GLP 1 levels in breastmilk after Semaglutide

[margaret23]

I read the recent study that came out with TTUHSC with InfantRisk Center (PMCID: PMC11397063 PMID: 39275201 ([url]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39275201/)[/url])
Is there a possible impact on the natural GLP 1 hormone levels present in breastmilk when taken with semaglutide?

Margaret B., PharmD

[kaytlin]

Hi Margaret,

I'm sorry to say that I don't know. It's possible, but I'd guess unlikely as the molecular changes to semaglutide would make the transfer of the drug into milk different than natural GLP-1. We don't know the mechanism of GLP-1 transfer into milk. Regardless, semaglutide was designed with the addition of a fatty acid chain to increase protein (albumin) binding. I would bet that the fatty acid chain (plus the other amino acid substitutions) would force differences in transfer across the mammary epithelium than GLP-1 (mechanism of transfer, degree, or both).

Best,
Kaytlin Krutsch, PhD, PharmD