Trial results for the study "Effect of GLP1 Receptor Agonists on Physical Function, Body Composition, and Markers of Aging in Older Adults" (NCT05786521) investigating semaglutide were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2025-05-04. The study in older adults found that participants receiving semaglutide and lifestyle intervention experienced a mean lean body mass reduction of -1730.6 g, compared to -421 g for those receiving lifestyle intervention alone.
Background
Semaglutide is a medication approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an antihyperglycemic for individuals with diabetes and for weight management. This study aimed to investigate the effects of semaglutide on physical function, body composition, and aging markers in older adults.
Trial design
The study (NCT05786521) was a Phase 4 trial that enrolled 20 participants. It investigated the effects of semaglutide injectable product in older adults with conditions including Aging, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, PreDiabetes, and Overweight and Obesity. Participants were divided into groups receiving either semaglutide and lifestyle intervention or lifestyle intervention alone.
Key results
The trial measured the change in lean body mass across the intervention groups:
- For the "Lean Body Mass Change" outcome, the group receiving Semaglutide and Lifestyle Intervention showed a mean change of -1730.6 g.
- For the "Lean Body Mass Change" outcome, the group receiving Lifestyle Intervention alone showed a mean change of -421 g.
What this means
The results indicate that in this study population of older adults, the addition of semaglutide to lifestyle intervention led to a greater reduction in lean body mass compared to lifestyle intervention alone. While semaglutide is known for its weight management benefits, a more significant decrease in lean body mass could have implications for physical function and muscle strength, particularly in an aging population where sarcopenia is a concern. Clinicians should consider these body composition changes when prescribing semaglutide to older adults.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for study NCT05786521, titled "Effect of GLP1 Receptor Agonists on Physical Function, Body Composition, and Markers of Aging in Older Adults," were posted on 2025-05-04 on clinicaltrials.gov.