Researchers have discovered that the diabetes medication semaglutide, often sold under the brand name Ozempic, can be beneficial for patients with chronic kidney disease and obesity.
This drug was already known for its weight-loss effects, but this study is the first to show that it can also help protect kidneys.
The international research team, led by clinical pharmacologist Hiddo L. Heerspink from the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands, conducted a study across four countries: Canada, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands.
Their findings, which have been published in Nature Medicine, reveal that semaglutide can significantly reduce kidney inflammation, lower the amount of protein in urine, and decrease blood pressure.
These outcomes suggest that the drug could be valuable for patients with kidney disease, even if they don’t have diabetes.
Background and Motivation for the Study
The idea for this study came to Dr. Heerspink at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. He had previously researched a different class of diabetes drugs called SGLT2 inhibitors, which were found to be helpful for patients with kidney damage, even those who did not have diabetes.
This sparked his interest in testing semaglutide to see if it could also be effective in people with chronic kidney disease and obesity.
Around the same time, semaglutide was gaining popularity due to its weight-loss benefits. This widespread interest made it easier to recruit participants, as many people wanted access to the drug, which was in short supply due to high demand. The study offered them a 50% chance of receiving semaglutide.
How the Study Was Conducted
The study began in the second half of 2022 with 101 participants. Half of them were given semaglutide injections for 24 weeks, while the other half received a placebo.
The main goal was to measure the amount of protein in their urine since high levels can indicate kidney damage. By the end of the study, the group receiving semaglutide had a 52% reduction in protein levels compared to the placebo group.
Additionally, inflammation in the kidneys was reduced by 30%, and participants experienced weight loss of about 10% on average. Blood pressure also decreased significantly, similar to the effects of standard blood pressure medication.
These improvements are important because high blood pressure and inflammation often worsen kidney damage over time.
Understanding the Effects of Semaglutide
Dr. Heerspink was particularly enthusiastic about the results. He explained that semaglutide works in both direct and indirect ways.
It directly reduces inflammation in the kidneys and lowers the amount of fat around the kidneys, which leads to less protein leakage. Indirectly, the weight loss and blood pressure reduction contribute to better kidney health.
The study didn’t last long enough to measure changes in the quality of life or other long-term effects. However, participants did report feeling less hungry and eating less, which aligns with the drug’s known effects.
What’s Next for Semaglutide Research?
Dr. Heerspink believes the results are promising enough to warrant a larger study. He hopes to explore whether semaglutide can reduce the need for dialysis or kidney transplants in patients with chronic kidney disease.
He is also curious to find out if the drug could benefit patients who have kidney damage but are not obese.
One of the main challenges moving forward is the high demand for semaglutide, which makes it difficult to secure enough supplies for further research.
How Does Semaglutide Work?
Semaglutide belongs to a class of drugs that are designed to treat type 2 diabetes by targeting a specific hormone in the body called GLP-1. This hormone helps the pancreas release insulin, which is essential for managing blood sugar levels.
It also slows down how quickly food moves through the stomach, keeping people feeling full longer and reducing hunger. These combined effects lead to better blood sugar control and weight loss.
While semaglutide is well-known as a diabetes and weight-loss drug, this study shows it might also help protect the kidneys, making it a potential game-changer for people with chronic kidney disease.
Researchers are excited about these early results and eager to learn more about how this drug could improve the lives of many patients.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies that MIND diet may reduce risk of vision loss disease, and Vitamin D could benefit people with diabetic neuropathic pain.
For more information about diabetes, please see recent studies that Vitamin E could help reduce blood sugar and insulin resistance in diabetes, and results showing eating eggs in a healthy diet may reduce risks of diabetes, high blood pressure.
The research findings can be found in Nature Medicine.
Copyright © 2024 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
