Individuals with alcohol problems could benefit from weight loss injections, according to new research. A study published in The Lancet reveals that semaglutide, the active ingredient in drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic, can help curb drinking habits.
Study Details
Researchers from Denmark conducted a trial involving 108 obese patients seeking treatment for alcohol use disorder. All participants received talking therapy. Over 26 weeks, half were given a placebo, while the other half received 2.4mg of semaglutide.
At the start of the trial, participants reported an average of 17 heavy drinking days in the previous 30 days. After six months, those on semaglutide saw heavy drinking days fall to approximately five, compared to nine days for the placebo group.
Reduction in Alcohol Consumption
Overall alcohol consumption also decreased more significantly in the semaglutide group. At baseline, participants consumed an average of 2,200g of alcohol over 30 days. This dropped to 650g in the semaglutide group and 1,175g in the placebo group.
Professor Anders Fink-Jensen, principal investigator, said: "The results suggest that semaglutide not only affects appetite but also influences the biological mechanisms underlying addiction."
First author Dr Mette Kruse Klausen added: "This is a patient group with a high disease burden and a substantial risk of both physical and mental complications. Reducing the most harmful drinking patterns could make a meaningful difference."
Expert Reactions
In a linked commentary, US academics stated: "The importance of evaluating GLP-1 therapies as new therapeutic options for alcohol use disorder cannot be overstated."
Dr Marie Spreckley from the University of Cambridge commented: "This study provides encouraging early evidence, but larger and longer-term trials in more diverse populations are needed."
Professor Matt Field from the University of Sheffield noted: "This well-conducted trial provides some of the strongest evidence yet that these medications may help reduce alcohol consumption. However, there are still gaps in knowledge about long-term effects and who might benefit most."
