Do losartan cause weight gain
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Does Losartan Cause Weight Gain?
Introduction to Losartan and Weight Management
Losartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), is primarily used to treat high blood pressure and protect the kidneys from damage due to diabetes. However, its effects on body weight, particularly in the context of obesity, have been a subject of research. This article synthesizes findings from multiple studies to address whether losartan causes weight gain.
Losartan and Obesity: Experimental Models
Effects on Hepatic Renin-Angiotensin System and Metabolic Health
Research has shown that losartan can have beneficial effects on metabolic health, particularly in the context of diet-induced obesity. In a study involving mice, losartan treatment led to significant improvements in metabolic parameters. The high-fat diet (HF) group treated with losartan (HFL) showed reduced hepatic triacylglycerol levels and improved glycemic control compared to untreated HF mice. This suggests that losartan may counteract some of the adverse metabolic effects associated with obesity, rather than contributing to weight gain.
Impact on Body Weight Gain in Obesity-Prone Rats
Another study investigated the effects of losartan on body weight gain in diet-induced obese (DIO) rats. The results indicated that losartan administration significantly reduced body weight gain in these animals. Specifically, DIO rats treated with losartan showed a decrease in daily body weight gain, which was accompanied by a reduction in food intake. This effect was observed only in high-fat diet-fed animals and not in chow-fed controls, suggesting that losartan may have a protective effect against weight gain in the context of a high-fat diet.
Losartan's Role in Energy Homeostasis
Further supporting these findings, additional research demonstrated that losartan prevents body weight gain in DIO rats. The study highlighted that interference with the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) through losartan administration led to decreased body weight and fat. This suggests that losartan may play a role in regulating energy homeostasis, potentially offering protective benefits against obesity.
Conclusion
The collective evidence from these studies indicates that losartan does not cause weight gain. On the contrary, it appears to have protective effects against weight gain and obesity-related metabolic disturbances, particularly in the context of a high-fat diet. These findings suggest that losartan may be beneficial for individuals at risk of obesity and its associated metabolic disorders.
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