Scientists have identified genetic variants associated with slightly greater weight loss and the incidence of side effects in people taking glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists.The findings may help explain why people respond differently to GLP-1 drugs such as semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro).Published in Nature, the finding comes from a study of 27 885 users of the DNA testing service 23AndMe who reported taking weight loss drugs.1Genetic analysis showed that people with one copy of the GLP-1 receptor variant rs10305420 lost on average 0.76 kg more weight than those without the variant (0.64% of their body mass index (BMI)). People with two copies of the variant lost 1.52 kg more on average.Another variant—rs1800437, in the gastric inhibitory polypeptide receptor gene—was associated with medication related nausea and vomiting in people taking tirzepatide but was not associated with how much weight they lost.Limitations of the study include the reliance on self-reported...
Scientists have identified genetic variants associated with slightly greater weight loss and the incidence of side effects in people taking glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists.The findings may help explain why people respond differently to GLP-1 drugs such as semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro).Published in Nature, the finding comes from a study of 27 885 users of the DNA testing service 23AndMe who reported taking weight loss drugs.1Genetic analysis showed that people with one copy of the GLP-1 receptor variant rs10305420 lost on average 0.76 kg more weight than those without the variant (0.64% of their body mass index (BMI)). People with two copies of the variant lost 1.52 kg more on average.Another variant—rs1800437, in the gastric inhibitory polypeptide receptor gene—was associated with medication related nausea and vomiting in people taking tirzepatide but was not associated with how much weight they lost.Limitations of the study include the reliance on self-reported...