GLP-1 supplements: the next major wellness category?

By Jo Allen | Published: 16-Jan-2025

From loss of skin elasticity to hair density, supplements that offer targeted support for GLP-1 users, as well as those that 'mimic' the drugs, are booming

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From Ozempic ‘dupes’ to side effect support for users on GLP-1 agonist medications, a new supplements category is emerging, and it’s on the brink of a major boom.

2024 saw a hike in demand from consumers looking to complement their GLP-1 journeys with targeted supplements, following the rising popularity of the medications.

One in eight US adults have already taken GLP-1 drugs for weight loss or blood sugar control, and the figure is predicted to rise to up to one in six in the future.

Erin Palinksi-Wade, a registered dietician and board certified advisory member of Replenza, a new physician-formulated supplement system for GLP-1 users, says: “There is a big interest in supplements that support the nutritional needs of GLP-1 users, partly because it is really hard for them to get everything they need nutritionally when they’re eating such a small amount of calories, but also to offset the side effects they can experience.”

As many as 68% of GLP-1 users stop taking the medications within one year, and Dr Alexandra Sowa, who specialises in internal and obesity medicine and has worked with GLP-1 patients for over a decade, says that the side effects can be difficult to navigate.

These can include nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, fatigue, headaches, and muscle loss, hair loss and weakened skin elasticity due to the impact of rapid weight loss on the body.

Sowa says: “There is a critical gap in the market when it comes to addressing the side effects and specific requirements of GLP-1 users on their weight loss journey.”

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