The role of dietary supplements on GLP-1: SupplySide West 2024 Report

GLP-1 molecule. Stock.adobe.com/catalin

SupplySide West 2024 recently concluded in Las Vegas, NV, bringing the industry together under one roof to deliver a wide range of ingredient solutions to manufacturers of dietary supplements and foods. As with previous years, this most recent show brought new innovations and insights on trending categories. One notable trend from the show is the opportunity that the usage and awareness of GLP-1 agonist drugs presents for industry. This opportunity presents itself in two ways: 1) Dietary supplements that promotes the GLP-1 hormone as a mechanism of action, or 2) Ingredients that complement GLP-1 agonist drugs by maintaining muscle health and nutrition during the weight loss the drug promotes.

The former is tied into metabolic health, which includes weight management, blood sugar management, and inflammation. For example, Ingredients by Nature (Montclair, CA) has announced that it will be offering a probiotic strain called Akkermansia muciniphila AKK11, which is referred to as the “longevity probiotic.” The ingredient plays into the healthy aging trend and has been shown in research to support healthy inflammation and metabolic health. Animal research has demonstrated that the probiotic can promote the secretion of GLP-1 as well as brown adipose tissue thermogenesis. (1) More research is necessary to further explore this mechanism in humans, but the probiotic also complements the company’s lemon-based flavonoid ingredient Eriomin which was found in a clinical trial to decrease blood sugar and increased GLP-1.(2)

“It's by far the hottest thing I've ever seen in my 20 years, and it's not a fad,” says Robert Brewster, president of Ingredient by Nature. “GLP-1 is not going away.”

Brewster explains that the benefits of promoting GLP-1 goes beyond satiety to include brain health and overall metabolic health. “More and more is being understood biologically about what GLP-1 is doing, how it's working on the brain for satiety,” adds Doug Lynch, strategic sales for Ingredients by Nature. “It also affects the motility. So, ultimately when food passes through, it travels at a slower pace and that allows you to get filled up more quickly. It's also involved with insulin production.”

Of course, Brewster and Lane emphasize the importance of responsibly marketing products such as these. Increasing GLP-1 is a mechanism for these products, but they are by no means equivalent the popular GLP-1 agonist drugs. Indeed, the viral concept that catapulted berberine to the mainstream as “nature’s Ozempic” is something brands like Ingredients by Nature want to distance themselves from.

That said, the recognition and association consumers have of GLP-1 is bound to encourage further research into this mechanism. A recently launched collagen peptide from Rousselot called Nextida GC was shown in animal research to lower blood glucose response, slow down gastric emptying, increase plasma insulin, and increase GLP-1. In a small proof of concept study with humans, the ingredient was able to lower postprandial glucose response. (3) A newly introduced probiotic from IFF, Akkermansia massiliensis, advances the scientific literature on Akkermansia strains, with mechanisms that may positively impact inflammation, immunity, metabolic health, and even offer neuroprotective effects. (4) There is no research on GLP-1 impacts yet, but further research is bound to explore this mechanism in comparison to Akkermansia muciniphila.

Another direction manufacturers can go is helping users of GLP-1 agonist drugs deal with symptoms. One common area of support is muscle health. Because of the rapid weight loss people taking GLP-1 agonist drugs can experience, they also lose muscle mass. Therefore, being able to maintain muscle mass during weight loss allows people to be more active and maintain that weight loss. An ingredient like Mobilee, a proprietary hyaluronic acid matrix ingredient from Bioiberica, has been shown via in vitro models to have muscle health benefits with the potential to protect against muscle atrophy and damage related to sarcopenia, which is age-related muscle decline. (5)

Along similar lines, Beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) such as myHMB from TSI Group, has been shown in research to support muscle mass and strength in aging populations even without the addition of exercise. (6) In more active populations, Gelita’s BobyBalance and TendoForte collagen peptides have been shown to increase the rate of muscle grown following resistance training. (7) While more research is necessary to determine the specific effects of these products on GLP-1 agonist users, the established muscle-health benefits of such ingredients may be a welcome complement to those taking the drugs.

