New Study Links Weight Loss Drugs to Alcohol Consumption
A widely-used medication known for helping with weight loss and blood sugar control might also play a role in how individuals discuss alcohol, according to a recent study.
Researchers at Virginia Tech’s Fralin Biomedical Research Institute looked into the effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists on a group of 20 obese adults—half of whom had been on the medication for at least four weeks—compared to those not using the drugs.
Earlier investigations have shown that GLP-1 drugs are linked to decreased alcohol consumption among those with alcohol use disorders.
GLP-1 medications (like Ozempic and Wigovy, both containing semaglutide, and Mounjaro, which includes tirzepatide) simulate hormones that regulate blood sugar and appetite. The participants were taking semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide.
“Evidence suggests these drugs can lower drinking levels outside of controlled environments,” said Alex DiFeritonio, one of the study’s co-authors. “We aimed to explore how this effect occurs.”
Both groups began with an overnight fast, consumed the same snack, and then had a controlled alcoholic beverage aimed to produce a breathalyzer level around 0.08.
The team monitored the participants’ breath alcohol levels, appetite, cravings, nausea, and blood sugar. They also asked participants to rate how drunk they felt on a scale from 0 to 10, over four hours.
The group taking GLP-1 exhibited a slower increase in breath alcohol concentration within the first 10 to 20 minutes, along with overall lower levels. They also reported feeling less intoxicated earlier on.
The results, published recently in the journal Scientific Reports, align with existing theories on how GLP-1 drugs function in the gastrointestinal tract.
These medications are known to delay gastric emptying, affecting the absorption rate of alcohol.
“People familiar with drinking can tell the difference between sips of wine and whiskey,” DiFeritonio commented.
Furthermore, the study found that those on GLP-1 experienced lower overall alcohol cravings.
Notably, the changes in nausea and blood sugar levels were similar across both groups, indicating that the reduced feeling of drunkenness wasn’t due to discomfort.
With over half of U.S. adults consuming alcohol and around 10% facing alcohol use disorders, the findings suggest GLP-1 could offer an alternative approach. While existing medications primarily affect the brain, GLP-1 is thought to interact with the gut.
Need for Further Research
The researchers noted that this was a small pilot study and not random in distribution, emphasizing that all participants were obese.
“More research is essential to determine how effective these drugs truly are, their long-term impacts, and the most advantageous doses for reducing alcohol consumption and managing blood sugar,” DiFeritonio added. “These questions remain open for exploration.”
Dr. Akshaya Bhagavathula, an associate professor in epidemiology, remarked that the study is too limited to establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship, describing it as an intriguing signal rather than a definitive conclusion.
He also pointed out the possibility that a mild buzz could lead some individuals to consume more alcohol.
“Future studies will need to look at drinking patterns over time to see if this happens,” he noted.
Bhagavathula mentioned new findings indicating that GLP-1 drugs could transform addiction treatment, as they potentially influence not just cravings for food but also for substances like alcohol and nicotine. If validated in larger studies, this might lead to a novel kind of addiction therapy that bridges the gap between endocrinology and behavioral health.
“It’s important to shift the narrative about these drugs; they involve regulatory mechanisms that extend beyond weight control,” he said, emphasizing the need for clinical oversight in their use.
