The quest for effective weight loss solutions has led to a surge in popularity of various dietary supplements, including weight loss drops. These products often promise to "complement" or "supercharge" the body's natural processes, particularly those related to the gut hormone GLP-1. However, as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cracks down on compounded versions of popular weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound, it's crucial to examine the ingredients, effectiveness, and potential risks associated with these over-the-counter supplements.
The Appeal of GLP-1 Supplements
The rising demand for weight loss medications like Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide) has created a market for alternative products. These drugs, known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, have proven effective in promoting weight loss by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone, which regulates appetite and blood sugar levels. However, their high cost and the need for a prescription have led many to seek more accessible and affordable options.
This is where GLP-1 supplements come in. Marketed as a way to boost endogenous GLP-1 production, these supplements are readily available over the counter, without the need for a consultation with a clinician. The appeal is clear: a seemingly easy and inexpensive way to achieve similar results to prescription medications.
Understanding GLP-1 and Semaglutide
Before delving into the specifics of weight loss drops, it's essential to understand what GLP-1 and semaglutide are. GLP-1 is a hormone naturally produced in the small intestines. It plays a crucial role in:
- Slowing digestion
- Reducing hunger
- Increasing feelings of fullness
- Enhancing insulin sensitivity
- Managing blood sugar levels
- Decreasing food chatter and food noise
Semaglutide, the active ingredient in drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic, belongs to a class of medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. It mimics the effects of the natural GLP-1 hormone, helping to regulate appetite and blood sugar levels. Beyond weight loss, GLP-1s can have other long-term health benefits, including improving cholesterol levels, improving fatty liver disease, reducing the risk of heart disease and kidney disease, and reducing alcohol intake and smoking.
Read also: The Victoria's Secret Diet
Common Ingredients in Weight Loss Drops
Many weight loss drops and other GLP-1 supplements contain a variety of ingredients, often marketed as "natural" or "clinically studied." Some of the most common ingredients include:
- Ashwagandha: Often advertised as a stress reliever. While the stress hormone cortisol is tied to weight gain, there’s little proof the evergreen shrub directly helps shed pounds.
- Berberine: Early research indicates berberine could help with weight loss. GI symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, bloating, and constipation, may occur. Berberine may also interact with prescription medications.
- Caffeine: A stimulant often added to weight loss supplements, it can help liberate fatty acids from fatty tissues during cardiovascular exercise.
- Chromium: Referenced in some studies for satiety, but the science is not clear on how effectively a patch could administer chromium.
- Green Tea Extract: May have a modest effect on body weight, but some research links it to liver damage.
- Prebiotics & Probiotics: Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that live in your gut and help break down and digest food. One review found that probiotics helped overweight and obese people reduce their body weight and body fat. Some manufacturers are combining probiotics with prebiotics, a type of fiber that feeds gut bacteria. Although few studies have examined the safety of probiotics, they have a long history of safety, particularly in healthy people, according to the NIH. If you have a weakened immune system, rare side effects may occur from taking probiotics.
- Saffron Extract: Has a minimal body of research supporting its effects on weight loss.
- Glutamine: Referenced in some studies for weight loss and food intake, but the science is not clear on how effectively a patch could administer glutamine.
It's important to note that many of these ingredients have been used in weight loss supplements for decades, with limited evidence of significant effectiveness.
The Effectiveness of Weight Loss Drops
While the marketing of weight loss drops may suggest similar results to prescription GLP-1 agonists, the reality is often quite different. Experts and studies suggest that these supplements do not perform nearly as well as GLP-1 agonists.
Jamie Alan, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine, states that so-called GLP-1 supplements are likely to be ineffective for weight loss. She emphasizes that "If you can buy it without a prescription, it’s not an actual GLP-1 drug," and that these products are often rebranded versions of older, ineffective weight loss supplements.
The main differences between oral and injectable semaglutide hinges on how their delivery methods affect the body's absorption of the drug, impacting efficacy and results. Injectables have high bioavailability, hovering around 89%. Oral tablets have a bioavailability range of only 0.4% to 1%. Oral drops are absorbed through the tissues under your tongue, it bypasses much of the digestive system. This is believed to improve how much of the drug actually makes it into your bloodstream compared to standard oral tablets, with bioavailability potentially as high as 40%.
