Heart Benefits of Ozempic and Wegovy Extend Beyond Weight Loss, Major Study Finds

2 days ago7 min read

A groundbreaking international study has revealed that the drugs Ozempic and Wegovy provide significant heart protection, independent of a patient's weight loss. The SELECT trial, which followed more than 17,000 adults with pre-existing heart disease and overweight or obesity, found that semaglutide—the active ingredient in both medications—reduced the risk of major heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular death by 20%, regardless of a patient's starting weight or how much weight they lost.Published in *The New England Journal of Medicine*, these findings establish the drug's cardioprotective effects as a distinct benefit, separate from its role in weight management. Scientists attribute this heart protection to the drug's direct actions on the cardiovascular system, including powerful anti-inflammatory effects, lowering blood pressure, improving cholesterol levels, and enhancing blood vessel function.This positions semaglutide not just as a weight-loss aid, but as a multifaceted therapy that targets the underlying causes of heart disease, such as arterial inflammation and unstable plaque. The discovery could reshape treatment guidelines, potentially making these drugs available to a broader range of heart disease patients, not just those seeking weight loss.According to lead author Dr. A.Michael Lincoff, this marks the beginning of a new era in treating heart and metabolic diseases with a single agent that addresses multiple risk factors. Future research will explore its potential for treating heart failure and chronic kidney disease, further expanding its role in combating the world's leading cause of death.

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#Ozempic

#Wegovy

#semaglutide

#heart health

#cardiovascular risk

#clinical trial

#inflammation