What to know about GLP-1 supplements for weight loss

As the FDA cracks down on compounded GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide, the market for GLP-1 supplements is taking off. But do these products work?

As the Food and Drug Administration cracks down on compounded versions of popular weight loss drugs Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide), Americans who rely on these cheaper medications may be drawn to a dicey sector of the dietary supplement market.

From colorful patches and fruit punch-flavored gummies to prebiotic powders and under-the-tongue tinctures, dietary supplements that claim to “complement” or “supercharge” the body’s levels of the gut hormone GLP-1 are a dime a dozen. While compounded drugs require at least a virtual consultation with a clinician to get a prescription, supplements are available over the counter.

At best, such products are misleading, said Jamie Alan, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine. So-called GLP-1 supplements, named to echo the class of glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist drugs that includes Wegovy and Zepbound, are likely to be ineffective for weight loss.

“If you can buy it without a prescription, it’s not an actual GLP-1 drug,” Alan said. “It is something else that’s marketed to support your endogenous GLP-1 production. These things are just older weight loss [supplements] that are rebranded, and there’s really no scientific evidence for these.”

Ashwagandha and green tea extract are among the natural ingredients that have been recycled in diet products for decades, Alan said. Ashwagandha is often advertised as a stress reliever, and though the stress hormone cortisol is tied to weight gain, there’s little proof the evergreen shrub directly helps shed pounds. Green tea and green tea extract may have a “possible modest effect on body weight,” according to mixed research cited by the Office of Dietary Supplements, some of which links the extract to liver damage.