Read also: French Diet of 1924
Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiologist and the director of Tufts University’s Food Is Medicine Institute, said, “There’s no simple dietary fix that’s going to do what these drugs do in a short amount of time.” Still, the metabolic mechanism the supplements claim to achieve - boosting natural GLP-1 production - isn’t without merit.
Oral Semaglutide: An Alternative to Injections
Oral semaglutide has emerged as a convenient alternative to injections. It is made up of the same active ingredient as injectable GLP-1s, working to slow digestion, reduce appetite, regulate insulin sensitivity, and support weight loss. When given orally, semaglutide is dosed differently as absorption and delivery are different from injectable semaglutide.
There are a couple of ways you can take oral semaglutide:
- Tablet or pill that you swallow (Rybelsus is the only currently available semaglutide tablet; it’s not available in generic form)
- Drops that are placed under the tongue (also referred to as sublingual semaglutide)
Oral semaglutide needs to be taken once daily on an empty stomach, ideally early in the day for best efficacy. If that’s not possible, wait at least 30 minutes after eating.
Research suggests that all forms of semaglutide can aid in weight loss, but by how much will vary. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that among adults who were overweight or obese, those who injected semaglutide weekly lost nearly 15% of their body weight after 68 weeks. One study found that the average weight loss with oral semaglutide tablets was roughly 9 pounds after 26 weeks. Research on the efficacy of oral drops is still emerging, but one recent animal study suggests it may be more effective than tablets.
Read also: Autophagy and Weight Loss
Potential Risks and Side Effects
One of the main concerns with dietary supplements is the lack of regulation by the FDA. Unlike prescription drugs, supplements are not subject to rigorous testing for safety and effectiveness before they hit the market. This means that consumers are essentially taking a leap of faith when they purchase these products.
Jamie Alan warns that "There could be harm in some of these," citing the potential for significant drug interactions or adverse effects in individuals with underlying medical conditions. Even in healthy individuals, there is a risk of side effects from certain ingredients.
Some weight loss products have a long history of being adulterated, sometimes including extreme levels of stimulants. The FDA has issued numerous public notifications about weight loss supplements containing hidden drug ingredients, such as DMAA (1,3-dimethylamylamine), which can pose serious health risks.
Common side effects of GLP-1 medications include:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
More serious risks to watch for include pancreatitis, thyroid tumors, hypoglycemia, and gallstones or acute cholecystitis.
The Role of Influencers and Misleading Marketing
The marketing of weight loss supplements is often fueled by social media influencers who may not have the expertise to properly evaluate the products they promote. These influencers can be easily manipulated by brands, leading to the spread of misinformation and unrealistic expectations.
C. Ogle, who prides herself on remaining honest, sticking to the facts and caring about the well-being of her viewers, said that the marketing seems to suggest that you could get with these natural products, these natural ingredients, the same effect that you can get with GLP-1 agonists, which is simply not the case. And in that way, they are being misleading to people.
Bryn Austin, professor of social and behavioral sciences at the Harvard T.H., said that "from Day One," supplement companies have tried to capitalize on the GLP-1 craze, putting the phrase in their product names.
A Natural Alternative: BRP Peptide
Stanford Medicine researchers have identified a naturally occurring molecule, BRP peptide, that appears similar to semaglutide in suppressing appetite and reducing body weight.
Assistant professor of pathology Katrin Svensson, PhD, said that nothing tested before has compared to semaglutide’s ability to decrease appetite and body weight.
When the researchers tested the effect of BRP on lean mice and minipigs they found that an intramuscular injection of BRP prior to feeding reduced food intake over the next hour by up to 50% in both animal models. Obese mice treated with daily injections of BRP for 14 days lost an average of 3 grams - due almost entirely to fat loss - while control animals gained about 3 grams over the same period.
The researchers hope to identify the cell-surface receptors that bind BRP and to further dissect the pathways of its action.
tags: #weight #loss #drops #ingredients #and #effectiveness