession with weight reduction “magic bullets” could also be doing extra hurt than good.2 Semaglutide has been proven to doubtlessly improve the danger of significant gastrointestinal issues, and up to date research have advised that these medication may pose a danger to imaginative and prescient.
Ozempic could improve danger of blindness
In a retrospective examine3 In a paper revealed in JAMA Ophthalmology on July 3, 2024, researchers counsel there may be an affiliation between semaglutide consumption and non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) in sufferers with sort 2 diabetes and/or overweight and chubby members.
For background, NAION is a situation that causes a lack of blood move to the optic nerve, the nerve pathway that connects the attention to the mind. When blood move is blocked, sudden (and painless) blindness can happen. In keeping with Brightman and Girls’s Hospital, NAION causes “vital lack of imaginative and prescient in a single eye the second you get up within the morning,” and as soon as it develops, the imaginative and prescient loss stays secure.4
For the JAMA Ophthalmology examine, the authors chosen papers revealed between December 1, 2017 and November 30, 2023, with a complete of 16,827 members. Of this inhabitants, 710 folks have been recognized with sort 2 diabetes, of which 194 have been prescribed semaglutide. As well as, 979 folks have been chubby or overweight, of which 361 have been prescribed semaglutide.5
After accounting for covariates resembling intercourse, age, systemic hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, the researchers decided the cumulative frequency of NAION within the inhabitants. Outcomes confirmed that the subset with sort 2 diabetes had 17 NAION occasions. The chubby/overweight subset recorded 20 NAION occasions.6
An evaluation utilizing a mannequin to calculate the danger of creating NAION confirmed stunning outcomes: Semaglutide could considerably improve the danger of NAION in comparison with different standard drugs for diabetes and weight problems. Researchers discovered that utilizing the drug makes folks 4.28 occasions extra more likely to develop NAION if they’ve diabetes, and seven.64 occasions extra probably if they’re chubby/overweight.7
Nevertheless, it needs to be famous that that is an observational examine. The researchers didn’t go into element about how semaglutide causes NAION, and acknowledged that “future research are wanted to evaluate causality.” Nevertheless, this examine additionally has benefits: all NAION circumstances prescribed semaglutide have been reviewed by skilled neuro-ophthalmologists. To the researchers’ data, that is the primary examine to look at the affiliation between semaglutide and NAION.8
A more in-depth have a look at the hyperlink between semaglutide and retinopathy
Whereas the JAMA Ophthalmology examine was the primary to research the hyperlink between semaglutide and NAION, it isn’t the primary time different researchers have discovered an affiliation between semaglutide and eye harm, particularly diabetic neuropathy.
For instance, in a 2023 survey9 A examine revealed within the journal Diabetes famous that in medical trials of semaglutide (2016), the drug was noticed to extend the danger of retinopathy, particularly in folks with diabetes.10 Semaglutide was related to a considerably increased incidence of retinopathy problems, together with blindness and vitreous hemorrhage.
What components may very well be contributing to this complication? In keeping with a examine revealed within the World Journal of Diabetes, the components that could be contributing to this complication in folks taking semaglutide are uncontrolled sort 2 diabetes, longer period of diabetes, increased preliminary blood HbA1c ranges, and better charges of insulin therapy at first of the examine.11 Because of this if you have already got persistent diabetes, taking Ozempic could considerably improve your danger of retinopathy.
Apparently, this examine highlights the necessary function of intestine well being in managing diabetes and {that a} wholesome intestine could assist decrease the danger of diabetic retinopathy.12
“Intestine microbiota imbalance, i.e., persistent imbalance inside many various microbial communities, seems to be related to a number of inflammatory/metabolic illnesses and central nervous system (CNS) problems, together with retinopathies, as a manifestation of the rising idea of the so-called ‘microbiota-retinal axis.'”
Certainly, long-term diabetes is related not solely with retinopathy but additionally with vital intestine microbiota dysbiosis, in order that the related adjustments in bacterial populations could have an effect on the lipid content material of retinal and central nervous system tissues, resulting in the event of retinopathy…”
Blocking the GLP-1 receptor could trigger different unwanted side effects
Taking GLP-1RAs Could Have Adversarial Well being Results: 2021 Examine13 In keeping with a examine revealed within the Journal of Investigative Medication, these medication could improve the danger of gastroparesis, a situation that slows or stops the motion of meals from the abdomen to the small gut.
