In people with obesity, GLP-1 receptor agonist use was linked to a delayed rise in breath alcohol and perceived alcohol effects after drinking.
Evidence
A 20-person pilot alcohol-challenge study compared GLP-1RA users with controls and measured and subjective alcohol effects.
Caveat
The study was small and preliminary, so it cannot establish whether delayed alcohol effects explain reduced alcohol intake.
Simplified
Any increase in alcohol use is associated with an increase in risk of illness and mortality and consequences of chronic alcohol use include cancer, hypertension, heart and liver disease, and Alcohol Use Disorder. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are effective anti-glycemic and weight-loss medications with a strong safety record. There is substantial preclinical evidence and mounting retrospective and prospective randomized controlled trial evidence that GLP-1RAs could be effective for reducing alcohol consumption. However, the mechanism by which GLP-1RAs reduce alcohol intake remains unclear. While medications that reduce alcohol intake such as naltrexone and acamprosate have central nervous system action, disulfiram reduces alcohol intake through peripheral mechanisms. Here, we test whether GLP-1RAs alter alcohol's peripheral pharmacokinetics as a potential mechanism of action for their alcohol intake suppressive effects. In this pilot study, 20 (1:1) participants with obesity in the GLP-1RA or control group consumed a challenge dose of alcohol, and we measured breath alcohol () and the subjective effects of alcohol. We observed a delayed rise in BrAC and subjective effects in the GLP-1RA group as compared to controls, that was not explained by nausea. These data provide preliminary evidence that GLP-1RAs could act through peripheral mechanisms to suppress alcohol intake.
Key numbers
0.017 g/dL
Delayed Rise in
at 20 minutes for group vs. control group.
18.86
Lower Subjective Intoxication Ratings
Interaction score for subjective feelings of intoxication between groups.
4.71
Lower Craving Scores
Main effect of group on craving scores between and control groups.
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