Semaglutide drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have exploded in recognition lately resulting from their effectiveness in diabetes management and weight reduction.
Analysis has revealed further advantages past these major makes use of — however some unfavorable negative effects have additionally emerged.
Whereas gastrointestinal points are the commonest negative effects, a latest examine by the College of British Columbia linked GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) agonists — the category of medication that features semaglutides — to an elevated threat of hair loss.
The researchers analyzed knowledge from 16 million sufferers from a well being claims database, narrowing it all the way down to 1,926 semaglutide customers and 1,348 customers of bupropion-naltrexone, one other sort of weight-loss medicine.
After adjusting for different components, they discovered that the semaglutide customers have been general 50% extra more likely to expertise hair loss in comparison with the opposite group.
Girls have been extra more likely to have this final result, with twice the chance of males.
‘Not stunning’
The researchers weren’t stunned by the outcomes, based on co-study writer Dr. Mahyar Etminan, an epidemiologist and CEO of Epilytics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
“There have been [previous] anecdotal experiences of hair loss and in addition experiences of hair loss in medical trials of the medicine,” he informed Fox Information Digital.
Dr. Patrick Davis, a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon and hair restoration professional, agreed that the findings weren’t stunning.
“We’ve heard this anecdotally when sufferers seek the advice of us for surgical restoration of their face after fast weight reduction,” he stated in an interview with Fox Information Digital.
“Hair progress (and loss) are fairly depending on components equivalent to weight-reduction plan, important nutritional vitamins, bodily stress and genetics.”
The primary three components come into play throughout weight reduction, he famous — “and semaglutide-driven loss is probably going no exception.”
Earlier research have proven that adjustments inducing stress or affecting one’s dietary consumption may pose an elevated threat of hair loss, the physician added.
“This examine references that those that misplaced greater than 20% of their physique weight had increased charges of hair loss than those that didn’t,” Davis famous.
“This examine theorizes that this can be resulting from suspected physiological stress, which can be a symptom of such fast weight reduction.”
Lengthy-term hair loss appears to be extra unlikely, the physician stated, because the “inciting occasion” (weight reduction and stress) typically normalizes as people attain their goal weight.
Potential limitations
The examine did have some limitations, famous researcher Etminan.
These included the truth that it couldn’t confirm hair loss by medical information however solely recognized medical codes for hair loss.
Davis, the plastic surgeon, additionally famous that this analysis references one other examine through which Wegovy customers had an elevated threat of hair loss (3.3%) relative to the placebo group (1.4%).
“Whereas this clearly exhibits an elevated threat, 3.3% continues to be a really low fee of incidence,” he stated.
This early examine, which was revealed within the preprint server medRxiv, has not but been peer-reviewed.
“Future research are required to determine the affiliation between semaglutide and hair loss,” the researchers wrote.
Docs’ recommendation
Those that expertise hair loss whereas taking semaglutide medicine ought to seek the advice of with a dermatologist to find out whether or not it’s resulting from an hostile impact of those drugs, Etminan suggested.
“This can be a comparatively new hostile occasion, and never a lot is understood about it,” he stated. “Questions on who’s most in danger and whether or not the hair loss will reverse upon stopping the drug could be addressed in future research.”
Davis agreed, encouraging sufferers to have an open dialog with their physician about how they will finest deal with themselves.
“I consider a affected person ought to take any potential negative effects into consideration earlier than taking any medicine,” he stated.
“Whereas the speed of incidence of hair loss continues to be decidedly low, it’s a possible trade-off {that a} affected person ought to contemplate.”
Davis additionally recommends that his sufferers undertake a “hearty weight-reduction plan” consisting of fiber, protein, and nutritious meals to make sure correct nourishment whereas taking a semaglutide medicine.
“Not solely might this assist with hair loss, however extra importantly, a powerful weight-reduction plan can curb the undesirable lack of muscle mass that always happens,” he stated. “A correct weight-reduction plan, conservative timetable for weight reduction, and plan for train are important when taking this medicine.”
When contacted by Fox Information Digital, Novo Nordisk — maker of Ozempic and Wegovy — confirmed that hair loss is an recognized threat for semaglutide and is listed as a aspect impact within the product data.
“In medical trials of Wegovy, hair loss was reported in 2.5% of Wegovy-treated grownup sufferers versus 1.0% of placebo-treated grownup sufferers,” the corporate spokesperson stated.
“Hair loss was reported extra incessantly in sufferers with better weight reduction (≥20%), suggesting that the occasions of hair loss have been probably associated to the magnitude of weight reduction.”
“Affected person security is of utmost significance to Novo Nordisk,” the assertion continued. “We’re constantly monitoring the security profile of our merchandise and collaborate intently with authorities to make sure affected person security, together with ample data on hair loss.”
The examine was funded by inside analysis funds from the Division of Ophthalmology and Visible Sciences, College of British Columbia, the journal article said.
