A diabetes medication which is thought to target the brain’s reward centre could be effective in reducing alcohol use in the future, a new study suggests.

Researchers at the University of Nottingham analysed whether GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) could help people cut down the amount of alcohol they consume.

The findings are published in eClinicalMedicine and suggest the potential for GLP-1 RAs in managing alcohol use, particularly for individuals with obesity.

The researchers conducted a literature review of existing studies published up to August 2024, which analysed GLP-1 RAs use and any change in alcohol consumption. In addition, alcohol-related health problems, hospital visits, and brain reactions to alcohol cues measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were examined in people taking GLP-1RA.

The team reviewed six studies, with a total of 88,190 participants and an average age of 49.6 years. Nearly half of the participants (43.9 per cent n=38,740) received GLP-1 RAs. Two of the trials were random controlled trials (RCT) and included 286 participants.

In the RCT, participants took exenatide, a type of GLP-1 RA or a placebo for 24 weeks. No significant reduction in alcohol consumption over a period of 30 days was seen in either group.

Heavy drinking days were higher in the placebo group, but the difference was not statistically significant.

However, a sub-group analysis found that in people with obesity (BMI >30 kg/m²), taking exenatide had a positive effect, with significant reductions in the brain reward centre cue reactivity when participants were shown cues related to alcohol.

Dr Mohsen Subhani, Clinical Assistant Professor of Gastroenterology at the NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre in the School of Medicine, said: ‘Our findings show that this type of diabetes medication shows promise in reducing alcohol consumption, potentially by targeting the brain’s reward centre, especially in people with a BMI over 30.’

A secondary analysis of an RTC revealed that participants taking another GLP-1 RA known as dulaglutide were 29% more likely to reduce their alcohol intake than those taking a placebo.

‘Whilst further research is needed, our findings suggest this could be a potential treatment option in the future for excessive alcohol use and subsequently could lead to a reduction in alcohol-related deaths,’ Dr Subhani added.

This article first appeared on our sister site Nursing in Practice.