GLP-1R agonism ends in diminished liver ranges of Cyp2e1, and better blood ranges of ethanol. Credit score: npj Metabolic Well being and Illness (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s44324-025-00077-y
Anti-obesity medicine akin to semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) are additionally promising for the remedy of alcohol use dysfunction and alcohol-associated liver illness, as rising proof suggests they cut back the motivation to drink alcohol. Now, stunning new findings reveal that the medicines could have direct protecting results on the liver as effectively.
In a brand new research, printed Sept. 18 in npj Metabolic Well being and Illness, Yale Faculty of Medication (YSM) researchers discovered that in mice, the medicine, often known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, diminished an enzyme that metabolizes alcohol. That, in flip, decreased the manufacturing of poisonous alcohol metabolites.
“This is the first time that GLP-1 receptor agonists have been shown to regulate alcohol metabolism in the liver,” says principal investigator Wajahat Mehal, MD, professor of medication (digestive ailments) at YSM. “If you’re taking semaglutide, then your body will likely handle alcohol differently.”
Nevertheless, as a result of these medicine slowed the metabolism of alcohol, the mice additionally had increased blood alcohol ranges, the researchers discovered.
“GLP-1 receptor agonists seem to have very similar effects in mice and humans,” says Mehal. “If these results are also reproduced in humans, people using GLP-1 receptor agonists might be drinking an amount of alcohol that does not normally put them above the legal blood alcohol level, but because they are taking this drug, it does.”
Additional research in people are wanted to know these impacts of GLP-1 receptor agonists extra absolutely, he emphasizes.
Within the research, researchers gave mice both a GLP-1 receptor agonist or a placebo. They noticed that mice receiving the medicine had decreased ranges of a liver enzyme often known as Cyp2e1, which breaks down alcohol right into a poisonous metabolite known as acetaldehyde.
“This is significant because alcohol itself is actually not the most toxic molecule to the liver,” explains Mehal. Slightly, acetaldehyde is among the main drivers of alcohol-related hurt to the liver. “These drugs are resulting in less acetaldehyde.”
The findings counsel that not solely may GLP-1 receptor agonists assist the liver by performing on the mind to cut back alcohol consumption, but additionally via slowing metabolism of alcohol within the liver, and in flip lowering the degrees of poisonous metabolites.
Ongoing medical trials are at present testing the advantages of semaglutide for individuals residing with alcohol-induced liver illness. The research means that GLP-1 receptor agonists could supply higher advantages to the liver than beforehand thought, and that the drug should assist sufferers who are usually not abstaining from alcohol.
“Even if some individuals don’t reduce their alcohol intake while they’re on a GLP-1 receptor agonist, they will probably still have hepatic protection, because fewer toxic metabolites will be produced in the liver,” Mehal says.
In one other experiment, the researchers measured blood alcohol concentrations of mice half-hour after giving them alcohol. They discovered that mice who had obtained a GLP-1 receptor agonist had increased blood alcohol concentrations in comparison with controls, and that these ranges took longer to drop.
Extra analysis is required to higher perceive the results of elevated blood alcohol ranges on the remainder of the physique, Mehal says.
“If the liver is not metabolizing alcohol as quickly, the alcohol load could be shifted to other organs,” he poses. “Then, not only might people have a high blood alcohol level, but may also experience more cognitive effects like discoordination.”
The variety of individuals taking these medicine is quickly rising—as many as 1 in 8 adults within the U.S. have used or are at present utilizing a GLP-1 receptor agonist. In the meantime, about half of U.S. adults drink alcohol and 6% report consuming closely.
As using these medicines for a variety of circumstances continues to rise, it’s more and more vital to check the interactions between these medicines and alcohol, Mehal says.
“There already are large numbers of people who are taking GLP-1 receptor agonists and are drinking either social amounts or excess amounts of alcohol,” says Mehal. “We need to know the effects of these drugs in that setting.”
Extra info:
Frhaan Zahrawi et al, GLP-1 receptor agonism ends in discount in hepatic ethanol metabolism, npj Metabolic Well being and Illness (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s44324-025-00077-y
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