Arterial stiffness reduction on GLP-1 — July 2024

Clinical perspective, offered as context rather than as advice.

VanRx_Mike said:

...we don't know the long-term effects of cardiovascular risk...

This is a fair point, and I think intellectual honesty requires acknowledging it. GLP-1 agonists in their current form have ~8-10 years of human exposure data. That's not nothing, but it's not 30+ years either.

However: the risk-benefit calculation should also consider the KNOWN long-term effects of untreated obesity — diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, joint destruction, reduced lifespan by 5-10 years.

Uncertainty about GLP-1 long-term safety vs certainty about obesity consequences. The calculus seems clear to me, but reasonable people can disagree.

PeptideSynthNJ said:

Mendelian randomization evidence supporting GLP-1 pathway modulation for cardiovascular risk: genetic variants in the GLP1R gene region associated…

6 month update on cardiovascular risk: down 61 lbs, off blood pressure meds, A1C normalized. Genuinely life-changing.

PeptideSynthNJ said:

Mendelian randomization evidence supporting GLP-1 pathway modulation for cardiovascular risk: genetic variants in the GLP1R gene region associated…

Senior perspective on cardiovascular risk: I'm 70 years old and started this journey skeptically. My internist recommended it after years of failed interventions.

12 months later: down 38 lbs, more mobile, pain reduced, medications simplified. My quality of life has improved dramatically. I wish this existed 20 years ago.

To other older adults hesitating: the SELECT trial proved benefit in our age group. You deserve to feel good in your body regardless of age.

A narrower follow-up, since the general answer is now clear:

How would you tell the difference between that and the alternative explanation?

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