The Truth Behind GLP-1 Support Supplements

Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonist (GLP-1 RA) medications have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years, with an estimated 12.5% of American adults prescribed them as of 2025.1 This number is only expected to grow thanks to the recent introduction of GLP-1 RA pills and with approval in the pediatric population.

There is no doubt that when taken appropriately and supported with the right diet and exercise routines, these medications do work to control blood glucose, promote weight loss, and thereby improve the many comorbidities that are associated with overweight and obesity, such as elevated cholesterol and blood pressure, liver and kidney dysfunction, inflammation, and more. These medications are fantastic for humans who have struggled with their health for a long time, but there are important caveats for those who have access to these drugs.

To qualify for a GLP-1 RA prescription for weight loss, one must have a BMI > 30 or a BMI > 27 AND a weight-related condition, which may limit the amount of people who have access to this medication, especially for those who may just be using this med to lose the “last 10 pounds.”(2) Without insurance, these medications can cost between $150 to $500 per month, which further limits the amount of people who have access to this medication.(3) Not to mention, there is a subset of the population who cannot tolerate the side effects of the medication, such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, bloating, pancreatitis, gall stones, or bowel obstructions.(2) For these reasons, over-the-counter oral supplement companies have begun incorporating “GLP-1 support” ingredients into their supplements. They claim to increase GLP-1 levels in the gut, with similar appetite reducing effects, but at a lower efficacy, cost (albeit still expensive depending on your budget), and risk of side effects.

But do they actually work? In this blog post, I will be reviewing the mechanisms behind naturally occurring GLP-1, GLP-1 RA injectables, and the support supplements. Because there are so many different support supplements on the market, I will review the efficacy of the active ingredients in one of the more popular supplements. Finally, I will conclude with how we can support GLP-1 levels through diet.

GLP-1 in Our Bodies vs In the Syringe

Before we dive into the supplements, we need to understand what GLP-1 is and what its job is in the body. GLP-1 is a hormone that is secreted by cells in the intestines after a meal is eaten. Its job is to increase insulin (the hormone that gets sugar from our meal into our cells so we can use it for energy) secretion from the pancreas and to inhibit glucagon (the hormone that helps us break down stored glycogen to increase blood sugar) secretion, ultimately limiting the peak that blood glucose reaches after a meal. GLP-1 also slows the contractility of the stomach, which sends a signal to the brain that “we are full.” In sum, GLP-1 governs blood glucose and satiety after eating.

Obviously, this is a very important hormone, but the issue is that it is metabolized in only a few minutes in the body, making the effects of natural GLP-1 relatively short lived. Not to mention, just like any hormone, people have different rates of secretion, sensitivity, and metabolism, and it is established that those who have lower secretion and sensitivity and/or faster metabolism, are at a higher risk for weight gain, obesity, and diabetes. (2,3)

Enter GLP-1 RA drugs. First, it is vital to understand that when someone injects a GLP-1 RA drug, they are not just injecting the GLP-1 hormone into their body, but a molecularly similar peptide. Agonist drugs “disguise” themselves as the actual GLP hormone, bind to the GLP-1 receptor, and increase the action of the natural hormone to reduce blood sugar and appetite.(2) What makes these drugs so powerful is 1.) the supraphysiological dosage of the drug, far exceeding what humans can produce on their own, and 2.) extended time of action, ranging from 2.5 hours to up to 7 days.(2,4) As alluded to above, everyone has different levels of sensitivity to the hormone, so injecting an exogenous source can increase the risk of side effects, which is what may make these “support” supplements so enticing. Thinking about what we now know about natural vs injectable GLP-1, how do you think these supplements measure up? Let’s use an example of one “support” supplement to dive deeper.

Veracity Metabolism Ignite

One of the more popular products on the market is Veracity’s Metabolism Ignite which claims to promote an average of 9lbs weight loss, a 61% natural increase in GLP-1, a 150% increase in metabolism, and 85% reduction in hunger levels when taken for 2 months. There are 2 active ingredients in this product touted to promote weight loss: hibiscus and lemon verbena extract (patented under the name “Metabolaid”) and caffeine-free green coffee bean extract.

First, let’s discuss Metabolaid. Multiple studies have demonstrated statistically significant changes in body weight, body fat percentage, abdominal circumference, BMI, blood pressure, and decreased subjective feelings of hunger when taking the polyphenolic compounds.(5,6) In addition to these changes, one study found that participants taking Metabolaid had higher levels of fasting GLP-1 levels.7

The studies offer proposed mechanisms for why these compounds are effective: increased differentiation of fat cells, increased fatty acid oxidation through increased levels of AMPK, increased energy expenditure through upregulation of temperature, or inhibition of digestive enzymes.(5,6) All of the studies analyzing the mechanism however, have been in cell cultures or in mice and may not translate to humans. Not to mention, all of the human studies include small sample sizes, short study durations (the longest was 150 days with a 30 day washout period), and involve only overweight or obese adults. This means that these results may not be generalizable to the entire population, and especially not for someone who just wants to lose those last 10 pounds.

