Weight loss efficiency and safety of tirzepatide: A Systematic review.
PLoS One · 2023
Last updated 2026-05-28A review of 10 studies involving 9,873 patients found that tirzepatide led to significantly greater weight loss compared to placebo (-9.81 kg), GLP-1 drugs (-1.05 kg), and insulin (-1.93 kg). The most common side effects were gastrointestinal issues like nausea and diarrhea, though serious side effects and low blood sugar were less frequent than with other treatments.
AI summary of the abstract below.
| Journal | PLoS One, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Citations | 32 |
| Relative citation ratio | 3.87 |
| NIH percentile | 89 |
| Molecules | tirzepatide |
| Conditions studied | Obesity |
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Tirzeptide is a novel glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) drug, which shows good efficiency for weight loss. Therefore, we aim to investigate the efficacy and safety of tirzepatide for weight loss in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity patients in this meta-analysis study.
METHODS: Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Clinical Trials, and Web of Science were searched from inception to October 5, 2022. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. The odds ratio (OR) was calculated using fixed-effects or random-effects models by Review Manager 5.3 software.
RESULTS: In total, ten studies (12 reports) involving 9,873 patients were identified. A significant loss body weight in the tirzepatide group versus the placebo by -9.81 kg (95% CI (-12.09, -7.52), GLP-1 RAs by -1.05 kg (95% CI (-1.48, -0.63), and insulin by -1.93 kg (95% CI (-2.81, -1.05), respectively. In sub-analysis, the body weight of patients was significantly reduced in three tirzepatide doses (5 mg, 10 mg, and 15 mg) when compared with those of the placebo/GLP-1 RA/insulin. In terms of safety, the incidence of any adverse events and adverse events leading to study drug discontinuation was higher in the tirzepatide group, but the incidence of serious adverse events and hypoglycaemia was lower. Additionally, the gastrointestinal adverse events (including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and decreased appetite) of tirzepatide were higher than those of placebo/basal insulin, but similar to GLP-1 RAs.
CONCLUSION: In conclusion, tirzeptide can significantly reduce the weight of T2DM and patient with obesity, and it is a potential therapeutic regimen for weight-loss, but we need to be vigilant about its gastrointestinal reaction.
Verbatim abstract via PubMed 37141329 ↗
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