Alcohol-related mortality is increasing despite the availability of both pharmacological and behavioral interventions. A new study by experts at the University of Nottingham evaluated existing literature on the association between glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists use (GLP-1 RAs)- a type of diabetes medication- and alcohol consumption.
Researchers looked at whether GLP-1 RAs could also be used to help people cut down on drinking.
Electronic searches were conducted on Ovid Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO, clinicaltrials.gov, and ProQuest up to March 2024, with an updated search on August 7, 2024. The study’s primary outcome was to investigate the association between the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists (RAs) and changes in alcohol consumption.
Secondary outcomes included assessing the impact of GLP-1 RAs on alcohol-related events, healthcare utilization, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) cue reactivity.
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The researchers reviewed studies up to August 2024 to examine the impact of GLP-1 receptor agonists (RAs) on alcohol use, alcohol-related health issues, hospital visits, and brain reactions to alcohol cues. They evaluated six articles, including two randomized controlled trials involving 88,190 participants. Of these, 38,740 participants (43.9%) received GLP-1 RAs.
Dr. Subhani said: “Our findings show that this type of diabetes medication shows promise in reducing alcohol consumption, potentially by targeting the brain’s reward centre, especially in people with a BMI over 30.”
Key findings from the study include:
- Exenatide: In a major study, exenatide did not significantly reduce overall alcohol consumption after six months, though individuals with obesity showed some positive results.
- Dulaglutide: Another study found that people taking dulaglutide were 29% more likely to reduce alcohol consumption compared to those on a placebo.
- Observational Studies: Non-randomized studies indicated that individuals taking GLP-1 receptor agonists (RAs) experienced fewer alcohol-related health problems and reduced alcohol use compared to those receiving other treatments.
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Dr Subhani said, “Whilst further research is needed, our findings suggest this could be a potential treatment option in the future for excessive alcohol use and subsequently could lead to a reduction in alcohol-related deaths.”
Journal Reference:
- Mohsan Subhani, Ashwin Dhanda, James King et al. Association between glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists use and change in alcohol consumption: a systematic review. EClinicalMedicine. DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102920
