Researchers at the University of Alberta, Canada, have identified a promising strategy to counteract the muscle mass loss often observed in patients undergoing treatment with popular weight-loss medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy. Their significant findings, recently published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology (EJPC), indicate that supplementary ketone intake can effectively protect both skeletal and cardiac muscles from depletion. Crucially, this protective effect occurs without diminishing the drugs` overall efficacy in reducing body weight.
Previously, clinical observations had highlighted a concerning trend: up to 40% of the total weight reduction achieved during semaglutide treatment (the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Ozempic) was attributed to the loss of muscle tissue. This detrimental side effect was further corroborated through experiments conducted on laboratory mice. However, the remarkable discovery was that the introduction of a ketone ester—a compound naturally produced by the body during fasting states or a ketogenic diet—completely negated this undesirable muscle wasting effect in the animal models.
According to lead researcher Jason Dyck, ketones play a vital role in shielding mitochondria—often referred to as the `powerhouses` of cells—from potential damage. By maintaining their optimal function and energy production, ketones prevent the degradation of muscle fibers. The scientists propose that combining semaglutide with ketones could pave the way for a more secure and effective approach to obesity treatment, significantly reducing the inherent risk of weakening the heart muscle and preventing an overall loss of physical strength and vitality.
