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HealthQuiet 8d · day 13

Israeli study links GLP-1 drugs to rare brain disorder from vitamin B1 deficiency

Researchers identified 15 cases of Wernicke encephalopathy in people taking semaglutide and tirzepatide, warning clinicians to watch for the potentially fatal condition.

newest coverage 8d agosummary written 9d ago16 pieces1 likes & upvotes NewswiresGoogle NewsMastodon

What to know

  • An Israeli study published in Clinical Nutrition identified 15 cases of Wernicke encephalopathy, a potentially fatal neurological disorder caused by vitamin B1 deficiency, disproportionately associated with GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro.
  • The mechanism: GLP-1 drugs reduce appetite and slow digestion, potentially leading to inadequate nutrition and thiamine deficiency; untreated, the condition causes permanent brain damage or death in up to 20-85% of cases.
  • The 15 cases represent a rare adverse event relative to millions of GLP-1 users, though researchers urge clinicians to monitor patients—especially those with persistent nausea, rapid weight loss, prior bariatric surgery, or heavy alcohol use—for early symptoms.
  • Most patients exhibited gastrointestinal symptoms rather than the classic triad of Wernicke encephalopathy (altered mental state, trouble walking, eye movement problems), making diagnosis difficult; only 10-16% of WE cases present with all three signs.

“The drug shrinks your appetite. It doesn't shrink your body's requirements. You can now eat very little without feeling it, which is the point of the medication, but your need for protein, vitamins, and fluids didn't go anywhere.”

Dr. Karthik Achari, Chicago-based clinician · Fox News ↗

Israeli research team Study authorsDr. Karthik Achari Chicago-based clinician, PepMD founder

Israeli study links GLP-1 drugs to rare brain disorder from vitamin B1 deficiency
Fox News

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articles

Peak 6 pieces in 3h at Sep 15, 11 AM; 16 pieces over 13 days (14 articles · 2 posts) Sep 11, 11 AM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Google News 1, Newswires 1Sep 11, 2 PM — quietSep 11, 5 PM — quietSep 11, 8 PM — quietSep 11, 11 PM — quietSep 12, 2 AM — quietSep 12, 5 AM — quietSep 12, 8 AM — quietSep 12, 11 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Sep 12, 2 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Sep 12, 5 PM — quietSep 12, 8 PM — quietSep 12, 11 PM — quietSep 13, 2 AM — quietSep 13, 5 AM — quietSep 13, 8 AM — quietSep 13, 11 AM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Google News 1, Newswires 1Sep 13, 2 PM — quietSep 13, 5 PM — quietSep 13, 8 PM — quietSep 13, 11 PM — quietSep 14, 2 AM — quietSep 14, 5 AM — quietSep 14, 8 AM — quietSep 14, 11 AM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Google News 1, Newswires 1Sep 14, 2 PM — quietSep 14, 5 PM — quietSep 14, 8 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 14, 11 PM — quietSep 15, 2 AM — quietSep 15, 5 AM — quietSep 15, 8 AM — quietSep 15, 11 AM — 6 pieces · 5 articles · 1 post — Google News 5, Mastodon 1Sep 15, 2 PM — quietSep 15, 5 PM — quietSep 15, 8 PM — quietSep 15, 11 PM — quietSep 16, 2 AM — quietSep 16, 5 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Sep 16, 8 AM — quietSep 16, 11 AM — quietSep 16, 2 PM — quietSep 16, 5 PM — quietSep 16, 8 PM — quietSep 16, 11 PM — quietSep 17, 2 AM — quietSep 17, 5 AM — quietSep 17, 8 AM — quietSep 17, 11 AM — quietSep 17, 2 PM — quietSep 17, 5 PM — quietSep 17, 8 PM — quietSep 17, 11 PM — quietSep 18, 2 AM — quietSep 18, 5 AM — quietSep 18, 8 AM — quietSep 18, 11 AM — quietSep 18, 2 PM — quietSep 18, 5 PM — quietSep 18, 8 PM — quietSep 18, 11 PM — quietSep 19, 2 AM — quietSep 19, 5 AM — quietSep 19, 8 AM — quietSep 19, 11 AM — quietSep 19, 2 PM — quietSep 19, 5 PM — quietSep 19, 8 PM — quietSep 19, 11 PM — quietSep 20, 2 AM — quietSep 20, 5 AM — quietSep 20, 8 AM — quietSep 20, 11 AM — quietSep 20, 2 PM — quietSep 20, 5 PM — quietSep 20, 8 PM — quietSep 20, 11 PM — quietSep 21, 2 AM — quietSep 21, 5 AM — quietSep 21, 8 AM — quietSep 21, 11 AM — quietSep 21, 2 PM — quietSep 21, 5 PM — quietSep 21, 8 PM — quietSep 21, 11 PM — quietSep 22, 2 AM — quietSep 22, 5 AM — quietSep 22, 8 AM — quietSep 22, 11 AM — quietSep 22, 2 PM — quietSep 22, 5 PM — quietSep 22, 8 PM — quietSep 22, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 5 AM — quiet ◂ 1 earlier2
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  1. 2

