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Weight-loss drug found to shrink muscle in mice, human cells

A U of A team that set out to study why a side-effect of drugs like Ozempic is the loss of skeletal muscle found that other types of muscle, such as cardiac muscle, are also decreased in response to Ozempic — leading them to conclude that if Ozempic also causes a decrease in cardiac mass in humans, it could be detrimental in the long term.

“Given the growing number of people taking this drug who have no cardiovascular disease or who are not classified as obese, we suggest that cardiac structure and function be carefully evaluated in previous and ongoing clinical studies.” Carla Prado, a nutrition researcher in the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences and lead author on the commentary, explains this rate of muscle decline is significantly higher than what is typically observed with calorie-reduced diets or normal aging and could lead to a host of long-term health issues — including decreased immunity, increased risk of infections and poor wound healing. As well, Prado notes muscle releases special molecules called myokines that signal other parts of the body to help fight infections and support our immune system.

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