Semaglutide and Very-Low-Calorie Diet Combo Shows Superior Results in Diabetes Control: Study

Scientists at the University of Nottingham, UK, have conducted a short-term intervention study to explore the effectiveness of a very low-calorie diet and Semaglutide, individually and in combination, in reducing body weight and controlling blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The findings of this study have been published in the journal Clinical Nutrition.

Type 2 diabetes is a complex disease marked by high blood glucose levels and insulin resistance, primarily caused by impaired insulin secretion from pancreatic beta-cells. Overweight and obesity are significant risk factors, affecting 90% of individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA), is an antidiabetic medication known for its effectiveness in reducing body weight. Additionally, a very low-calorie diet (VLCD) is a powerful weight loss strategy that shows promise in restoring beta-cell function and enhancing glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Combining semaglutide with a very low-calorie diet offers a potent approach to managing this multifaceted disease.

In the study, 30 adults with type 2 diabetes and a body mass index (BMI) of 27 – 50 kg/m² were randomly divided into three groups: the VLCD group, the Semaglutide group, and the VLCD-Semaglutide combined group.

Participants in the VLCD group followed a diet restricted to 800 kilocalories per day. Those in the Semaglutide group received subcutaneous Semaglutide once weekly, starting at 0.25 milligrams and increasing every two weeks to 1 milligram. The combined group received both interventions simultaneously. All treatments were administered for a duration of 12 weeks.

The researchers observed significant weight reduction in all intervention groups, with the VLCD and combined groups seeing a 5.4% and 7% higher weight loss than the Semaglutide group. Fat mass reduction was over twice as high in the VLCD and combined groups. Glycemic control improved across all groups, with the highest reduction in the combined group. Insulin sensitivity significantly improved in the VLCD and combined groups, but not in the Semaglutide group.

Mild nausea was common in the Semaglutide group, while constipation was prevalent in the VLCD and combined groups. Combining Semaglutide with VLCD proved more effective in reducing insulin resistance and improving beta-cell function.

Reference: Oluwaseun A. 2024. Metabolic effects of very-low calorie diet, Semaglutide or combination of the two, in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Clinical Nutrition, DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2024.06.034, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261561424002267