The second active ingredient is caffeine-free green coffee bean extract, which is also claimed to increase GLP-1 naturally. The company’s website does not offer studies to back this claim, so I did my own research. While most studies do find improved blood sugar control and increased GLP-1 secretion, most of the studies have been done in mice or cell cultures, which is not necessarily transferable to human data.(8) However, I found one study involving humans, which did find that the intervention group’s’ GLP-1 levels increased after eating a meal, but the study only included healthy males and may not be generalizable to women or less healthy males. (9)

Overall, this increased measurement sounds promising, right? Yes, until you remember that hormone levels change by the second, which means that a single increase may not be clinically significant, especially when you remember that the GLP-1 that is made by our bodies is degraded within minutes. Moreover, when it comes to GLP-1 RA drugs, much of the efficacy can be attributed to the high dose. In the aforementioned studies measuring the hormone in the blood, GLP-1 levels were measured in picograms, whereas RA drugs are dosed in milligrams, (hint: 1 milligram = 1000000000 picograms), so even if these supplements do reliably increase GLP-1 levels naturally, it is likely not enough to oversaturate the receptors so that the hormone cannot be quickly metabolized.

The Final Consensus

So, would I say this supplement is worth it? While the evidence is somewhat convincing (if you are a mouse) and it does seem to be relatively safe for human consumption, I could think of better ways to spend $63 per month due to the paucity of long-term data on humans who are not defined as overweight or obese. Can we increase GLP-1 levels the old-fashioned way? By eating a balanced diet? Absolutely!! The most reliable way to increase our bodies natural GLP-1 levels is by eating balanced with protein, carbohydrates, fat, and fiber consistently throughout the day. This is because GLP-1 is secreted every time we eat, so not eating enough or eating inconsistently can cause altered secretion. Trying to avoid skipping meals and making up for it later on because those peaks and valleys are a recipe for metabolic dysfunction.

Even more powerful may be the benefit of a diverse microbiome, as early research suggests that the increased presence of microbiome metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids, increase GLP-1 secretion.(10) How does one increase microbiome diversity you might ask? By incorporating different varieties of fiber-containing foods, such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains; as well as probiotic-containing foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt, or even a probiotic supplement.

In addition, I would be remiss if I did not also mention the power that fiber has to slow gastric emptying, which is also part of the reason GLP-1 medications are so effective for reducing appetite. Maybe your $63 dollars is better spent on groceries than a supplement after all!

Finally, let’s not forget that weight loss is not directly caused by increased GLP-1 levels, but instead by being in an energy deficit. Increased GLP-1 levels only make it easier to be in a

calorie deficit because it alters hunger signals to the brain. Eating consistent and balanced meals is the foundation for promoting an efficient metabolism. More importantly, weight loss is not always healthy or recommended for every person, and it should be something to discuss with your medical team and dietitian to ensure it is done in a healthy and sustainable way. If you need help navigating the minutiae of weight, diet culture, and health, book with a SkimWellness RD today!

References

1. Proffitt, E. B., Rice, S. W., Schiedo, R. M., & Stauff, M. P. (2026). Reduced Complications and Improved Survival With Postoperative GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Use Following Lumbar Arthrodesis. Global spine journal, 21925682261442187. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/21925682261442187

2. Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). GLP-1 agonists: What they are, how they work & side effects. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/13901-glp-1-agonists

3. Walgreens. (n.d.). Medical weight loss with GLP-1 medications. Walgreens. https://www.walgreens.com/topic/virtual-healthcare/weight-loss.jsp

4. Biopharma PEG. (2024, August 15). Emerging trends in the development of GLP-1 receptor agonists. https://www.biochempeg.com/article/408.html

5. Herranz-López, M., Olivares-Vicente, M., Boix-Castejón, M., Caturla, N., Roche, E., & Micol, V. (2019). Differential effects of a combination of Hibiscus sabdariffa and Lippia citriodora polyphenols in overweight/obese subjects: A randomized controlled trial. Scientific reports, 9(1), 2999. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-39159-5

6. Marhuenda, J., Perez, S., Victoria-Montesinos, D., Abellán, M. S., Caturla, N., Jones, J., & López-Román, J. (2020). A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial to Determine the Effectiveness a Polyphenolic Extract (Hibiscus sabdariffa and Lippia citriodora) in the Reduction of Body Fat Mass in Healthy Subjects. Foods (Basel, Switzerland), 9(1), 55. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9010055

7. Boix-Castejón, M., , Herranz-López, M., , Pérez Gago, A., , Olivares-Vicente, M., , Caturla, N., , Roche, E., , & Micol, V., (2018). Hibiscus and lemon verbena polyphenols modulate appetite-related biomarkers in overweight subjects: a randomized controlled trial. Food & function, 9(6), 3173–3184. https://doi.org/10.1039/c8fo00367j

8. Fujii, Y., Osaki, N., Hase, T., & Shimotoyodome, A. (2015). Ingestion of coffee polyphenols increases postprandial release of the active glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1(7-36)) amide in C57BL/6J mice. Journal of nutritional science, 4, e9. https://doi.org/10.1017/jns.2014.71

9. Marhuenda, J., Perez, S., Victoria-Montesinos, D., Abellán, M. S., Caturla, N., Jones, J., & López-Román, J. (2020). A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial to Determine the Effectiveness a Polyphenolic Extract (Hibiscus sabdariffa and Lippia citriodora) in the Reduction of Body Fat Mass in Healthy Subjects. Foods, 9(1), 55. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9010055

10. Zeng, Y., Wu, Y., Zhang, Q., & Xiao, X. (2024). Crosstalk between glucagon-like peptide 1 and gut microbiota in metabolic diseases. mBio, 15(1), e0203223. https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.02032-23