GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonism does not directly drive skeletal muscle atrophy or impair myogenesis in primary human myotubes
Ditchfield C, Macleod M, Price JMJ, Davis ET, Jones SW (2026). GeroScience.
Summary
A laboratory study of muscle cells grown from older adults with obesity. The cells were treated with semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, or with GIP. Neither changed atrophy-related genes or impaired the formation of muscle cells, and GIP slightly increased myotube thickness. The authors say the results are consistent with lean-mass loss on these drugs being an indirect effect rather than a direct effect on the muscle cells. This is a cell study; no one was treated. The authors declare no competing interests.
Peptides in this study
Semaglutide in the United Kingdom · Semaglutide in the United States · Semaglutide in Australia