Will losartan cause weight gain
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Losartan and Its Impact on Weight Gain
Introduction to Losartan and Weight Regulation
Losartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), is primarily used to manage hypertension and protect the kidneys from damage due to diabetes. Recent research has explored its potential effects on body weight regulation, particularly in the context of obesity and high-fat diets.
Losartan and Weight Gain in Animal Studies
Effects on Diet-Induced Obese Rats
Several studies have investigated the impact of losartan on weight gain in diet-induced obese (DIO) rats. One study demonstrated that losartan administration (30 mg/kg/day) significantly reduced body weight gain in DIO rats. Before losartan treatment, DIO rats exhibited a steady weight gain of 3.6 ± 0.3 g/day. However, after losartan administration, these rats showed a reduction in weight gain, with some even experiencing weight loss (-0.4 ± 0.7 g/day). This effect was also observed in diet-resistant (DR) rats, which showed a decrease in weight gain from 2.1 ± 0.6 g/day to -0.8 ± 0.3 g/day after losartan treatment.
Mechanisms of Action
The reduction in weight gain observed in these studies was accompanied by a decrease in food intake among the high-fat diet (HFD) fed animals. This suggests that losartan may influence weight regulation by modulating appetite and food consumption. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS), which losartan targets, is known to play a role in energy homeostasis, further supporting these findings.
Losartan in Human Studies
Combination Therapy in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)
A study examining the effects of losartan in combination with rosiglitazone on patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) found no significant difference in weight gain compared to rosiglitazone alone. Over 48 weeks, patients treated with rosiglitazone and losartan did not experience greater weight gain mitigation than those treated with rosiglitazone alone. This suggests that while losartan may have weight-regulating effects in animal models, these effects may not be as pronounced in humans, particularly when used in combination with other medications.
Conclusion
Current research indicates that losartan can reduce weight gain in animal models, particularly in the context of a high-fat diet. This effect is likely mediated through the modulation of food intake and the renin-angiotensin system. However, human studies, particularly those involving combination therapies, have not shown significant weight gain mitigation with losartan. Therefore, while losartan may offer some protective effects against weight gain in specific contexts, its impact on weight regulation in humans requires further investigation.
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