Glucagon-like peptide-1 analogs reduce alcohol intake

Faisal Almohaileb; le Roux Carel W; Maurice O

doi:10.1530/endoabs.109.P311

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Endocrine Abstracts (2025) 109 P311 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.109.P311

SFEBES2025 Poster Presentations Late Breaking (68 abstracts)

Glucagon-like peptide-1 analogs reduce alcohol intake

Faisal Almohaileb ^1,2 , Carel W le Roux ² & Maurice O’Farrell ³

Author affiliations

¹Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia. ²Diabetes Complications Research Centre, University College Dublin, Ireland, Dublin, Ireland. ³Medication Weight Loss Clinic, Dublin, Ireland, Dublin, Ireland

Background: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic, relapsing condition contributing to 4.7% of global deaths. It involves neurobiological and psychosocial factors affecting mesolimbic dopamine pathways. Currently approved treatments (disulfiram, naltrexone, acamprosate) show high relapse rates (~70% in the first year). Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) like liraglutide and semaglutide reduce alcohol intake in animal models by modulating reward circuitry and decreasing dopamine release. We aimed to assess changes in alcohol intake in patients treated for obesity with GLP-1 RAs.

Methodology: We collected data from routine clinical care over 15 months (January 2023–March 2024). Adult patients (n=262) with BMI ≥27 kg/m² initiated on liraglutide or semaglutide were included. Alcohol intake was categorized as non-drinkers, rare drinkers, or regular drinkers. Quantifiable weekly units were recorded. Changes in alcohol intake and body weight were assessed at baseline and ~3–6 months post-initiation. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for analysis. Approval was obtained from St Vincent’s Healthcare Group (2024/4161).

Results: Of 262 patients (79% female, mean age 46 years), 179 (68.3%) were regular drinkers at baseline. After initiating GLP-1 RA, 188 (71.8%) had follow-up, mean interval 112 days. Post-intervention, alcohol intake data were available for 117 patients (44.7%). No patient reported increased intake. Mean alcohol intake declined from 11.8±1.0 to 4.3±0.5 units/week (P<0.001). High consumers (≥11 units/week) decreased from 23.2±1.8 to 7.8±0.9 units/week (P<0.001). Low consumers (<11 units/week) decreased from 5.5±0.3 to 2.5±0.3 units/week (P<0.001). Weight loss averaged 7.7±0.3kg over four months. A weak positive correlation was observed between alcohol reduction and weight loss (r=0.24, n=72).

Conclusion: In a real-world setting, patients treated with GLP-1 RAs reduced alcohol intake significantly alongside weight loss. This suggests GLP-1 RAs may influence both energy balance and alcohol-related behaviors.