Another factor to consider is overall nutrition. Patients taking the GLP-1 agonist drugs lose weight because they eat less, which has the potential to impact their overall nutrition. (8) For example, Michael VanderDrift, senior marketing communications manager at Balchem suggests that the chelated forms of minerals in the Albion Minerals portfolio can be a valuable addition to this population for maximizing mineral absorption in the face of the change in metabolism and transit times that GLP-1 agonist drugs bring.

Another factor to consider, says senior marketing and BD manager for Balchem, Jessica Arnaly, is skin health. She cites the “Ozempic skin effect” which is characterized by increased signs of aging and a hollowed out appearance in the face due to rapid weight loss and lack of hydration. Arnaly therefore says that OptiMSM is another suitable companion for GLP-1 agonist users. Research has shown that the ingredient supports skin elasticity and hydration to improve signs of aging. (9)

Supplements have long been used as a complement to pharmaceutical therapies, with statins and CoQ10 being one major example. Supplements may therefore have a great deal to offer GLP-1 agonist users. For those that are not interested in the drug, but are intrigued by the mechanism and the potential to manage weight and support metabolic health, dietary supplements that promote GLP-1 secretion are bound to increase as well as the body of scientific literature on the hormone grows. Brands should however be sure to responsibly market such products as to avoid being conflated with drugs.

References

1. Jian, H.; Liu, Y.; Wang, X.;Dong, X.; Zou, X. Akkermansia muciniphila as a Next-Generation Probiotic in Modulating Human Metabolic Homeostasis and Disease Progression: A Role Mediated by Gut–Liver–Brain Axes? Int J Mol Sci. 2023, 24 (4), 3900. DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043900
2. Cesar TB et al. “Nutraceutical Eriocitrin (Eriomin) reduces hyperglycemia by increasing glucagon-like peptide 1 and downregulates systemic inflammation: A crossover-randomized clinical trial.” Journal of Medicinal Food. 2022, 25 (11). DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2021.0181
3. Grasset, E.; Briand, F.; Virgilio, N.; Schon, C.; Wilhelm, M.; Cudennec, B.; Ravallec, R.; Aboubacar, H.; et al. A Specific Collagen Hydrolysate Improves Postprandial Glucose Tolerance in Normoglycemic and Prediabetic Mice and in a First Proof of Concept Study in Healthy, Normoglycemic and Prediabetic Humans. Food Science & Nutrition. 2024, Article ASAP. DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.4538 (accessed 2024-11-05).
4. Kumar R.; Hasselwander, O.; Kane, H.; Hibberd, A.A. Akkermansia beyond muciniphila - emergence of new species Akkermansia massiliensis sp. nov. Microbiome Res Rep. 2024, 3 (3), 37. DOI: 10.20517/mrr.2024.28
5. Grebow, J. Bioiberica’s Mobilee hyaluronic acid matrix may support muscle health and possibly sarcopenia, new research shows. Nutritional Outlook. May 11, 2023. https://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/view/bioiberica-s-mobilee-hyaluronic-acid-matrix-may-support-muscle-health-and-possibly-sarcopenia-new-research-shows (accessed 2024-11-05)
6. Krawiec, S. Meta-analysis finds that HMB supplementation supports healthy muscle mass in older adults. Nutritional Outlook. April 15, 2021. https://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/view/meta-analysis-finds-that-hmb-supplementation-supports-healthy-muscle-mass-in-older-adults (accessed 2024-11-05)
7. Grebow, J. Gelita collagen peptides increase muscle mass in new study. Nutritional Outlook. December 14, 2022. https://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/view/gelita-collagen-peptides-increase-muscle-mass-in-new-study (accessed 2024-11-05).
8. Berman, R. Weight loss: New dietary guidelines for people taking Wegovy, Ozempic. Medical News Today. June 26, 2024. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/new-dietary-guidelines-weight-loss-drugs#Risks-of-nutritional-imbalances-while-taking-weight-loss-drugs. (accessed 2024-11-05)
9. Krawiec, S. MSM may improve signs of aging, says recent study. Nutritional Outlook. March 2, 2020. https://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/view/msm-may-improve-signs-aging-says-recent-study (accessed 2024-11-05)