Over the past few years, there has been a significant increase in the number of people taking glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists for weight loss. While only specific GLP-1 medications are FDA-approved for treating obesity, others are being used off-label for their weight loss benefits. One common side effect of taking GLP-1 medications is nausea. Researchers from the Monell Chemical Senses Center have identified a specific population of neurons in the brain that may be crucial for appetite suppression with GLP-1 drugs without causing nausea. These findings were recently published in the journal Nature.
Researchers used a mouse model to investigate a neurological connection between GLP-1 medications and the side effect of nausea. They focused on hindbrain GLP-1R neurons, which are a population of neurons at the back of the brain that express the receptor that binds GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. The study found that individual GLP-1R neurons in mice react to stimuli that are either nutritive or aversive. Activation of these neurons in different areas of the brain can lead to either feelings of satiety or nausea.
The implication of the study is that there is a specific population of neurons, known as the nucleus tractus solitarius GLP-1R neurons, that can decrease appetite and promote weight loss without causing nausea. This discovery may lead to the development of more selective weight loss drugs that target these neurons. The goal is to create medications that can suppress appetite without the unwanted side effects of nausea, potentially improving the tolerability of GLP-1-based obesity drugs for patients.
For patients experiencing nausea as a side effect of GLP-1 medications, there are several suggestions provided by experts. These include taking the medication with food to slow down absorption, starting with a low dose and gradually increasing it, staying hydrated, eating bland foods, consuming smaller portions, and asking the doctor to prescribe anti-nausea medication if needed. Further research will be needed to determine if these findings can be applied to humans and to compare the effectiveness of medications targeting satiety versus GI effects on weight loss.
Overall, the discovery of specific neural circuits in the brain that can suppress appetite and promote weight loss without causing nausea represents a significant advancement in the potential development of more effective and well-tolerated obesity drugs. By targeting these nucleus tractus solitarius GLP-1R neurons, researchers hope to create medications that can offer the benefits of appetite suppression without the unpleasant side effects that often accompany current GLP-1 therapies.更多衡，研究人员正在监测药物在不引起恶心的情况下能够制成更有效的减肥药。通过针对这些核区动脉无脊髓神经节GLP-1R神经元，研究人员希望创造出可以抑制食欲的药物，同时避免当前GLP-1疗法常伴的令人不快的副作用。