    Clinician contextualizes rarity of cases relative to GLP-1 user population

    Dr. Karthik Achari, a Chicago-based clinician not involved in the study, told Fox News that the 15 cases identified must be viewed in perspective against millions of people taking GLP-1 medications. He explained the mechanism: the drugs reduce appetite but not the body's nutritional requirements, and certain patients—those with persistent nausea, rapid weight loss on minimal food intake, prior bariatric surgery, or heavy alcohol use—face higher risk.

    “Researchers went through adverse event reports and the medical literature and found a small number of cases, 15, of Wernicke encephalopathy in people taking GLP-1 drugs. That's out of millions of people on these medications. So this is rare.”
    — Dr. Karthik Achari
    1. 1 outlet Study Flags Rare Neurological Disorder in Patients Taking GLP-1 Drugs

      first by NTD News, 8d ago

    • SteveThompson@mastodon.social

      Rare brain condition identified in some Ozempic, Wegovy users: Study https:// thehill.com/policy/healthcare/ 6086303-glp-1-vitamin-deficiency-rare-brain-disorder-study/ # BigPharma # brain # Ozempic # Wegovy

      SteveThompson@mastodon.socialMastodon9d agoview on Mastodon ↗
  2. 1 day quiet
  3. 1

    Study explains vitamin B1 deficiency mechanism in GLP-1 users

    The research details how GLP-1 drugs slow digestion and reduce appetite, potentially leading to inadequate nutrition and vitamin B1 deficiency. Most patients with Wernicke encephalopathy experienced gastrointestinal issues including weight loss, vomiting, loss of appetite or malnutrition. Only two of 15 patients exhibited the signature triad of WE symptoms—altered mental state, trouble walking, and lack of eye movement control—making the condition difficult to diagnose.

    “GLP-1s work by slowing down digestion, making us feel full for longer. The resulting decrease in appetite and food intake can lead to inadequate nutrition, including a deficiency in vitamin B1, also known as thiamine.”
    — NY Post reporting on study findings
    1. 2 outlets GLP-1-driven vitamin deficiency linked to rare brain disorder: Study

      first by The Hill, 9d ago · also NewsNation

    2. 2 outlets Popular GLP-1 drugs may trigger a rare, life-threatening brain disorder: study

      first by NY Post, 12d ago · also New York Post

  4. background

    Israeli researchers identify Wernicke encephalopathy cases linked to GLP-1 drugs — A study published in Clinical Nutrition examined 195,979 cases and identified 15 cases of Wernicke encephalopathy, a rare but serious neurological disorder caused by severe vitamin B1 deficiency. Most cases involved semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) or tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound). Researchers found that WE disproportionately associated with GLP-1s compared with other drugs.

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 4 outlets Here's how popular GLP-1 medications can affect your brain

    first by Yahoo Health, 8d ago · also Fox News, The Independent, JO24

    3 more headlines