Dimitar Marinov, Ph.D.Looking for reliable and science-backed information on tirzepatide benefits, like weight loss?
If so, then look no further than this comprehensive tirzepatide guide.
Titzepatide is a novel dual agonist of the GIP/GLP-1 receptors that is currently approved as a type 2 diabetes (T2D) treatment by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
A growing body of research points to a range of other tirzepatide benefits, such as:
- Accelerated fat loss
- Reduced systemic inflammation
- Enhanced hepatoprotection
Read on as we break down the latest evidence on the benefits of this novel weight loss agent. We also include details on where to source 99% purity tirzepatide and other research peptides for weight loss.
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What is Tirzepatide?
Tirzepatide, previously known as LY3298176, is a dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist developed by the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Co. and patented in 2016 [1].
GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) are naturally occurring hormones released by the digestive tract in response to food intake, acting as incretins to stimulate the release of insulin.
Tirzepatide is a linear peptide composed of 39 amino acids, which includes a modified part of the GIP sequence at the N-terminus and an amidated sequence borrowed from the GLP-1 agonist exenatide at the C-terminus.
This allows the peptide to possess a GIP receptor affinity equivalent to the native GIP(1–42) hormone and an ability to bind to the GLP-1 receptors with reduced strength compared to native GLP-1 [2].
In addition, tirzepatide is conjugated via a hydrophilic linker to a C20 fatty di-acid moiety. This extends its half-life to about 5 days by providing enhanced binding to plasma albumin [2, 3].
As of 2022, tirzepatide is FDA-approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection under the brand name Mounjaro [1, 4].
Tirzepatide is available to qualified researchers and laboratory professionals for purchase and study.
Tirzepatide Benefits | Top 5
The benefits of tirzepatide are thanks to its activation of GLP-1 and GIP receptors, in varying degrees, throughout the body.
For example, its ability to lower blood sugar and improve glycemic control in T2D is due to the activation of GLP-1/GIP receptors in the exocrine pancreas, which stimulates insulin and suppresses glucagon synthesis. In addition, tirzepatide activates the GIP and GLP-1 receptors in the gut, adipose tissue, brain and several other organs [5, 6].
This mechanism mediates a range of effects including appetite suppression, improved satiety, weight loss, hepatoprotection, and more.
Read on to discover the latest research regarding the most notable tirzepatide benefits.
Tirzepatide For Weight Loss
The available data from T2D research demonstrates that tirzepatide can induce significant weight loss, and the peptide is currently being investigated for chronic weight management.
One of the largest meta-analyses on tirzepatide was conducted by Permana et al. (2022) and included nine trials and more than 7000 participants. The researchers pooled data from trials in which tirzepatide was taken for 8-52 weeks at doses ranging from 5-15mg/weekly. The data showed up to 7.05kg (~15.5lb) of weight loss at 5mg/weekly and up to 10.32kg (~23lb) of weight loss at the full tirzepatide dose of 15mg/weekly [7].
Ely Lilly has recently launched the SURMOUNT development program, which aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of tirzepatide in chronic weight management in adults with a BMI of 27 or greater, with or without type 2 diabetes [8].
As of writing, one of the first publications related to the program included more than 2500 patients and reported that tirzepatide 15mg/weekly for 72 weeks resulted in an average weight loss of 20.9%. Considering the average body weight of the participants was nearly 230lb, this would translate to an average weight loss of over 40lb [9].
More specifically, the results showed that 91% of the 15mg tirzepatide group experienced weight loss of 5% or more, while 57% of the high-dose group had body weight reductions of 20% or more.
It's important to note that the effects of tirzepatide 10mg/weekly were also quite impressive despite the lower dosage. The study reported an average weight loss of 19.5% from baseline. Specifically, 89% of the 10mg tirzepatide group lost at least 5% of their body weight, while 50% had weight reduction of 20% or more [9].
Tirzepatide For Obesity
There is a growing body of evidence supporting the use of tirzepatide for the treatment of obesity, including the reduction of excessive subcutaneous, visceral, and organ fat.
One trial investigated its potential for reducing liver fat, visceral fat, and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue in T2D patients, and compared it to insulin therapy. The study included a total of 502 subjects and reported an 8% absolute reduction of liver fat in the pooled tirzepatide 10mg and 15mg groups, which was superior by almost 5% to the insulin group at 12 months. The researchers also noted significant reductions in both subcutaneous and visceral adiposity [10].
Reducing visceral and intra-organ fat is essential to the treatment of obesity, as research shows that visceral obesity is a major risk factor for debilitating chronic conditions such as T2D, heart disease, and malignancies [11].
Another trial in T2D patients also reported a significant reduction in abdominal obesity after 26 weeks of therapy, with doses ranging from 5mg to 15mg/weekly. Changes in waist circumference ranged from −2.1cm (~0.8in) to −10.2cm (~4in) for tirzepatide, as compared to −1.3cm (~0.5in) for placebo [12].
Tirzepatide For Body Composition
Researchers should note a trial by Yabe et al. (2023), investigating the effect of tirzepatide on body composition variables over a period of 52 weeks.
According to the trial, 15mg/weekly tirzepatide led to significant reductions in body weight, lean body mass, and body fat mass. The decrease in lean body mass was primarily attributed to a reduction in body water. In terms of body composition percentages, body fat percentage decreased by about 5% in both the 10mg/weekly and 15mg/weekly groups, with accompanying increases in body water (3.7%), protein (2%), and minerals (0.4%) as assessed by a bioelectric impedance analysis [13].
Tirzepatide for Insulin Resistance
As previously mentioned, tirzepatide is FDA-approved for improving glycemic control in T2D. Yet, some studies suggest that the peptide may also address insulin resistance itself.
