Study: Oral diabetes pill burns fat, spares muscle
Swedish researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University report in Cell that a novel oral beta-2 agonist improved glucose control and fat burning while preserving muscle in animals, and showed favorable safety/tolerability in a small human study of 48 healthy adults and 25 people with type 2 diabetes. Acting via muscle metabolism rather than appetite suppression like GLP-1s, the drug could be used alone or alongside GLP-1 therapies, though experts stress larger, longer trials are needed to confirm efficacy and long‑term safety.
📌 Key Facts
- Published this week in Cell by teams at Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University
- Human testing included 48 healthy adults and 25 type 2 diabetes patients; early results indicated good tolerability
- Mechanism is a new beta-2 agonist targeting muscle metabolism, designed to avoid heart overstimulation seen with older agents
📊 Relevant Data
In the US, the age-adjusted prevalence of obesity among adults from 2021-2023 was 42.0% for Non-Hispanic Black adults, 35.1% for Hispanic adults, 32.2% for Non-Hispanic White adults, and 13.4% for Non-Hispanic Asian adults, while Non-Hispanic Black adults comprise about 12% of the US population, Hispanic about 19%, Non-Hispanic White about 59%, and Non-Hispanic Asian about 6%.
In the US, the age-adjusted prevalence of diagnosed diabetes among adults from 2019-2021 was 12.1% for Non-Hispanic Black, 11.7% for Hispanic, 9.1% for Non-Hispanic Asian, 6.9% for Non-Hispanic White, and 13.6% for American Indian or Alaska Native, while Non-Hispanic Black adults comprise about 12% of the US population, Hispanic about 19%, Non-Hispanic White about 59%, and Non-Hispanic Asian about 6%.
In the US, the prevalence of sarcopenia by muscle mass index was lower among Non-Hispanic Black adults (4.4%) compared to Non-Hispanic White adults (15.0%) and higher in Hispanic adults (21.9-36.0%), based on national prevalence data.
Implications of Race and Ethnicity in Sarcopenia US National Prevalence — NIH