Key Takeaway:
- Supplement use is rising: Many GLP-1 weight-loss drug users are turning to GLP-1 weight-loss supplements, including fiber, collagen, protein, and electrolyte supplements, to manage side effects and nutritional concerns.
- Doctors warn of safety risks: Unverified ingredients, misleading marketing, and limited premarket oversight can expose consumers to potential harm.
- Experts urge medical guidance: Users should consult health care professionals before taking supplements and avoid relying on unsupported social media claims.
Americans taking GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are increasingly using dietary supplements to manage side effects and nutritional concerns, prompting doctors and regulators to warn about product safety, misleading marketing, and limited federal oversight.
Drug Users Drive Demand for Dietary Supplements
GLP-1 medicines, including Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy, help people manage Type 2 diabetes and obesity by regulating appetite and blood sugar. However, side effects such as gastrointestinal distress, reduced food intake, and weakness have led some users to add supplements to their routines.
Allison Vecchio, a 42-year-old emergency room nurse in Florida, said she experienced gastrointestinal problems, brittle nails, and severe weakness while taking the drugs. She said symptoms eased after she began taking fiber, collagen, and electrolytes, spending $200 to $300 a month on supplements.
“You really have to take the reins” to turn weight loss into improved health, Vecchio told Reuters.
Her experience reflects a broader commercial trend. U.S. dietary supplement sales exceeded $74 billion in 2025, according to the Nutrition Business Journal, as social media influencers and online retailers promoted products aimed at consumers using weight-loss medications.
A Nutrition Business Journal survey found that nearly half of GLP-1 users had started taking new GLP-1 weight-loss supplements, including vitamins or supplements after beginning treatment. Fiber, protein products, probiotics, and collagen were among the popular choices.
Doctors Warn of Unverified Ingredients and Marketing
Health professionals caution that consumers may not know whether supplements contain the ingredients or quantities advertised, or whether the products will provide the promised benefits.
Dietary supplements do not require the same premarket approval process as prescription drugs in the United States. The Food and Drug Administration can take action against unsafe or improperly marketed products, but the regulatory framework places greater responsibility on manufacturers to ensure product safety before sale.
Jonathan Bonnet, a clinical associate professor at Stanford University and chief medical officer of the Ardmore Institute of Health, said consumers face risks when product contents are unclear.
“If you can’t know what you’re taking, it’s hard to know what risks you’re undergoing,” Bonnet told Reuters.
Social media promotion adds to the challenge surrounding GLP-1 weight-loss supplements. Rob Fried, CEO of Niagen Bioscience, said online personalities can quickly amplify supplement claims, even when the claims lack strong scientific support.
Companies can hire influencers to promote products to large audiences, Fried warned, raising concerns about marketing that prioritizes sales over reliable evidence.
Regulators Consider Tighter Rules for Supplement Makers
The growing market has drawn attention from U.S. regulators, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose department is considering changes to supplement ingredient oversight.
Some manufacturers support stronger safeguards, arguing that stricter checks could help prevent products containing undisclosed drugs or misleading amounts of advertised ingredients from reaching consumers.
“At a minimum, a review process should happen before launch,” said Jacqueline Maslan, CEO of vitamin startup Body of Work, in comments reported by Reuters.
However, industry groups warn that expanded reviews could delay product launches and overwhelm regulators. The Council for Responsible Nutrition has raised concerns about potential backlogs, while supplement companies argue that oversight must keep pace with product development.
An HHS spokesperson told Reuters that the FDA is considering ways to modernize its regulatory approach while protecting consumers and supporting choice.
Doctors advise people taking GLP-1 medicines to discuss GLP-1 weight-loss supplements with their health care professionals, particularly when experiencing persistent side effects or concerns about nutrient intake. Supplements should not replace prescribed treatment, and claims promoted online should not be treated as proof of effectiveness.
