Research suggests that the key component in the widely used weight loss medication Wegovy might also be effective in treating a certain form of fatty liver disease.
The condition referred to as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) arises when fat accumulates in the liver, causing inflammation, as stated in the document.
National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
.
MASH may cause scarring and potentially irreversible liver damage. Additionally, it can result in liver failure or cancer, which increases the likelihood of needing a transplant or undergoing chemotherapy, and substantially raises the risk of dying from liver-related issues.
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It is thought to impact approximately 1.5% to 6.5% of adult Americans, as reported by the NIDDK.
The research, which was released on Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine and carried out by scientists from the United States, the United Kingdom, Denmark, France, Italy, and Germany, involved participants receiving dosages of semaglutide—the key component utilized for treating diabetes with Ozempic and addressing obesity with Wegovy.
Patients began with minimal dosages which were incrementally raised until they achieved the complete Wegovy dosage after 72 weeks.
The study revealed that approximately two-thirds of the patients experienced reduced liver inflammation, and roughly one-third showed signs of alleviated liver fibrosis, which represents a more progressed level of harm. Furthermore, around one-third of the participants saw improvements in both inflammation and fibrosis levels.
These advantages were observed in individuals both with and without diabetes. Participants additionally shed an average of 8.5% of their body weight over the course of the 72-week trial.
Dr. Robert Brown Jr., chief of gastroenterology and hepatology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City—who was not part of the research team—told ABC News, “Studies on lifestyle changes have shown that even losing just 5 to 10 percent of body weight can lead to significant reductions in liver fat and MASH.”
Apart from causing direct health problems, MASH is also associated with metabolic syndrome — which encompasses conditions such as hypertension, elevated blood glucose, increased abdominal fat, and abnormal lipid profiles. This cluster of factors heightens the likelihood of developing cardiovascular diseases, strokes, and diabetes.
MASH is part of a broader group of liver conditions known as Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH), which is essentially a type of fatty liver disease impacting approximately 24% of American adults, as reported by the NIDDK.
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“It’s an issue because obesity and Type 2 diabetes have consistently risen in this nation annually for many years,” Brown stated. “Currently, it’s believed that about one-third of the populace—more than 100 million individuals—are affected by either obesity or Type 2 diabetes.”
The FDA of the United States
approved the medication resmetirom
for treating MASH in 2024.
Brown mentioned that individuals can reduce their chances of developing fatty liver disease by consuming nutritious meals, maintaining an active lifestyle, and shedding excess pounds. He added that drinking filtered coffee, with minimal sugar or cream, might also aid in safeguarding the liver.
Wegovy tackles the underlying issues of metabolic syndrome and fatty liver disease by aiding in blood sugar regulation, decreasing body fat, and enhancing insulin sensitivity, as proposed by the researchers. Such modifications can alleviate stress on the liver and diminish fat accumulation that triggers inflammation and fibrosis.
“MASH and MASLD will likely become a growing concern for public health, and we’ll require medications aimed at tackling both liver fibrosis and the fundamental metabolic factors involved,” stated Brown. “I’m looking forward to the day when we have several distinct drugs operating through various mechanisms, enabling us to address the needs of every patient facing these issues down the road.”
Dr. Allen Chang serves as the head of the geriatric medicine specialty training program at Dalhousie University and is also part of the medical team for ABC News.
