by Sarah Williams, Stanford University Medical Center – MedicalXpress –
Millions of Americans are currently taking GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic or Wegovy for weight loss. But along with the fat, many are quietly losing something else: muscle. Unlike fat, muscle doesn’t return quickly, and muscle loss can have deleterious effects on strength, mobility, and overall health.
Now, Stanford Medicine researchers have found that an existing drug, already in clinical trials for age-related muscle loss, might mitigate this problem. Young adult mice receiving the drug alongside a GLP-1 exhibited improved muscle regeneration and recovery of strength after muscle damage without undermining fat loss.
“There is a major unmet need for a drug that can help GLP-1 users preserve their muscle health and strength,” said Helen Blau, Ph.D., professor of microbiology and immunology. “We think this compound, which has been deemed safe by the Food and Drug Administration, holds promise for this indication.”
