Ozempic and Wegovy comprise the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) semaglutide, which stays a blockbuster drug from Danish pharmaceutical large Novo Nordisk. A report from Forbes in Might 2024 said that the corporate’s general gross sales doubled from the earlier 12 months to a whopping $1.35 billion.1
Whereas these choices could appear handy, fixating on a weight-loss “magic bullet” might do extra hurt than good. revealed analysis2 Research have proven that semaglutide will increase the chance of significant gastrointestinal antagonistic occasions. A current examine suggests these medicine can even put your imaginative and prescient in danger.
Ozone might enhance threat of blindness
In a retrospective examine3 In an article revealed in JAMA Ophthalmology on July 3, 2024, researchers suggest that semaglutide consumption is related to non-arteritic proinflammatory illness in sufferers with kind 2 diabetes and/or in overweight and obese members. ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).
For context, NAION is a illness characterised by diminished blood circulation to the optic nerve, the nerve pathway that connects the attention to the mind. As soon as blood circulation is interrupted, sudden (painless) blindness happens. In response to Brightman and Ladies’s Hospital, NAION could cause “extreme lack of imaginative and prescient in a single eye upon waking within the morning,” and as soon as it happens, the imaginative and prescient loss stays secure.4
Within the JAMA Ophthalmology examine, the authors chosen papers revealed from December 1, 2017, to November 30, 2023, with a complete of 16,827 members. Amongst this group, 710 folks had been identified with kind 2 diabetes, 194 of whom had been taking semaglutide. As well as, 979 folks had been obese or overweight, 361 of whom had been taking semaglutide.5
The researchers decided the cumulative frequency of NAION within the inhabitants after accounting for covarying elements equivalent to gender, age, systemic hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Outcomes confirmed that 17 NAION occasions occurred within the kind 2 diabetes subgroup. Within the obese/overweight subset, 20 occasions of NAION had been recorded.6
Utilizing a mannequin to calculate the chance of growing NAION, the evaluation confirmed shocking outcomes. Semaglutide considerably will increase your threat of NAION in contrast with different conventional medicines used to deal with diabetes and weight problems. In response to the researchers, utilizing this drug will increase your chance of growing NAION by 4.28 instances in case you have diabetes and seven.64 instances in case you are obese/overweight.7
However please word that this examine is observational. The researchers mentioned “future research are wanted to evaluate causality” as a result of they didn’t specify how semaglutide causes NAION. Nevertheless, this examine nonetheless has its deserves—all instances of NAION prescribed with semaglutide had been confirmed by skilled neuro-ophthalmologists. To their data, this examine is the primary to discover the hyperlink between semaglutide and NAION.8
A more in-depth have a look at the hyperlink between semaglutide and retinopathy
Whereas the JAMA Ophthalmology examine is the primary to research the hyperlink between semaglutide and NAION, it isn’t the primary time different researchers have discovered a hyperlink between semaglutide and eye injury, significantly in diabetic neuropathy case.
For instance, a 2023 examine9 An article revealed in Diabetology states that through the trial part of semaglutide (again in 2016), the drug was discovered to extend the chance of retinopathy, particularly if you have already got diabetes. In one other examine,10 Semaglutide is related to a considerably elevated incidence of retinopathy problems, equivalent to blindness and vitreous hemorrhage.
What are the elements that result in this complication? Uncontrolled kind 2 diabetes could also be a contributing issue when taking semaglutide, in response to a examine revealed within the World Journal of Diabetes. Particular particulars included an extended length of diabetes, larger preliminary HbA1c within the blood, and better charges of insulin remedy firstly of the trial.11 In brief, if you have already got continual diabetes, taking Ozempic can considerably enhance your threat of growing retinopathy.
Curiously, analysis highlights the crucial function of intestine well being in managing diabetes and the way a wholesome intestine may help scale back the chance of diabetic retinopathy:12
“Intestine dysbiosis, a continual imbalance inside many various microbial colonies, seems to be related to a wide range of inflammatory/metabolic ailments and central nervous system (CNS) problems, together with retinopathy, and is a part of an rising group of so-called ‘microbiota’ illustration of the idea.
In truth, since long-term diabetes just isn’t solely related to retinopathy but in addition with extreme intestinal flora dysbiosis, associated adjustments in bacterial populations might set off the prevalence of retinopathy by affecting the lipid content material of retinal and central nervous system tissues… “
Inhibiting GLP-1 receptors might trigger different unintended effects
Taking GLP-1RA can have disastrous penalties on your well being. A 2021 examine13 The article revealed within the Journal of Analysis Medication states that these medicine enhance the chance of gastroparesis (gastric paralysis), which slows or prevents the motion of meals from the abdomen to the small gut.
