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Ozempic and similar drugs could interfere with common medical procedure, research warns
GLP-1 weight loss pill in development
Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel discusses advancements in weight loss drugs, safety concerns surrounding nicotine patches and his interview with FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary on vaccine protocol.
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Researchers have revealed a surprising new side effect linked to GLP-1 agonists, such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound.
These popular treatments for diabetes and obesity could interfere with medical imaging, such as PET and CT (“CAT”) scans.
CT scans are often used to get detailed internal images to detect injuries, tumors or other abnormalities, according to Cleveland Clinic. A typical use of PET scans is to examine organs and tissues, detect cancer activity or monitor how the body is responding to treatment.
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In the case review, presented this week at the 38th Annual Congress of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine in Barcelona, Spain, researchers analyzed cancer scans of patients who were taking GLP-1 medications, according to a press release.
They found some “atypical” scan results that could be mistaken as signs of disease.
Popular treatments for diabetes and obesity could interfere with medical imaging, such as PET and CT scans, a study suggested. (iStock)
“We noticed an unusual uptake in one of our patients on a GLP-1 agonist, which prompted a wider review across our network,” lead author Dr. Peter Strouhal, medical director at Alliance Medical Ltd in the U.K., stated in the release.
“We found that these altered patterns are increasingly common, yet there is currently no national or international guidance in the U.K. addressing this emerging issue.”
“It’s something we’ll keep an eye on in our industry, but more information is needed.”
Misunderstanding these scan results can lead to extra tests, incorrect cancer assessments and delays in treatment, which can cause stress and anxiety for patients, the release noted.
“Knowing how GLP-1 medications can affect scan images helps doctors avoid confusion and unnecessary procedures, so patients get the right care quickly and confidently,” Strouhal said.
“We noticed an unusual uptake in one of our patients on a GLP-1 agonist, which prompted a wider review across our network,” the lead study author said. (iStock)
Despite these findings, the researchers said they don’t recommend that patients stop taking GLP-1s prior to having a scan — but they did emphasize that imaging teams should consider patients’ medication use when interpreting scan results.
Looking ahead, the research team plans to gather more data from global imaging centers to strengthen these findings.
Sue Decotiis, M.D., a medical weight-loss doctor in New York City, pointed out that the results of the study are still very preliminary.
“They just noticed an increase, but it didn’t mention which organs or specific body parts,” Decotiis, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.
Researchers said they don’t recommend that patients stop taking GLP-1s prior to having a scan — but they did emphasize that imaging teams should consider patients’ medication use when interpreting scan results. (iStock)
“It will be important to see more data from many more patients to understand exactly what they saw. It’s something we’ll keep an eye on in our industry, but more information is needed.”
Adam Wolfberg, M.D., chief medical officer at Virta Health in Massachusetts, also reflected on the study.
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“GLP-1s have many effects on the body, and one of them is altering the way glucose is metabolized,” Wolfberg, who also did not take part in the study, told Fox News Digital. “Since the tracer agent used in these PET scans contains glucose, uptake of the agent — a metabolic ‘dye’ of sorts — can be impacted.”
“Interpretation of the corresponding images would require knowledge of this clinical background.”
“Knowing how GLP-1 medications can affect scan images helps doctors avoid confusion and unnecessary procedures, so patients get the right care quickly and confidently,” the researcher said. (iStock)
He echoed, however, that he doesn’t think this finding is a “big deal.”
“PET scans are always interpreted in the context of the whole patient,” Wolfberg said. “A skilled oncologist or radiologist would always take into account a patient’s medical history as well as the medications they are taking when reading this type of scan.”
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Wolfberg agreed that much more data would be required before these observations should impact medical practice.
Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for comment, as well as to manufacturers of GLP-1 medications.
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The rise of GLP-1s (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) has introduced new approaches to both weight loss and overall metabolic health.
Some users have found that microdosing, or taking the drug in small amounts, achieves the best health outcomes, but some experts warn against it.
In a previous interview with Fox News Digital, Dr. Terry Dubrow, a plastic surgeon and TV personality based in Newport Beach, California, recommended that everyone takes a low daily dose, even if they don’t need to lose weight.
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“I am obsessed with the concept of microdosing,” he said. “I think maybe half the starting dose for diabetes is the way to go — and you probably don’t need it every seven days, it’s probably every 10 days, just to sort of modulate the amount of sugar in the blood.”
Microdosing GLP-1s could be more costly long-term, according to a bariatric surgeon. (iStock)
The approach has gained popularity on social media, as influencers and self-proclaimed “health gurus” have promoted it even for people without diabetes or obesity.
In a recent episode of the Full Send podcast, Bryan Johnson, a venture capitalist and online creator who aims to reverse aging and extend human lifespan, shared that he microdoses Ozempic.