Two sufferers have been offered for the examine. The primary was a 52-year-old girl with well-controlled diabetes who visited the researchers’ clinic searching for therapy for postprandial higher stomach ache accompanied by emotions of fullness, bloating and nausea. After tracing her medical historical past, it was found that she had been receiving semaglutide injections one month earlier than her signs started.14
Checks confirmed that semaglutide slowed gastric emptying, so after stopping the drug for six weeks, repeat testing confirmed that gastric emptying had improved.15
The second affected person, a 57-year-old girl, had an identical situation. She had had sort 2 diabetes for 16 years and had been receiving weekly injections of dulaglutide (one other GLP-1RA) for 15 months. Checks confirmed that the drug induced slowed gastric emptying, and that gastric motility normalized when the injections have been stopped.16
In one other examine,17 Along with gastroparesis, the JAMA paper famous that GLP-1RAs may improve the danger of biliary tract illness, pancreatitis, and intestinal obstruction. EudraVigilance, the European Medicines Company’s drug facet impact monitoring system, additionally notes metabolic, dietary, urinary, cardiac, and eye problems related to semaglutide.18
Different revealed research have proven that GLP-1RAs are related to the event of pancreatic most cancers.19 Acute kidney harm.20 Rodent research have additionally proven that Wegoby could cause thyroid C-cell tumors at doses just like these utilized in people, making it contraindicated in sufferers with a historical past of medullary thyroid most cancers.twenty one Moreover, Wegovy’s product label warns customers about unwanted side effects, together with:twenty two
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Acute pancreatitis |
Acute gallbladder illness |
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Hypoglycemia |
Acute kidney harm |
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Hypersensitivity reactions, resembling anaphylactic reactions and angioedema |
Problems of diabetic retinopathy in sufferers with sort 2 diabetes |
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Elevated coronary heart fee |
Suicidal habits and ideas |
As a substitute, increase your GLP-1 receptors with polyphenol-rich meals
Returning to the function of the intestine microbiome, enhancing somewhat than suppressing GLP-1 expression could also be simpler for weight reduction. A technique to do that is to colonize the intestine with Akkermansia muciniphila, a sort of micro organism that naturally secretes GLP-1-inducing proteins. Because the researchers wrote in a examine revealed in Nature Microbiology:
“A. muciniphila will increase thermogenesis and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion in high-fat eating regimen (HFD)-induced C57BL/6J mice by induction of uncoupling protein 1 in brown adipose tissue and systemic GLP-1 secretion.”
The significance of Akkermansia in supporting intestine well being can’t be overstated. In my interview with George Dinkoff, I clarify why Akkermansia is a vital species: Nevertheless, many individuals are poor on this explicit microbe, and I consider this is because of inadequate vitality manufacturing and oxygen leakage into the intestine.
Sure meals, significantly these wealthy in polyphenols, could encourage the expansion of Akkermansia within the intestine and help general well being. Wholesome sources embrace berries, broccoli, apples, ginger, onions, inexperienced tea and carrots.twenty three the examinetwenty 4 A paper revealed within the Worldwide Journal of Molecular Science explains why Akkermansia could also be linked to well being advantages.
“Akkermansia muciniphila is a mucosal commensal micro organism that’s thought-about a intestine microbial marker in wholesome people. Its relative abundance is considerably decreased in people with intestinal irritation and metabolic problems.”
Dietary polyphenols clearly stimulate the relative abundance of A. muciniphila and contribute to the alleviation of a number of illnesses, together with weight problems, sort 2 diabetes, inflammatory bowel illness, and liver harm.”
Ozempic already exists in nature
Berberine, a pure compound present in goldenseal, barberry, Oregon grape, and turmeric, has been known as “nature’s azempic” for its capability to help pure weight reduction.twenty 5 In keeping with a examine revealed within the journal Molecules:26 Its properties could assist handle sort 2 diabetes, weight problems, atherosclerosis, most cancers and cardiovascular problems. Researchers have outlined how these advantages could come up.
“Berberine positively impacts fasting blood glucose, postprandial blood glucose, and glycosylated hemoglobin ranges, and reduces insulin resistance. It stimulates glycolysis, improves insulin secretion, and inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis. By decreasing insulin resistance, berberine additionally improves ovulation.”
The anti-obesity results of berberine are additionally properly documented. Berberine acts as an anti-sclerotic agent and reduces LDL and testosterone ranges. This alkaloid exerts an anti-inflammatory impact by inhibiting the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E2.”
These findings have been validated in different revealed research. One systematic overview discovered that berberine could assist regulate blood sugar ranges and enhance insulin sensitivity.27 That is necessary as a result of insulin resistance is carefully linked to weight acquire and weight problems, and addressing this will enhance insulin sensitivity and result in weight reduction.28
One other examine29 A paper revealed in Frontiers in Mobile and An infection Microbiology discovered that berberine “helps alleviate the pathology of metabolic problems, and the mechanism is said to the regulation of the intestine microbiota.” Moreover, berberine’s capability to manage the intestine microbiota could improve its absorption.
Reduce your consumption of linoleic acid for higher long-term outcomes
I consider that the magic capsule for losing a few pounds that the world is chasing won’t exist in our lifetime. Proof exhibits that counting on medication that alter the essential capabilities of the physique places you in danger for debilitating well being issues. And when you cease taking Ozempic/Wegovi, you’ll probably regain any weight you have got misplaced. In keeping with one report:30 Most individuals who cease semaglutide injections regain two-thirds of the load they misplaced, a phenomenon generally known as “Ozempic rebound.”
For safer, more healthy weight reduction, it is necessary to deal with one of many greatest contributors to the present weight problems epidemic: extreme consumption of linoleic acid (LA). Linoleic acid is an omega-6 fats present in seed oils generally utilized in cooking, together with soybean oil, cottonseed oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed oil (canola oil), corn oil, and safflower oil.31
Along with avoiding these oily dishes and meals, remove processed meals, quick meals, and restaurant meals. In case you should eat out, take a look at the Templeton Checklist.32 The record options eating places identified for serving wholesome meals, taking into consideration standards resembling utilizing domestically sourced, sustainably sourced elements and wholesome oils in cooking.
Lastly, we advocate limiting your LA consumption to lower than 5 grams per day (ideally lower than 2 grams), which is analogous to what our ancestors consumed earlier than the widespread persistent well being issues that plague fashionable society. For extra data on the risks of LA, learn my article “Linoleic Acid – The Most Dangerous Ingredient in Your Weight loss plan.”
