New Delhi, October 15 (IANS). According to a study, popular drugs like Ozempic and Vegovy, used for diabetes management and weight loss, may also be effective in reducing alcohol consumption.
Researchers at Virginia Tech in America conducted a study according to which GLP-1 agonists slow down the speed of alcohol entry into the bloodstream and also reduce the effects on the brain.
“Drinkers know there is a difference between drinking a glass of wine and drinking a shot of whiskey,” said Alex DeFeliceAntonio, an assistant professor at the university’s Fralin Biomedical Research Institute.
A serving of either contains 0.6 ounces of alcohol, but a shot raises blood alcohol levels rapidly. Both have different effects on the body.
“What difference does it make? Strong-acting drugs are more likely to be abused. They have different effects on the brain. So if GLP-1s slow down the entry of alcohol into the bloodstream, they could reduce the effects of alcohol and help people drink less,” said DeFeliceAntonio.
In a pilot study of 20 participants, the team reported that participants taking semaglutide, tirazepate or liraglutide had a slower increase in levels of alcohol, despite taking the same dose of alcohol calculated to increase the concentration (amount) of alcohol in breath by about 0.08 percent.
Participants in that group also reported experiencing less intoxication on subjective parameters.
The team reported that while other drugs, such as naltrexone and acamprosate, which help reduce alcohol intake, act on the central nervous system, GLP-1s were found to suppress the desire to consume.
A study published in the journal Scientific Reports found that these drugs slow the process of gastric emptying, which may lead to a slower increase in blood alcohol levels.
“The potential to provide new hope to individuals struggling with alcohol addiction is what makes this work so worthwhile,” the researchers said.
–IANS
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