Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 30, 2025

Incorporation of a Survivable Liver Biopsy Procedure in Mice to Assess Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis NASH Resolution
Published on: April 16, 2019
Semaglutide reduces fat accumulation in the tongue: A randomized single-blind, pilot study
Mojca Jensterle1, Simona Ferjan1, Andrej Vovk2
1Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Aim:
We evaluated the effect of the latest GLP-1 RA semaglutide on tongue fat storage in obese women.
Design:
We conducted a randomized single-blind, pilot study.
Methods:
Twenty-five obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) (33.7 ± 5.3 years, body mass index (BMI) 36.1 ± 3.9 kg/m2, mean ± SD) were randomized to semaglutide 1.0 mg or placebo for 16 weeks. We quantified tongue volume and its fat tissue and fat proportion by magnetic resonance imaging.
Results:
Tongue fat tissue and fat proportion significantly reduced after semaglutide vs placebo (-1.94 ± 5.51 vs. + 3.12 ± 4.87 cm3, p = 0.022, and -0.02 ± 0.07 vs. 0.04 ± 0.06, p = 0.010, respectively). Correlation analysis revealed that these reductions were associated with those in body weight, BMI and waist circumference (p = 0.010 for all).
Conclusions:
This is the first study confirming the beneficial effect of semaglutide on tongue structure in obese women with PCOS. Further studies are needed to assess the clinical importance of such findings.
Related Concept Videos
Glucagon-like Receptor Agonists
GLP-1, when administered in high doses intravenously, triggers insulin secretion, inhibits glucagon release, slows gastric emptying, reduces food intake, and restores normal insulin secretion. However, its rapid inactivation by...
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: α-Glucosidase Inhibitors
Acarbose and miglitol are...
Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Glinides
Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Biguanides and Glitazones

