TeachableMedicalNews article 08182022

Teachable moment in classrooms:

  1. endocrine system chapter – hormones deliver instructions through receptors
  2. nervous system – brain chapter – location and function of hypothalamus in the diencephalon
  3. digestive system chapter – cells of the small intestine make hormones that control appetite

The news item:  Recently the following report appeared:

https://www.yahoo.com/now/ozempic-touted-tiktok-weight-loss-185703991.html

 

 

the article stated that Ozempic is a prescription medication for type II diabetes, that Ozempic makes the pancreas to make more insulin, and that the weight loss is caused through the suppression of the appetite.

So, Why Do I Care??  One reason for caring is that it is unusual to see a side effect of a prescription drug that is a desirable side effect. The other reason to be interested is that we see an example of the sensitivity of the brain to hormones made in the small intestine. It becomes even more interesting, because it looks that the fight against the obesity epidemic just gained a new tool. About 50% of the adults and 25% of children in the USA are obese. Lowering the prevalence of obesity by weight loss could lower the occurrence of heart attacks, strokes, and several cancers.

Plain English, Please!!! First, let’s talk about what is Ozempic. The protein hormone GLP-1 (glucagon like peptide) is the active ingredient in Ozempic. GLP is a natural product of the cells in the human small intestine. When food intake is rich in carbohydrates, the GLP from the intestine will instruct the pancreas to make more insulin to handle the excess nutrients in the blood.

Second, let’s talk about how Ozempic increases insulin production. GLP acts on the beta cells of the pancreas. Like every hormone, GLP must stick to its receptors on the beta cells. Imagine a baseball landing in a baseball mitt. The baseball (the hormone GLP) fits perfectly in the mitt (the GLP receptor). Once the hormone-receptor binding occurs, then the GLP receptor acts like a doorbell on the cell, and passes the hormone’s instructions into the cell. The pancreatic beta cells respond to the doorbell by making more insulin. Increased insulin level is the main goal of Ozempic treatment, because it helps type II diabetics to normalize blood sugar levels.

Third, let’s talk about how Ozempic reduces appetite. In addition to the pancreas, GLP has receptors in the brain, especially in the hypothalamus. When the doorbells sounds in the neurons of the hypothalamus, they send out nerve impulses to other part of the brain, and those brain areas create the perception of being full. Food consumption is inhibited by such perception, which accounts for the lost appetite. In turn, consuming fewer calories leads to the weight loss touted by the TikTok users.

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