WHY MICRODOSING OZEMPIC COULD BECOME AS COMMON AS TAKING A MULTIVITAMIN
“There are some side effects. For example, the dose I’m on raises my resting heart rate by two or three beats, which is a big deal for me, but the benefits are great,” he said.
“GLP-1s are the first legit longevity drug,” he went on. “It’s an amazing drug … There’s just nothing that rivals its efficacy.”
“It’s an amazing drug … There’s just nothing that rivals its efficacy,” Bryan Johnson said about Ozempic. (iStock)
Johnson suggested that a future where most people are microdosing GLP-1s is “not too far off.”
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“I am as healthy as a person can be, and I still benefit from GLP-1s,” he said. “It has other metabolic effects, it has good neuroprotective effects.”
Despite these claims, some weight-loss experts find this approach to be not only more costly, but also less effective.
One longevity guru suggested that a future where most people are microdosing a GLP-1s is “not too far off.” (REUTERS/Hollie Adams/File Photo)
Dr. Andre Teixeira, a bariatric surgeon with the Orlando Health Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery Institute, told Fox News Digital that microdosing is “truly dependent” on the individual.
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“The concern is there is no true protocol for it,” he said. “We do not do microdosing at our practice.”
While some people may think microdosing is cheaper, the doctor claims it can be “more expensive in the long run.”
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“[That’s] because you’re adjusting the dose and then not getting the full benefits of the medication,” he said. “I see people who get frustrated that they are not achieving the weight-loss goal they were hoping for because they are spreading out their doses.”
“The risk is that you’re not only playing with the potential benefits, but you’re also playing with the side effects, like nausea and vomiting.”
The expert recommends working closely with a healthcare provider before starting a GLP-1. “I do not encourage microdosing on your own,” he added.
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Fox News Digital reached out to GLP-1 drugmakers Novo Nordisk and Lilly for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Melissa Rudy contributed to this report.
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High-dose vitamin B3 (niacin) may enhance immune activity and improve short-term disease control in glioblastoma when added to standard therapy, according to early preclinical studies.
Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive, fast-growing brain cancer that develops from cells in the brain and spinal cord.
In previous laboratory experiments in mice, niacin was shown to extend survival. Researchers at the University of Calgary aimed to determine whether that same benefit extended to humans.
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The trials included 24 patients with glioblastoma, which has a median survival of roughly 12 to 18 months.
Six months after receiving niacin in addition to standard treatments (surgery, radiation and chemotherapy), 82% of the patients showed no disease progression, compared to the typical 54%, according to the study’s press release.
Left to right: Edward (Ed) Waldner (study participant), Dr. Wee Yong, PhD, (scientist), Dr. Gloria Roldan Urgoiti, MD, (oncologist) (Riley Brandt, University of Calgary)
Niacin was also found to restore function in weakened immune cells, improving their ability to target and destroy tumor cells.
The findings, including the 28% improvement in disease progression, were published in the Journal of Neuro-Oncology.
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“Normally, the immune system will try to counter and prevent tumor growth; however, this brain cancer suppresses the immune system,” said study author Dr. Wee Yong, PhD, a neuroscientist who studies immune responses in the brain, in the release. “Niacin treatment rejuvenates immune cells so they can do what they are supposed to do: attack and kill the cancer cells. I see it as an ongoing ‘battle for the brain.’”
Looking ahead, the team plans to enroll an additional 24 patients by the end of 2026 or early 2027 for the next phase of the trial, which will assess niacin’s safety and immune system activation.
Niacin was found to restore function in weakened immune cells, improving their ability to target and destroy tumor cells. (iStock)
Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, noted that previous research has shown that vitamin B3 decreases inflammation and bolsters immune function.
“Vitamins, including vitamin B vitamins (especially niacin), are underrecognized as immune boosters,” the doctor, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.
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Cautions and limitations
Despite the promising early results, the researchers urged caution.
“Glioblastoma is the most aggressive brain cancer in adults. Survival of patients with this condition hasn’t changed significantly for 20 years,” said lead study author Roldan Urgoiti, a clinical associate professor at the CSM, in the release. “Anything that may help should be explored, but it requires strict protocols and safety monitoring.”
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The study’s small sample size, short follow-up and lack of a randomized control group also posed limitations, the researchers acknowledged.
The researchers cautioned that high doses of vitamins can pose health risks, and that usage should be monitored by doctors. (iStock)
Larger, controlled trials are needed to confirm the findings, they said.
The researchers also cautioned that high doses of vitamins can pose health risks, and that usage should be monitored by doctors.
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Siegel agreed that niacin does have some side effects, including skin blushing.
“There probably will end up being a small impact here, so this is useful information, though clearly not a cure,” he added.
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