TODAY'S AJENDA #87

Right now, GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy require weekly injections. Effective? Yes. Convenient? Not so much. It’s tedious, the cost adds up, and the gastro issues during dose increases can be rough. For a lot of people, it’s enough to stop treatment. 

But what if you only needed a couple of injections a year instead?

Meet The New Drug Testing Exactly That 

That’s what Amgen is researching. This past June, the biotech giant published phase 2 results for MariTide (maridebart cafraglutide), a long-acting GLP-1 drug designed to be injected once a month rather than once a week. 

• Zoom In: Adults with obesity who received MariTide lost up to 20% of their body weight over 52 weeks. Those with type 2 diabetes lost 17% of their body weight and saw improvements in blood sugar. 

Plus? Amgen found that starting at lower doses and gradually ramping up reduced gastrointestinal (GI) side effects without sacrificing results. That matters since GI misery is one common reason why people discontinue GLP-1s.

How Does This Even Work, Anyway? 

MariTide lasts longer because it’s built differently from current GLP-1 drugs. 

• Most GLP-1 drugs are peptides, which our bodies clear quickly (the typical half-life is a few days). 

• MariTide is a peptide-antibody conjugate. The GLP-1 peptide is attached to an antibody, which acts like a protective carrier. Antibodies stick around much longer in our system. We're talking half-lives of 2-4 weeks instead of days.

Scientists are testing “depot” technologies to stretch dosing intervals even further. This method injects a reservoir under your skin that releases the drug gradually. Think of it as a time-release capsule.

• Science Says: A Stanford team tested this in rats, and their computer models suggest it could work for 3-4 months in humans. 

While this method has yet to be tested on actual people, it shows a credible technical path to quarterly dosing.

Sounds Exciting. But Is It Safe? 

Here’s where I pump the brakes. GLP-1 drugs aren’t new (they were FDA approved 20 years ago), so we know weekly injections are safe because we have decades of data. 

What is new are these longer-acting formulations with monthly or quarterly injections. We just don’t have the research. So here’s what we’re watching out for: 

• GI Side Effects: Just because you inject less often doesn’t mean side effects like nausea or vomiting don’t still occur. 

• Overexposure. What goes in slowly goes out slowly. Meaning, if the drug lasts a month (or 3-4 months) and you react badly, it’ll take time for your body to clear it. 

• Immune Reactions. MariTide uses antibodies, and your body might produce anti-drug antibodies in response. It hasn't been a major problem in trials, but it’s being monitored.

Where We Go From Here 

I predict that we’ll start seeing once-monthly injections within 1-2 years. Quarterly injections could be on the horizon (3-5 years) if human studies back up what the animal models predict. 

As for twice-yearly injections? That’s aspirational. The technical challenges are steep. It’s a goal researchers are working towards, but I wouldn’t bank on it anytime soon. 

And while I’m all for convenience, what I care about most is whether these newer GLP-1s still improve your quality of life and cardiometabolic health (not just if they’re easier to take).  

The science is moving fast. We just need to make sure it’s moving in the right direction.

 I was recently strolling through a Los Angeles health-oriented grocery store when I spotted something I’ve never seen before: Sea Buckthorn juice! 

The internet calls it a “wonder plant” and “goldmine” of “beauty omegas.” Intriguing. But whenever something has a health halo, I always wonder what the science actually shows. So, I did a medical literature search. Here’s what I learned:

What is Sea Buckthorn? 

• The What: Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is a shrub native to Asia and Europe that produces berries with vitamin C (up to 12x more than an orange!), vitamin E, carotenoids, and a rare mix of omega fatty acids. 

The reason you haven’t seen these berries in the fruit aisle? They’re extremely tart. But the same compounds that make them so pucker-inducing also give sea buckthorn its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory power. 

It’s been used in Tibetan and Asian medicine for centuries, and new research has found more than 190 bioactive substances. No wonder you’ll now find its juice bottled at Erewhon for $20 a pop. 

The Science Behind Sea Buckthorn   

Let’s see whether all that good stuff inside translates to measurable health benefits: 

Lower Cholesterol 

A trial with 19 women (average age 54) with high cholesterol found that drinking 50 mL of sea buckthorn juice daily for 8 weeks reduced LDL ("bad" cholesterol), increased HDL ("good" cholesterol), and decreased body fat and inflammation markers. 

• Doctor’s Note: It sounds promising, but this was a tiny study, and we need larger and better trials. 

I’d put sea buckthorn in the “supporting role” category for cardiometabolic health, not a stand-alone treatment.

Vaginal Health 

Here’s where things get interesting for women in midlife:  

• Science Says: A 2014 study in 116 postmenopausal women found that taking 3 grams of sea buckthorn oil for 3 months improved the integrity of vaginal tissue compared to a placebo. 

Notably, the oil didn’t act like estrogen. The benefits likely came from its vitamin A, essential fatty acids, and anti-inflammatory compounds. 

Translation? I would consider this ‘vagina friendly’ but not remotely in the same category as estradiol as a treatment for vaginal dryness.

Other Potential Benefits 

Beyond cholesterol and vaginal health, researchers have looked at sea buckthorn for: 

• Anti-Skin Aging Effects: A 2023 mouse study found that proanthocyanidins from sea buckthorn reduced wrinkles and boosted collagen levels in mice. (It has potential…but we’re not rodents, and who knew that mice could really get wrinkles!) 

• Anti-Cancer Pathways: A 2022 review suggests sea buckthorn may interrupt pathways associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, and abnormal cell growth. 

However? Nearly all of this evidence comes from animal and cell studies. We’ll need studies on actual women before sea buckthorn can confidently earn its “wonder plant” label. 

Cons and Cautions 

This is where I put my boring doctor/nutritionist hat on:

Evidence is limited. Many studies are small, short, or use different preparations and doses.  

