A meta-analysis preliminary result: Effectiveness and Safety of Oral Semaglutide vs. Injectable Semaglutide in Weight Loss in General Population Indifferent of Diabetic Status

Abstract

Background: Semaglutide, a well-known medication used in treating type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, has gained attention for its beneficial effects on weight loss, leading to its investigation for use in obesity management. The US Food and Drug Administration recently approved a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist for chronic weight management. Semaglutide is the only drug among GLP-1RAs available in injectable and oral forms for treating diabetes. However, its approval for obesity treatment is limited to subcutaneous injection.

Methods: This study aims to conduct a meta-analysis comparing the efficacy and safety of oral and injectable forms of Semaglutide in overweight patients. PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Google Scholar, and CINAHL databases were systematically searched. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis version 3 was utilized for statistical analysis.

Results: A total of 20 eligible articles published between 2015 and 2023 were included, comprising 7,852 participants (4,525 in the Semaglutide group and 3,327 in the placebo group). Seventeen studies utilized subcutaneous Semaglutide, while five studies evaluated the oral form. Analysis was conducted on the overall efficacy of Semaglutide, with subsequent sub-analysis comparing oral versus injectable forms, high-dose versus low-dose, diabetic versus non-diabetic patients, and the general population versus specific comorbidities. Additionally, side effects of oral versus injectable forms were assessed.

Conclusion: Overall, our findings contribute to the understanding of Semaglutide’s effectiveness and safety profile in managing obesity, providing insights into potential differences between oral and injectable formulations.