Semaglutide Users May Still Have Food in Their Stomachs Despite Standard Fasting
Gastric ultrasound revealed that semaglutide users had more residual stomach content than non-users despite adhering to standard fasting protocols.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Semaglutide users had more residual gastric content than controls on ultrasound despite following standard 8-hour fasting protocols.
Key Numbers
N=30 (15 semaglutide, 15 controls); semaglutide within 7 days; 73% vs 7% full stomach after standard fasting; minimum 8-hour solid food fast.
How They Did This
Observational cross-sectional study using gastric ultrasonography in 30 fasting volunteers (15 semaglutide users, 15 controls).
Why This Research Matters
Residual stomach content increases aspiration risk during anesthesia — this has major implications for surgical planning in GLP-1 drug users.
The Bigger Picture
This supports the growing concern that standard pre-operative fasting guidelines may be insufficient for patients on GLP-1 drugs.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Small sample (30 total). Single center. Cross-sectional design. Specific semaglutide doses not detailed.
Questions This Raises
- ?Should fasting times be extended for semaglutide users before surgery?
- ?Does the residual content volume reach clinically dangerous levels?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 30 volunteers Gastric ultrasound study showing residual stomach content in semaglutide users despite standard fasting
- Evidence Grade:
- Small observational study — supports existing safety concerns but larger studies needed for definitive fasting guidelines.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2025, contributing to the urgent debate about peri-operative GLP-1 drug management.
- Original Title:
- Evaluation of gastric content in fasting patient during semaglutide use: an observational study.
- Published In:
- Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery, 21(2), 146-151 (2025)
- Authors:
- Queiroz, Veronica Neves Fialho, Falsarella, Priscila Mina, Chaves, Renato Carneiro de Freitas, Francisco Neto, Miguel Jose, Silva, João Manoel, Araújo, Guilherme Freitas, Takaoka, Flávio, Pfeilsticker, Flávia Julie do Amaral, Mendes, Guilherme Falleiros, Garcia, Rodrigo Gobbo
- Database ID:
- RPEP-13154
Evidence Hierarchy
Watches what happens naturally without intervening.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Should I stop semaglutide before surgery?
This study found more food in the stomach despite standard fasting. Many anesthesia societies now recommend holding GLP-1 drugs before procedures.
Why is stomach content dangerous during anesthesia?
Residual food can be aspirated (breathed into the lungs) during anesthesia, causing potentially life-threatening pneumonia.
Read More on RethinkPeptides
Cite This Study
https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/RPEP-13154APA
Queiroz, Veronica Neves Fialho; Falsarella, Priscila Mina; Chaves, Renato Carneiro de Freitas; Francisco Neto, Miguel Jose; Silva, João Manoel; Araújo, Guilherme Freitas; Takaoka, Flávio; Pfeilsticker, Flávia Julie do Amaral; Mendes, Guilherme Falleiros; Garcia, Rodrigo Gobbo. (2025). Evaluation of gastric content in fasting patient during semaglutide use: an observational study.. Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery, 21(2), 146-151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soard.2024.08.039
MLA
Queiroz, Veronica Neves Fialho, et al. "Evaluation of gastric content in fasting patient during semaglutide use: an observational study.." Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soard.2024.08.039
RethinkPeptides
RethinkPeptides Research Database. "Evaluation of gastric content in fasting patient during sema..." RPEP-13154. Retrieved from https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/queiroz-2025-evaluation-of-gastric-content
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkPeptides research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.