A new study has found that a drug called semaglutide could help improve heart health in people who are overweight or obese, even if they do not have diabetes. This large international study focused on people who had heart problems and were also overweight or obese.
Normally, semaglutide is used to treat Type 2 diabetes, but it is also approved for weight loss. Researchers wanted to see if it could also protect the heart in people without diabetes.
The study took place over three years and included many participants from different countries. Everyone who took part was either overweight or obese and had some history of heart problems. They were divided into two groups: one group received semaglutide, and the other received a placebo.
A placebo is a harmless substance that has no real effect but is used to compare with the actual drug. People in the study did not know whether they were receiving the real drug or the placebo, and neither did the researchers. This way, the results would not be influenced by expectations.
Participants were given the medication through a small injection each week. They started with a low dose, and over time, the dose was gradually increased. Throughout the study, the health of the participants was carefully monitored to see if semaglutide could help lower the risk of heart problems.
The results were very promising. People who took semaglutide had a 20% lower chance of having heart attacks, strokes, or dying from heart disease compared to those who did not take it. This is a big improvement that could make a real difference for people with heart problems.
In addition to better heart health, participants who took the drug also lost an average of 9.4% of their body weight. Losing weight is important for heart health because carrying extra weight puts more strain on the heart, increases blood pressure, and can lead to more serious health problems over time.
The study also showed that semaglutide is generally safe for most people. Some participants did stop taking it because of stomach issues like nausea or diarrhea, but these problems were usually mild and not considered dangerous. The researchers noted that these side effects are typical for weight-loss medications and tend to get better over time.
This study is particularly important because obesity is a growing problem around the world. Many people who are overweight also struggle with heart problems, which can be life-threatening.
Until now, most treatments for heart disease have focused on people who also have diabetes, but this new study shows that semaglutide could help those without diabetes too. This means that many more people could benefit from the drug, reducing their risk of heart problems even if they are not diabetic.
Researchers believe that semaglutide helps the heart by lowering weight, reducing inflammation, and improving the way the body handles blood sugar and fat. These effects can help ease the pressure on the heart and blood vessels, lowering the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
However, scientists want to do more research to understand exactly how the drug works to protect the heart. They also hope to find ways to make the treatment available to more people who could benefit from it.
The study mostly included people who had already experienced heart problems, so it is not yet clear if semaglutide could also prevent heart disease in people who are simply overweight but otherwise healthy. Also, fewer women participated in the study compared to men, so more research is needed to understand how the drug might affect women differently.
As obesity rates continue to rise around the world, finding effective treatments like semaglutide could be a game-changer for heart health. This drug may help many people live longer, healthier lives by lowering their risk of heart problems even if they do not have diabetes.
Scientists are now looking forward to more studies that could bring even more understanding of how this medication can help improve health for millions of people.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about Vitamin D and type 2 diabetes, and what you need to know about avocado and type 2 diabetes.
For more information about diabetes, please see recent studies about how to eat to prevent type 2 diabetes, and 5 vitamins that may prevent complication in diabetes.
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