Ozempic has become a cultural phenomenon, as many have started taking the type 2 diabetes medication to lose weight. In fact, a recent poll done by the JAMA network shows that one in eight Americans have used drugs such as Ozempic.
Other medications, such as Wegovy, an injectable designed for weight loss, and Mounjaro, another type 2 diabetes treatment, have also spiked in popularity for the same reasons. But they are expensive (Ozempic and Wegovy can cost up to $1000 without a prescription) and for those who want to take them may not be able to get them easily—with or without a prescription.
When Kourtney Kardashian’s Lemme launched its GLP-1 Daily Supplement back in September, it caused quite a stir. Could these Ozempic alternatives actually be a more natural and less costly solution for those looking to lose weight?
What are GLP-1 supplements?
GLP-1 supplements claim to offer a cheaper and more accessible alternative to medical injections that either treat obesity or have weight loss as a common side effect. They often contain plants, herbs, vitamins, and minerals that are supposed to synthesize GLP-1, the hormone responsible for lowering blood sugar levels and promoting weight loss, in our bodies. Supplements such as berberine, which has been touted as “nature’s Ozempic,” has been popular for a while and now more brands are coming out with their own versions to compete.
But according to Dr. Lee, there is little data on how these supplements work in our bodies. Compared to the medical grade products such as Ozempic, she says these supplements likely won’t work as effectively.
Lemme’s GLP-1 Daily Supplement, for example, is made of Eriomon lemon fruit, Sueresa saffron, and Morosil red orange fruit extracts, which the brand claims can increase your innate GLP-1 levels and help facilitate weight loss. Studies show that lemon fruit extract can somewhat raise GLP-1 levels in the bloodstream (though it did not lead to any weight loss) and a study published in Nutrition Research found that those who take saffron extract snacked slightly less than those who were give a placebo, leading to slight weight loss.
But Caroline Messer, MD, double board-certified endocrinologist and founder of Well by Messer says that the studies referenced by the brand are studies that look at how each extract individually can increase GLP-1 and not how the extracts work together in the supplement form to do so. “Even if the assertion that Lemme increases GLP1 is true, this does not mean that it results in statistically significant weight loss,” says Dr. Messer.
Are GLP-1 supplements safe?
Amy Lee, MD, head of nutrition for Nucific, says that these GLP-1 supplements may be considered a safer alternative if you aren’t able to take Ozempic or other medical-grade products—but only if used appropriately at the dose that’s recommended on the label. And there are always risks involved. For example, Dr. Messer says that rapid weight loss from any modality may increase the risk for gallstones. Dr. Lee adds that if you increase the dosage in hopes of faster results, there may be unknown side effects that can impact you negatively.
Supplements in general are not regulated by the FDA. Experts urge consumers to take supplements under the supervision of their primary care physician and to do as much research they can on what they’re ingesting
Is a GLP-1 supplement a substitute for Ozempic?
The short answer to this is no. Both Dr. Messer and Dr. Lee say these supplements are still not a true substitute for Ozempic, as more research needs to be done. “The general public is desperate for a lower cost alternative to Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, etc.,” says Dr. Messer. “[They are] easily fooled by deceptive marketing [with] poor studies [and] baseless claims.”
But we may be close to finding supplements that will be thanks to some technological advances, specifical AI. “I strongly believe that artificial intelligence will allow us to identify plant-based bioactive compounds that will be used as alternatives to synthetic GLP-1 receptor agonists in the future,” she goes on to say. “After screening more than 100,000 compounds, research has highlighted two plant-derived bioactive compounds (TOAD2 and orforglipron) that activate the GLP-1 receptor [and] the hope is that these will be taken orally and have fewer gastrointestinal side effects than tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound) and semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy).”
Should people take these supplements?
If your goal is to lose weight, experts say there still needs to be more studies done to show if these supplements are at all effective in losing weight compared to the prescribed drugs such as Wegovy and Zepbound. “So far, the OTC products have shown little to no weight loss in clinical trials,” says Dr. Messer.
