Many people around the world use weight loss medications such as semaglutide to shrink their thighs and bellies. However, new research from the University of Alberta has revealed that these medications may be shrinking your heart muscles at the same time! Published in JACC: Basic to Translational Science, the study found that semaglutide decreased heart muscle mass in both obese and lean mice. They came to the same conclusion when testing lab-grown human heart cells.
The Dangers of Using Semaglutide

One would be hard-pressed to find a medication that does not come with a long list of potential side effects. This is no different regarding semaglutide, the weight loss medication commonly known as Ozempic. While this drug has been praised for its weight loss abilities, it presents several potential side effects, including gastrointestinal issues and nausea. These are not the only reported side effects, though, with skeletal muscle loss also posing potential problems. According to a study published in the Lancet, up to 40% of weight loss incurred using pharmaceuticals is actually due to muscle loss.
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Comparison to Other Types of Diet

When compared to the effects of aging or a calorie-reduced diet, the rate of muscle loss caused by semaglutide use is significantly higher. This could lead to various health issues in the future, such as an increased risk of infections, a suppressed immune system, and inadequate healing of wounds. Experimental mouse models were used in one new study, and the researchers revealed that while semaglutide shrank the animals’ heart muscle, it did not negatively impact heart function.
No Change in Function, But a Reduction in Heart Mass

The researchers of the study created a mouse model of obesity by serving male mice a high-sucrose, high-fat, diet for a few weeks before shifting to a “standard” mouse diet in order to simulate how an individual could decrease their calorie consumption. The mice were then given semaglutide or a control drug. The mice treated with the drug lost around 30% of their body weight after three weeks in addition to around 65% of their fat mass in comparison to the mice who weren’t treated.
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Effects on the Heart

The mice that were treated with semaglutide lost a large amount of mass in the main pumping chamber of the heart – the left ventricle. Their overall heart weight also decreased as well as the surface area of the heart cells. The heart’s pumping power and how well it relaxes and refills with blood between heartbeats remained unaltered, indicating that this limited treatment time had no effect on heart function. In mouse tests, semaglutide had a negative impact on skeletal muscle in the lean mice. There were no apparent fluctuations in their body weight, however, they lost 8.2% of their skeletal muscle mass throughout the same 3-week treatment.
Similar Effects in the Obese Mice

They also observed similar changes in the obese mice. They, too, had reduced left ventricular mass and heart weight, but no change in pumping function. The tests involving lab-grown human heart cells revealed that the cells’ surface area diminished after 24 hours of semaglutide treatment. This result is in keeping with the results of the mouse study. However, more research is needed to determine whether the treatment also reduces heart mass in human beings.
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Serious Implications of Semaglutide Use

Muscle loss is about more than simply losing physical strength; it also affects our overall health. Muscles release signal molecules known as myokines, which assist the immune system in fighting illness. Skeletal muscle loss can also exacerbate health issues such as sarcopenic obesity. This condition develops when people have a lot of body fat but not enough skeletal muscle. This could potentially lead to an increase in cardiovascular disease and mortality rates.
The Bottom Line on Semaglutide

Every person is unhappy with their weight at some point in their lives. Some want to gain some muscle, while others wouldn’t mind losing a few pounds. However, while drugs such as semaglutide, may help you lose weight, they may also present several other undesirable side effects. If you want to lose weight in a safer manner, then rather try incorporating a calorie-restricted diet into your life.