Two sufferers are offered on this examine. The primary affected person was a 52-year-old girl with well-controlled diabetes. She visited the researchers’ clinic hoping to resolve her postmeal epigastric ache, which was characterised by fullness, bloating, and nausea. After monitoring her medical historical past, they found she had been taking semaglutide for a month earlier than she developed signs.14
After testing, semaglutide was discovered to trigger delayed gastric emptying. So off the drug for six weeks, one other spherical of testing confirmed enchancment in gastric emptying.15
The second affected person is a 57-year-old girl with an identical state of affairs. She has had kind 2 diabetes for 16 years and has been taking weekly injections of dulaglutide (one other GLP-1RA) for 15 months. Checks have proven that the drug causes delayed gastric emptying, and stopping the injection can normalize abdomen actions.16
One other examine,No. 17 The article revealed in JAMA famous that along with gastroparesis, GLP-1RAs enhance the chance of biliary illness, pancreatitis, and intestinal obstruction. EudraVigilance, the European Medicines Company’s system for monitoring antagonistic drug reactions, additionally famous metabolic, dietary, urinary, cardiac and ocular problems related to semaglutide.18
Different revealed research have linked GLP-1RA to the event of pancreatic most cancersNo. 19 and acute kidney harm.20 Rodent research have additionally proven that Wegovy causes thyroid C-cell tumors at doses much like these utilized in people and is contraindicated in sufferers with a historical past of medullary thyroid most cancers.twenty one As well as, Wegovy’s product label warns customers of the next antagonistic reactions: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, together with anaphylaxis and angioedema |
Problems of diabetic retinopathy in sufferers with kind 2 diabetes |
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elevated coronary heart price |
suicidal conduct and ideation |
Enhance GLP-1 receptors with polyphenol-rich meals
Returning to the function of the intestine microbiome, selling GLP-1 expression reasonably than inhibiting it could be higher for weight reduction. One method to obtain that is to populate your intestine with Akkermansia muciniphila, a bacterium that naturally secretes GLP-1-inducing proteins. Researchers famous in a examine revealed within the journal Nature Microbiology:
“A. muciniphila will increase high-fat food plan (HFD)-induced thermogenesis and glucagon-like peptide 1 in C57BL/6J mice by inducing uncoupling protein 1 and systemic GLP-1 secretion in brown adipose tissue (GLP-1) secretion”.
The significance of Akkermansia in supporting intestine well being can’t be overstated. In my interview with Georgi Dinkov, I clarify why Akkermansia is a keystone species. Nevertheless, many individuals are poor on this particular microbe, which I consider is brought on by inadequate vitality manufacturing, inflicting oxygen to leak into the intestines.
Sure meals, particularly these wealthy in polyphenols, can nourish 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 a examinetwenty 4 An article revealed within the Worldwide Journal of Molecular Sciences explains why Akkermansia is linked to higher well being:
“Akkermansia muciniphila is a mucosal commensal that’s thought of a intestine microbial marker in wholesome people as a result of its relative abundance is considerably diminished in topics with intestinal irritation and metabolic problems.
Dietary polyphenols can considerably stimulate the relative abundance of A. muciniphila and assist alleviate a wide range of ailments, together with weight problems, kind 2 diabetes, inflammatory bowel illness, and liver injury.
Nature already has its personal ozone layer
Berberine, a pure compound present in goldenseal, juniper, Oregon grape and tree turmeric, has been referred to as “nature’s ozone” for its skill to naturally shed pounds.25 In response to a examine revealed within the journal Molecules,26 Its properties might assist deal with kind 2 diabetes, weight problems, atherosclerosis, most cancers and cardiovascular problems. The researchers define how these advantages happen:
“It has a optimistic impact on the rise in fasting and postprandial blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin ranges, whereas lowering insulin resistance. It stimulates glycolysis, improves insulin secretion, inhibits gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis within the liver; by lowering insulin resistance , berberine can even enhance ovulation.
The anti-obesity results of berberine have additionally been properly documented. Berberine has anti-sclerotic properties and might scale back LDL and testosterone ranges. This alkaloid reveals anti-inflammatory properties by blocking the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E2.
These findings have additionally been confirmed in different revealed research. In response to a scientific overview, berberine might assist regulate blood sugar ranges and enhance insulin sensitivity.27 This is a crucial issue as a result of insulin resistance is carefully linked to weight acquire and weight problems, and addressing these points might enhance insulin sensitivity and thereby result in weight reduction.28
one other examine29 Analysis revealed in Frontiers in Mobile and An infection Microbiology discovered that berberine might assist “alleviate pathological circumstances of metabolic problems, and the mechanism is said to the regulation of intestinal microbiota.” Moreover, berberine’s skill to modulate the intestinal microbiota might improve its absorption.
Decrease your consumption of linoleic acid for higher long-term outcomes
I consider the elusive weight reduction miracle remedy the world is chasing gained’t exist in our lifetimes. Proof exhibits that counting on medicine that alter your physique’s fundamental capabilities places you in danger for well being issues. When you cease utilizing Ozempic/Wegovy, you’ll probably regain the load you misplaced. In response to experiences,30 Most individuals who cease injecting semaglutide regain two-thirds of their weight, a phenomenon referred to as “ozone rebound.”
To be able to shed pounds extra safely and healthily, you will need to tackle one of many largest contributors to the present weight problems epidemic – overconsumption of linoleic acid (LA). It’s an omega-6 fats present in seed oils extensively utilized in cooking. Outstanding examples embrace soybean, cottonseed, sunflower, canola, corn, and safflower oils.31
Along with avoiding something cooked or ready with these oils, quit processed meals, quick meals, and restaurant meals. If you happen to should eat out, take a look at Templeton Checklist,32 It lists eating places identified for his or her wholesome meals. Standards they take into account embrace domestically sourced, sustainable components and the usage of wholesome oils in cooking.
Lastly, I like to recommend lowering LA consumption to lower than 5 grams per day (and even higher, lower than 2 grams), which has similarities to what our ancestors consumed earlier than the widespread continual well being issues that plague trendy society. To be taught extra concerning the risks of LA, learn my article “Linolenic acid – probably the most damaging ingredient in your food plan.”
