Low discontinuation rate of tirzepatide treatment in Japanese patients with diabetes mellitus; importance of traditional Japanese diet.

Journal of health, population, and nutrition2025PMID: 41462404

View on PubMed DOI: 10.1186/s41043-025-01161-1

Plain Language Summary

Real-world study of 219 Japanese patients with diabetes treated with tirzepatide, documenting a markedly lower discontinuation rate of approximately 1.3% due to GI adverse events compared to the 6–10% reported in Western clinical trials. Dietary questionnaires attributed this difference to preservation of traditional low-fat Japanese dietary patterns. Establishes that the cultural and dietary context dramatically modifies tirzepatide's GI tolerability—demonstrating that the clinical relevance of GI adverse events in Japanese patients may differ fundamentally from Western populations, with implications for label-based tolerability counseling across different cultural dietary contexts.

Abstract

Tirzepatide, a novel dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist, has demonstrated robust efficacy in clinical trials; however, discontinuation rates due to gastrointestinal adverse events have been reported at 6-10% in Western populations. In contrast, our real-world study of 219 Japanese patients revealed a markedly lower discontinuation rate of approximately 1.3%. Dietary questionnaires indicated that patients experienced reduced appetite for high-fat and high-calorie foods while maintaining consumption of low-carbohydrate traditional Japanese foods such as fish and meat, which may have contributed to the low discontinuation rate.

Authors

Hiraide, Takahiro; Suzuki, Yoshihiko; Yamamoto, Satoko; Yagihashi, Soroku; Sano, Motoaki

Keywords

Food behaviorJapanese foodLoss of appetiteNutritional therapyTirzepatideType 2 diabetes mellitus