Effects of oral semaglutide on energy intake, food preference, appetite, control of eating and body weight in subjects with type 2 diabetes

What Was Tested

The paper reports a study of Semaglutide, published as a randomized controlled trial.

To evaluate the effect of oral semaglutide on energy intake and appetite in subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Who Took Part

According to the abstract, 15 subjects were involved.

Other assessments included eating and craving control (using the Control of Eating Questionnaire), and changes in body weight and composition.

How the Study Was Run

The design is described as randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled and crossover.

Random assignment meant chance, not the researchers, decided who got Semaglutide and who got the comparison, which limits bias.

Neither the subjects nor the staff measuring them knew who was on Semaglutide, so expectations could not easily colour the readings.

Some subjects received a placebo instead of Semaglutide, giving a reference point.

Each person switched between Semaglutide and the comparison at some point, usually with a gap in between.

Energy intake was measured during an ad libitum lunch, evening meal and snack box after a standard breakfast.

Appetite ratings were measured using a visual analogue scale after standard and fat-rich breakfasts.

What Was Measured

PubMed files the paper under topics including Appetite, Breakfast, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Eating, Energy Intake, Food Preferences and Glucagon-Like Peptides.

Author keywords: GLP-1 analogue, appetite control, body composition, energy regulation, incretin therapy and type 2 diabetes.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of Semaglutide in 15 subjects.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

Its findings take up roughly 5 sentences of the abstract and are left out here on purpose; the source paper is the place to read them.

The publication is from 2021 (Diabetes, obesity & metabolism), a journal based in England.

More context: the Semaglutide compound page.