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Study · Observational study · 2026

3 results

Muscle atrophy associated with glucagon-like Peptide-1 receptor agonists: A population-based observational study.

Kwan ATH, Lakhani M, McIntyre RS

Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland)4 Mar 2026Cited by 2 (Europe PMC)

PMID41864088 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1016/j.clnu.2026.106620 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-41864088
Publisher pagePubMedAsk about this study
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Summary

Background and AimEmerging evidence suggests that weight loss associated with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) may be in part attributable to changes in lean mass, which has potential clinical implications. This study evaluates the disproportionate reporting of muscle atrophy in association with GLP-1 RA therapy using real-world global data.. MethodsWe analyzed reports of muscle atrophy submitted to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database from October 2003 to March 2024 using the validated pharmacovigilance tool OpenVigil 2.1. Disproportionality was assessed using reporting odds ratios (RORs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs), the standard metric for pharmacovigilance signal detection worldwide. To contextualize associations, disproportionality estimates were calculated using niacin, simvastatin, and the complete FAERS database (all other drugs) as comparators. ResultsA total of 142 cases of muscle atrophy were identified with GLP-1 RA therapy, the majority occurring in adults aged 18-64 years (43 % female, 57 % male). Disproportionality analysis showed pharmacovigilance signals for semaglutide (ROR = 2.39, 95 % CI = 1.63-3.52) and tirzepatide (ROR = 1.69, 95 % CI = 1.14-2.50), indicating increased reporting of muscle atrophy relative to all other drugs in FAERS. In contrast, exenatide (ROR = 0.26, 95 % CI = 0.12-0.55) and liraglutide (ROR = 0.27, 95 % CI = 0.09-0.83) were associated with significantly lower reporting odds. All significant signals satisfied thresholds of p 025 > 0.. ConclusionsCertain GLP-1 receptor agonists demonstrate a pharmacovigilance signal of disproportionate reporting of muscle atrophy. These findings should be interpreted as signal detection rather than evidence of causality and highlight the need for future studies incorporating objective measures of muscle mass and function..
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study3

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

  1. 01HumanObservational studySafety outcome

    In FAERS reports, semaglutide had higher muscle-atrophy reporting odds than all other drugs (ROR 2.39, 95% CI 1.63-3.52).

    In plain wordsSemaglutide had higher muscle-atrophy reporting odds than all other drugs in FAERS.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    IncreaseMuscle atrophy reporting
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    All other drugs in FAERS
    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Musculoskeletal
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Measurements

    Reporting odds ratio
    2.39
    muscle atrophy versus all other FAERS drugs; 95% CI 1.63-3.52

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Disproportionality analysis showed pharmacovigilance signals for semaglutide (ROR = 2.39, 95 % CI = 1.63-3.52) and tirzepatide (ROR = 1.69, 95 % CI = 1.14-2.50), indicating increased reporting of muscle atrophy relative to all other drugs in FAERS.
    4 context sentences
    Summary · context
    MethodsWe analyzed reports of muscle atrophy submitted to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database from October 2003 to March 2024 using the validated pharmacovigilance tool OpenVigil 2.1.
    Summary · context
    Disproportionality was assessed using reporting odds ratios (RORs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs), the standard metric for pharmacovigilance signal detection worldwide.
    Summary · context
    To contextualize associations, disproportionality estimates were calculated using niacin, simvastatin, and the complete FAERS database (all other drugs) as comparators.
    Summary · context
    ResultsA total of 142 cases of muscle atrophy were identified with GLP-1 RA therapy, the majority occurring in adults aged 18-64 years (43 % female, 57 % male).
  2. 02HumanObservational studySafety outcome

    In FAERS reports, tirzepatide had higher muscle-atrophy reporting odds than all other drugs (ROR 1.69, 95% CI 1.14-2.50).

    In plain wordsTirzepatide had higher muscle-atrophy reporting odds than all other drugs in FAERS.

    Peptide
    Tirzepatide
    Outcome
    IncreaseMuscle atrophy reporting
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    All other drugs in FAERS
    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Musculoskeletal
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Measurements

    Reporting odds ratio
    1.69
    muscle atrophy versus all other FAERS drugs; 95% CI 1.14-2.50

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Disproportionality analysis showed pharmacovigilance signals for semaglutide (ROR = 2.39, 95 % CI = 1.63-3.52) and tirzepatide (ROR = 1.69, 95 % CI = 1.14-2.50), indicating increased reporting of muscle atrophy relative to all other drugs in FAERS.
    4 context sentences
    Summary · context
    MethodsWe analyzed reports of muscle atrophy submitted to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database from October 2003 to March 2024 using the validated pharmacovigilance tool OpenVigil 2.1.
    Summary · context
    Disproportionality was assessed using reporting odds ratios (RORs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs), the standard metric for pharmacovigilance signal detection worldwide.
    Summary · context
    To contextualize associations, disproportionality estimates were calculated using niacin, simvastatin, and the complete FAERS database (all other drugs) as comparators.
    Summary · context
    ResultsA total of 142 cases of muscle atrophy were identified with GLP-1 RA therapy, the majority occurring in adults aged 18-64 years (43 % female, 57 % male).
  3. 03HumanObservational studySafety outcome

    In FAERS reports, liraglutide had lower muscle-atrophy reporting odds than all other drugs (ROR 0.27, 95% CI 0.09-0.83).

    In plain wordsLiraglutide had lower muscle-atrophy reporting odds than all other drugs in FAERS.

    Peptide
    Liraglutide
    Outcome
    DecreaseMuscle atrophy reporting
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    All other drugs in FAERS
    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Musculoskeletal
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Measurements

    Reporting odds ratio
    0.27
    muscle atrophy versus all other FAERS drugs; 95% CI 0.09-0.83

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In contrast, exenatide (ROR = 0.26, 95 % CI = 0.12-0.55) and liraglutide (ROR = 0.27, 95 % CI = 0.09-0.83) were associated with significantly lower reporting odds.
    5 context sentences
    Summary · context
    MethodsWe analyzed reports of muscle atrophy submitted to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database from October 2003 to March 2024 using the validated pharmacovigilance tool OpenVigil 2.1.
    Summary · context
    Disproportionality was assessed using reporting odds ratios (RORs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs), the standard metric for pharmacovigilance signal detection worldwide.
    Summary · context
    To contextualize associations, disproportionality estimates were calculated using niacin, simvastatin, and the complete FAERS database (all other drugs) as comparators.
    Summary · context
    ResultsA total of 142 cases of muscle atrophy were identified with GLP-1 RA therapy, the majority occurring in adults aged 18-64 years (43 % female, 57 % male).
    Summary · context
    Disproportionality analysis showed pharmacovigilance signals for semaglutide (ROR = 2.39, 95 % CI = 1.63-3.52) and tirzepatide (ROR = 1.69, 95 % CI = 1.14-2.50), indicating increased reporting of muscle atrophy relative to all other drugs in FAERS.

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.

  1. Version 4Current

    12 Oct 2026, 11:11 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Versions 2 to 3

    9 Oct 2026, 03:07 UTC

    The same notice was added 2 times, first on 9 Oct 2026, 03:06 UTC. The status did not change between them.

    Study data updated · source update from Europe PMC

  3. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 03:04 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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