Side effects. They include GI upset, diarrhea, and heartburn. 

Blood thinning and blood pressure. This fruit may slow clotting and lower blood pressure. If you’re on blood thinners, antihypertensives, have kidney stones, a bleeding disorder, or are having surgery, talk to your doctor. 

Blood sugar interactions. It may enhance blood sugar-lowering medications. If you have diabetes, you’ll need supervision. 

Pregnant or breastfeeding? I’d skip this plant. There’s not enough data to ensure it’s safe in those settings. 

Here’s How I’d Go About It: 

If you’re curious about sea buckthorn for vaginal dryness, skin health, or as a small add-on for heart health, be sure to go for a reputable brand that lists the dose per capsule and has tested for contaminants and purity. 

Start with a small dose (and watch for symptoms). Lastly, remember sea buckthorn isn’t a substitute for hormone therapy, vaginal moisturizers, statins, or blood pressure meds.

Personally? If I see it, I buy it, and take a little ‘shot’ of it once a day, to get some more antioxidants in my system. 

Last year, I started my own experiment with Pique* to see if they’d actually make a difference in my mood, skin, and energy.

A year later, I can honestly say they do. Here are my go-tos: 

• Sun Goddess Matcha: My morning ritual. Ceremonial-grade, quadruple-toxin screened, packed with EGCG antioxidants for calm energy without the jitters. 

• B•T Fountain: I add this beauty electrolyte to my afternoon water. The ceramides hydrate at a cellular level, and it really seems to make my skin glow from within…also, I enjoy the taste, so it helps me to consume more water, which ALSO helps my skin!

• R•E Fountain: My evening wind-down. Triple magnesium for deep calm, better sleep, and mental recovery. 

While these sachets aren’t a replacement for a healthy diet, hydration, and topical skincare, they complement a holistic approach to your well-being.

Right now, Pique is running their biggest sale of the year with 20% off site-wide for life when you subscribe, plus a $200 gift set free with qualifying purchases. If you’ve been curious about Pique, this is the moment to try them! 

Remember those 2 AM infomercials on QVC that promised you could “shake up your entire body to a slim, firm, and sexy new you” with a body vibration machine? (Their words, not mine.) 

Well, whole body vibration (WBV) machines are back. The internet is now flooded with people wobbling on these metallic surfboards, swearing everything from weight loss to stronger bones, and I see them at my gym too (though I’ve never actually seen anyone use them.) 

But do they actually work? Or are you just paying to be a human maraca? 🪇

Hang On. What’s The Methodology Here? 

WBV platforms vibrate 20-50 times per second, sending tiny tremors up your feet and legs. In response, your muscles contract reflexively to “stabilize” you (a response called tonic vibration reflex). 

In other words, your body panics thinking you're about to fall, so your muscles contract to catch you. That involuntary activation is said to mimic the effects of resistance training.

Is There Any Scientific Evidence? 

Bone Health

• A 2022 review suggested that WBV does improve bone mineral density at the lumbar spine and trochanter (hip) regions in postmenopausal women. 

• But a 2024 review didn’t agree. After evaluating 15 systematic reviews, researchers thought most evidence was too low-quality to recommend WBV for improving bone mineral density (though it might help maintain it). 

Translation: WBV isn’t a substitute for resistance training.

Chronic Pain and Balance 

WBV looks more helpful for people with specific conditions: 

• Chronic Low Back Pain: WBV may help alleviate lower back pain by triggering muscle contractions that improve core stability and pain modulation. 

• Stroke Symptoms: Adding WBV to rehab programs may reduce muscle stiffness and improve balance in stroke patients (though it didn’t improve daily functioning).

What About More Dramatic Claims? 

The sexier marketing claims (dramatic weight loss and “detox” lymphatic drainage) lack nuance. 

• While a 2024 review found obese women lost some weight after 10 weeks of WBV, they lost more body fat when vibration was combined with a calorie-restricted diet, not used alone. 

• As for lymphatic drainage? The actual peer-reviewed research is limited to one mouse study that showed promise for lymphatic vessel stimulation. (But again…we’re not rodents.) 

In short: If someone promises a vibrating plate will give you a six-pack, that’s your cue to move along.

The Downsides 

This little metallic machine looks harmless. But we’ve known for decades that chronic, high-intensity vibration (the kind construction workers experience) can damage joints and soft tissues. 

That’s why medical guidelines recommend clearance before use if you have osteoporosis, joint replacements, heart disease, high blood pressure, epilepsy, pregnancy, metal implants, recent surgery, or a clotting risk.

• Zoom In: Side effects can include dizziness, nausea, headache, and joint or back discomfort. When I recently tried it, I could only comfortably go to level 3 out of 8. (8 felt like I was in a massive earthquake and did NOT feel good.)

So, Is WBV For You? 

I’d put it in the “potentially useful accessory” category. If you’re cleared for exercise and interested in balance and strength, a supervised WBV program could be worth trying. 

But don’t make it your entire workout. Contrary to what those 2 AM QVC infomercials promise, you can’t just “shake” your way to a slimmer body.

Did you enjoy Today’s Ajenda? It would mean the world if you left us a testimonial!

ABOUT DR. JEN

In her former roles as chief medical correspondent for ABC News and on-air cohost of “GMA3: What You Need to Know,” Dr. Jennifer Ashton—”Dr. Jen”—has shared the latest health news and information with millions of viewers nationwide. As an OB-GYN, nutritionist, and board-certified obesity medicine specialist, she is passionate about promoting optimal health for “the whole woman.” She has authored several books, including the national best-seller, The Self-Care Solution: A Year of Becoming Happier, Healthier & Fitter—One Month at a Time. And she has gone through menopause…

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