Mimicking "Ozempic"... How effective are patches that promise easy weight loss?

SadaNews - Can a simple patch, inspired by the weight loss medication "Ozempic", help you shed those extra kilograms without the pain of needles or the hassle of injections? Ads promoting these patches, similar to "Ozempic", are circulating online, promising astonishing results, despite the lack of sufficient scientific evidence supporting those claims.

There are also personal recommendations for these patches, including endorsements from individuals presented as doctors via social media. However, independent fact-checkers have revealed that some of these recommendations are generated using artificial intelligence techniques, according to the report from "Science Alert".

Therefore, before spending your money, there are reasons to encourage you to pause and think carefully before purchasing weight loss patches.

What are their ingredients? And are they effective?

Patches similar to "Ozempic" are also known as "GLP-1" patches, but they do not contain any of the active pharmaceutical ingredients found in "Ozempic" (semaglutide) or in similar medications such as "Mounjaro" (tirzepatide).

Instead, these patches are made up of a blend of herbal extracts, including berberine, green tea extract (Camellia sinensis), tropical Garcinia cambogia fruit, and bitter orange (Citrus x aurantium L.).

Some laboratory evidence suggests that selected compounds from berberine, the polyphenols found in green tea extract, and hydroxycitric acid derived from Garcinia cambogia may have specific effects, such as appetite suppression, lowering blood sugar levels, and contributing to fat metabolism regulation in support of weight loss.

However, laboratory results do not necessarily translate to what happens in the human body. In fact, recent studies conducted on humans show that the effect of these herbs on weight loss is extremely limited.

For example, most evidence regarding berberine indicates that people taking it do not lose significant amounts of weight. One study showed that taking doses of up to 3 grams daily for a year produced only a slight effect on weight and waist circumference.

Another study, which analyzed data from a group of studies, concluded that taking up to 2.4 grams of green tea extract daily for 13 weeks, and more than 4 grams of Garcinia cambogia daily for 17 weeks, did not affect the participants' weight.

As for bitter orange extract, taking a daily dose of up to 54 milligrams of the compound synephrine — a compound isolated from this extract — for eight weeks did not lead to weight loss.

It is important to note that all of these studies were conducted on oral formulations of herbal extracts, such as tablets or capsules, and not on preparations used through transdermal patches.

Do these substances penetrate the skin?

The extent to which the extracts in weight loss patches can penetrate the skin depends on how they are manufactured.

The skin tends to absorb fat-soluble (oily) substances, while it forms a barrier against water-loving substances. Thus, not all medications can be delivered through the skin.

For example, the medication "Ozempic" is given by injection because its molecule is relatively large and water-loving; thereby preventing it from penetrating the layers of skin.

If the extracts in these patches are prepared using aqueous processes, it is unlikely that their components can penetrate the skin, meaning they will remain ineffective until the patch is removed.

Another problem is that patches can only contain very limited amounts of herbal extracts. In the previously mentioned studies, quantities measured in grams were used to observe any notable effect. In contrast, patches similar to "Ozempic" typically contain less than 0.1 gram of extract.

Thus, even if some ingredients manage to penetrate the skin, the amount available in these patches does not seem sufficient to create a significant effect.

Are the patches safe?

In Australia, the Therapeutic Goods Administration regulates medical products, including herbal extracts. For any herbal product to be sold, it must be included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. According to "Science Alert", there are no patches of this type listed in this register.

This means that the quality and safety of these patches have not undergone official evaluation and cannot be guaranteed.

An Australian study revealed contamination in non-registered herbal products with undeclared plant materials, heavy metals, and prescription medications like warfarin. These contaminants can be hazardous, as they may be absorbed through the skin and then enter the bloodstream, affecting the body.

While the idea of weight loss patches, similar to "Ozempic", may seem appealing and easy to use, according to the available data, they are ineffective, and their safety is not guaranteed.