For example, Thoams et al. (2021) conducted a post-hoc analysis to explore tirzepatide’s mechanism of glucose control. The study compared tirzepatide with the selective GLP-1RA dulaglutide in 316 subjects with type 2 diabetes [14].
The authors noted significant improvements in markers of beta-cell function and insulin resistance with both dulaglutide and tirzepatide at various doses. However, tirzepatide at 10mg/weekly and 15mg/weekly led to greater reductions in proinsulin/insulin and proinsulin/C-peptide ratios compared to placebo and dulaglutide. The study also examined other key markers and found that adiponectin, IGFBP-1, and IGFBP-2 significantly increased with tirzepatide.
Further, the analysis revealed that weight loss accounted for only a small portion (13% to 21%) of the improvement in insulin resistance at tirzepatide 10mg/weekly and 15mg/weekly, suggesting that the dual receptor agonism of tirzepatide contributes to distinct mechanisms of glycemic control beyond just weight loss [14].
Tirzepatide for Hepatoprotection
Hartman et al. (2020) aimed to investigate the effect of tirzepatide on biomarkers related to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis in T2D patients. The study participants received once-weekly doses of tirzepatide (1mg, 5mg, 10mg, or 15mg), dulaglutide (1.5mg), or placebo for 26 weeks.
The researchers analyzed changes in biomarkers for liver function and liver inflammation, such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), keratin-18 (K-18), procollagen III (Pro-C3), and adiponectin. At 26 weeks, the 15mg tirzepatide group showed significant reductions from baseline in all of the abovementioned biomarkers.
Further, comparisons with placebo showed that tirzepatide 10mg and 15mg resulted in significant decreases in K-18 and Pro-C3, respectively, compared to placebo. Both doses also decreased adiponectin. When compared with dulaglutide, tirzepatide 10mg and 15mg also showed significant reductions in ALT [15].
Tirzepatide Side Effects
According to the available research, tirzepatide has an excellent safety profile but is contraindicated in certain populations.
The bulk of potential side effects associated with tirzepatide manifest as gastrointestinal problems.
Studies consistently report nausea and diarrhea as the most common tirzepatide side effects. At the highest recommended dose of 15mg/weekly, these side effects will affect around 20% of subjects or patients. This is already considering dose titration, whereby therapy is initiated at 2.5mg/weekly and escalated by 2.5mg every four weeks [16].
It's important to note that a more aggressive dose escalation protocol (i.e. beyond 2.5mg every four weeks) can increase the total incidence of side effects such as nausea to 39.3% [17].
Other adverse reactions of tirzepatide may include vomiting, decreased appetite, indigestion, constipation, abdominal pain, and dyspepsia. These adverse effects are usually temporary and tend to disappear with therapy discontinuation or a dose reduction.
Tirzepatide should be avoided in pregnant and breastfeeding subjects. It is also contraindicated in subjects with a history of medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2.
These recommendations are based on animal research demonstrating that tirzepatide may increase the risk of medullary thyroid carcinoma in rats. It has not been established whether this effect may also occur in humans [4].
Tirzepatide Dosage Chart
Several factors will determine the most appropriate tirzepatide dosing protocol for research, including the study’s objective and duration.
The latest recommendations for tirzepatide dosage are based on evidence stemming from T2D and weight loss research.
According to these recommendations, tirzepatide for weight loss should be initiated at a dose of 2.5mg/once-weekly and then increased by 2.5mg/weekly every 4 weeks to reach a maintenance dose of up to 15mg/weekly at the end of week 20 [8, 16, 18].
Here is the sample weight loss protocol in greater detail:
- Tirzepatide Dose: 2.5mg/weekly for the first four weeks of the study period, followed by an increase to 5mg/weekly in weeks 5-8, 7.5mg/weekly in weeks 9-12, 10mg/weekly in weeks 13-16, 12.5mg/weekly in weeks 17-20, and 15mg in weeks 21 and beyond.
- Frequency: Once weekly at regular times every week.
- Study Duration: 24-72 weeks.
- Notes: The maximum established weekly dose is 15mg, per the Mounjaro dosing guidelines and clinical trial data.
Where to Buy Tirzepatide Online? | 2024 Edition
Qualified professionals looking to buy tirzepatide for research purposes should exercise caution and choose a reputable vendor of reference materials.
The team at Peptides.org recommends the following two vendors of research-grade tirzepatide:
Limitless Life
Limitless Life is a Florida-based vendor that offers high-quality reference materials including tirzepatide, currently available by signup to their VIP Club.
Buying from this vendor comes with several advantages, including:
- Tirzepatide Made in the USA: Limitless Life sources its tirzepatide from accredited laboratory partners based in the United States, providing researchers with confidence that their peptides are genuine, effective, and safe to administer.
- Competitive Pricing: The vendor offers competitive pricing for research-grade tirzepatide and other peptides relevant to weight loss research.
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PureRawz
PureRawz is also known for their rigorous quality control, excellent customer service, and reasonable pricing.
- Lab-Tested Tirzepatide: PureRawz submits their peptides for both in-house and third-party laboratory testing to ensure unparalleled product quality.
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Benefits of Tirzepatide | Verdict
Tirzepatide is a novel GLP-1/GIP agonist with unique dual-incretin properties and superior effectiveness in improving glycemic control and inducing weight loss. It is currently approved by the FDA as a T2D therapy.
Researchers are further studying its potential for supporting fat loss and chronic weight management in overweight and obese individuals, as well as its anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, and hepatoprotective effects.
Qualified researchers looking to obtain high-purity tirzepatide for experimentation should look no further than the leader in the research chemicals industry.
Luis Daniel López Murillo, PhD