It serves two purposes at once.
A recent study has revealed that the weight-loss medication Ozempic may offer protective benefits against kidney disease in individuals with obesity. Research published on October 25 in Nature Medicine indicates that patients using semaglutide—the active ingredient in both Ozempic and Wegovy—experienced up to a 52% decrease in kidney damage as assessed by urine tests. These findings will also be shared at the upcoming annual meeting of the American Society of Nephrology.
In addition to reducing kidney damage, participants taking semaglutide demonstrated a 30% reduction in kidney inflammation. According to the lead researcher, Hiddo Heerspink, a clinical pharmacologist from the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands, the medication has both direct and indirect effects on kidney health. Heerspink explained that semaglutide not only targets inflammation within the kidneys but also helps to reduce surrounding fat tissue, which in turn decreases protein levels in urine. Furthermore, the medication aids in weight loss and lowers blood pressure, contributing to its protective effects.
The study involved 101 obese participants with chronic kidney disease across Canada, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands, starting in 2022. Half of the participants were administered semaglutide injections over a 24-week period, while the other half received a placebo. Those on the medication lost approximately 10% of their body weight and exhibited a drop in high blood pressure comparable to that achieved with traditional blood pressure medications.
The findings indicate that semaglutide may play a significant role in safeguarding kidney function in these patients. Heerspink expressed optimism about the potential for further research, stating, “All signals are green to test this drug in a large study.” He aims to explore whether semaglutide could lead to fewer instances of dialysis or kidney transplants, and he is particularly interested in assessing its effectiveness in individuals with kidney damage who do not have obesity.
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