Impact of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Whole-Gut Gastrointestinal Motility Using Wireless Motility Capsule: A Descriptive Single-Center Case Series.

Cymbal M, Naseem Z, Hoxha D, Garg S

ACG case reports journal4 Aug 2025Cited by 6 (Europe PMC)

PMID40761333PMCIDPMC12321443DOI10.14309/crj.0000000000001789PepBankPUB-40761333

Summary

This retrospective case series investigates the impact of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) on whole-gut gastrointestinal motility using wireless motility capsule testing. We analyzed 10 patients on GLP-1RAs who underwent wireless motility capsule testing for constipation or gastroparesis to assess gastric, small bowel, and colonic transit times. Delayed gastric emptying time was observed in 80% of patients, whereas delayed whole-gut transit time was noted in 44% of patients. The 3 patients on semaglutide (1 mg) had the longest gastric emptying time, delayed whole-gut transit time, and were the only patients with delayed small bowel transit time. Although limited by retrospective observation, our findings are consistent with the effects of GLP-1RAs on gastric motility delay and suggest an impact on whole-gut motility. With the expanding use of GLP-1RAs, these findings underscore the need for prospective studies using emerging motility technologies to further characterize the motility effects both during treatment and after cessation, thereby guiding evidence-based clinical decision-making.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study5

3 results from studies that gave the peptide. 3 results from people.

01HumanCase report or seriesOther
In 3 patients on semaglutide 1 mg, gastric emptying time was the longest among the 10 patients on GLP-1 receptor agonists.
In plain wordsIn three patients on semaglutide, stomach emptying took the longest of all patients on GLP-1 drugs in this small series.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
IncreaseGastric emptying time on semaglutide 1 mg
Study
n = 3
Outcome group
Gastrointestinal adverse events · Gastrointestinal
Studied dose
1 mgAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
The 3 patients on semaglutide (1 mg) had the longest gastric emptying time
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We analyzed 10 patients on GLP-1RAs who underwent wireless motility capsule testing for constipation or gastroparesis to assess gastric, small bowel, and colonic transit times.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4076133303
02HumanCase report or seriesOther
In 3 patients on semaglutide 1 mg, whole-gut transit time was delayed.
In plain wordsIn three patients on semaglutide, passage through the whole gut was delayed.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
IncreaseWhole-gut transit time on semaglutide 1 mg
Study
n = 3
Outcome group
Gastrointestinal adverse events · Gastrointestinal
Studied dose
1 mgAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
The 3 patients on semaglutide (1 mg) had the longest gastric emptying time, delayed whole-gut transit time
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We analyzed 10 patients on GLP-1RAs who underwent wireless motility capsule testing for constipation or gastroparesis to assess gastric, small bowel, and colonic transit times.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4076133304
03HumanCase report or seriesOther
In 3 patients on semaglutide 1 mg, small bowel transit time was delayed, and only these patients had delayed small bowel transit.
In plain wordsIn three patients on semaglutide, passage through the small bowel was delayed; no other patient in the series had this.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
IncreaseSmall bowel transit time on semaglutide 1 mg
Study
n = 3
Outcome group
Gastrointestinal adverse events · Gastrointestinal
Studied dose
1 mgAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
and were the only patients with delayed small bowel transit time.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We analyzed 10 patients on GLP-1RAs who underwent wireless motility capsule testing for constipation or gastroparesis to assess gastric, small bowel, and colonic transit times.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4076133305

Studies that did not test the peptide alone2

In this study, Semaglutide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Semaglutide.

04HumanNot a test of Semaglutide aloneCase report or seriesOther
In 10 patients on GLP-1 receptor agonists, delayed gastric emptying time was observed in 80%.
In plain wordsIn a small group of patients on GLP-1 drugs as a class, 80% had delayed stomach emptying.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
IncreaseDelayed gastric emptying (pooled GLP-1 receptor agonists)
Study
n = 10
Outcome group
Gastrointestinal adverse events · Gastrointestinal
Measurements
Patients with delayed gastric emptying
80%
GLP-1RA users
Source sentences
Summary
Delayed gastric emptying time was observed in 80% of patients
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We analyzed 10 patients on GLP-1RAs who underwent wireless motility capsule testing for constipation or gastroparesis to assess gastric, small bowel, and colonic transit times.
In this study, Semaglutide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Semaglutide.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4076133301
05HumanNot a test of Semaglutide aloneCase report or seriesOther
In 10 patients on GLP-1 receptor agonists, delayed whole-gut transit time was noted in 44%.
In plain wordsIn a small group of patients on GLP-1 drugs as a class, 44% had slowed passage through the whole gut.
Peptide
Semaglutide
Outcome
IncreaseDelayed whole-gut transit (pooled GLP-1 receptor agonists)
Study
n = 10
Outcome group
Gastrointestinal adverse events · Gastrointestinal
Measurements
Patients with delayed whole-gut transit
44%
GLP-1RA users
Source sentences
Summary
whereas delayed whole-gut transit time was noted in 44% of patients.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We analyzed 10 patients on GLP-1RAs who underwent wireless motility capsule testing for constipation or gastroparesis to assess gastric, small bowel, and colonic transit times.
In this study, Semaglutide was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Semaglutide.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4076133302

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
11 Oct 2026, 00:04 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 03:06 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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Terms as the source lists them.

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