Can Food and/or Supplements be Used To Stimulate GLP-1 Activity to Improve Health Outcomes or Reduce GLP-1 Medication Dose?
Posted:
2025-03-01
What’s happening?
Interest in glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is transforming the health industry. Many, including health advocates and food and supplement companies, want to promote and develop foods and natural-based products that could increase GLP-1 effectiveness (1,2). Dietitians are wondering: do these products really boost GLP-1 activity to improve health outcomes and/or reduce medication dosage for those taking GLP-1 agonists?
What are GLP-1 Agonists?
GLP-1 agonists (also described as GLP-1 receptor agonists, incretin mimetics, or GLP-1 analogs) are a class of medications that have the same action as the body’s endogenous GLP-1, but are more powerful (3,4). GLP-1 agonists activate GLP-1 receptors in the gut and central nervous system leading to enhanced insulin release, reduced glucagon secretion (a hormone that increases glucose production) and slower gastric emptying. This results in a feeling of fullness that decreases appetite and helps in type 2 diabetes and weight management (3-5). Adverse side effects can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, heart rate elevation, infections and headaches (3,5). Some examples of GLP-1 medications are semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy), liraglutide (Victoza, Saxenda), exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon), dulaglutide (Trulicity) and lixisenatide (Adlyxine) (6).
Evidence review
The PEN Team looked at studies that reviewed foods and natural-based products, which may influence GLP-1 activity (7-10). The hypothesis is that foods, which contain ‘food factors’ that enhance GLP-1 activity (such as monosaccharides, peptides, fatty acids, dietary fibre, flavonoids, antioxidants, probiotics), may be a promising strategy for managing diabetes and weight. Translated into food sources, some of these factors are found in: eggs; yogurt; olive oil; nuts and their butters; soy; whole wheat and grains, like barley and oats; legumes; tea; spices; and flavourings. Some of the proposed mechanisms of action include (7,8):
Peptides and amino acids may bind to a calcium-sensing receptor in the lumen that stimulates GLP-1 secretion.
Formation of short-chain fatty acids (e.g. acetate, propionate, and butyrate) from probiotics and gut fermentation of dietary fibre could help stimulate GLP-1 secretion by binding to L-cell receptors.
Healthy fats (e.g. mono- and polyunsaturated fats) help improve insulin sensitivity, which is mediated by GLP-1 secretion.
Similarly, other plant products such as berberine, cinnamon, gardenia and bitter melon may also enhance GLP-1 activity (9). Review of the PEN System for herbal / botanical products, vitamins, minerals, trace elements, fatty acids and their effects on glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes reveals that evidence for effectiveness is often limited or is only fair (11). More research is needed to validate many of these products and their specific influence (including mechanism of action, form and dosage) on GLP-1, especially in humans (7-10). However, there may be some potential efficacy related to the following products: bitter melon may help to reduce A1C levels; ginseng may help to lower fasting glucose; and marine collagen peptides hydrolyzed from the skin of chum salmon may help to reduce A1C and lower fasting blood glucose levels (11). Unfortunately, there is often not enough evidence to recommend a form, dose or duration of supplementation.
With regards to evidence related to the effectiveness at stimulating weight loss, the PEN System states, “in general, nutraceuticals [(food products (e.g. foods, extracts, supplements)] may have no effect or lead to clinically insignificant weight loss in adults” (12). In addition, some commercial weight loss supplements such as products containing green tea extract and turmeric have been associated with liver injury (12).
Whether any foods or nutrients can help reduce medication dosage for people taking GLP-1 medications, the PEN team could not find any evidence examining this. Although clients may ask dietitians about reducing their medication dosage, so far there is no evidence for dietitians to use to guide their decision.
Bottom line
Interest in GLP-1 will likely continue for some time. At present, it is not possible to identify specific dietary factors that enhance GLP-1 activity to improve health outcomes. Dietitians can continue to recommend lifestyle choices that include regular physical activity and consumption of a healthy eating pattern for good health, and for type 2 diabetes and weight management (5,13).
While there is no evidence at this time to suggest one dietary pattern over another for individuals taking weight loss medications (5), getting a variety of foods daily from vegetables, fruits, whole grains and protein foods low in saturated fat is recommended for individuals who are reducing their food intake and taking GLP-1 medications (13). This helps to ensure adequate nutrient intake as these individuals may be at increased risk of malnutrition (5,13).
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References
- Nutrition for Non-nutritionists. Top 10 nutrition trends to watch in 2025. Feb. 12, 2025. Available from: https://nutritionfornonnutritionists.com/2025/02/top-10-nutrition-trends-to-watch-in-2025/
- AgFunderNews. How are GLP-1 drugs impacting spending on food and dietary supplements? 3 Jan. 2025. Available from: https://agfundernews.com/how-are-glp-1-drugs-impacting-spending-on-food-and-dietary-supplements
- Collins L, Costello RA. Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists. 2024 Feb 29. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan–. PMID: 31855395. Excerpt available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31855395/
- Shaefer CF Jr, Kushner P, Aguilar R. User's guide to mechanism of action and clinical use of GLP-1 receptor agonists. Postgrad Med. 2015;127(8):818-26. doi: 10.1080/00325481.2015.1090295. Epub 2015 Sep 15. PMID: 26371721. Abstract available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26371721/
- Dietitians of Canada. In adults taking weight loss medications, what are the dietary recommendations to manage side-effects and optimize nutritional status? In PEN: Practice-based Evidence in Nutrition. 2025-01-14. Available from: https://www.pennutrition.com/KnowledgePathway.aspx?kpid=11728&pqcatid=146&pqid=29184
- Vannabouathong C, Crotty C, Le K, et al. Current Utilization Patterns of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists: Report [Internet]. Ottawa (ON): Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health; 2022 Sep. Table 6, GLP-1 RA Products Approved in Canada. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK603325/table/t06/
- Bodnaruc AM, Prud'homme D, Blanchet R, Giroux I. Nutritional modulation of endogenous glucagon-like peptide-1 secretion: a review. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2016 Dec 9;13:92. doi: 10.1186/s12986-016-0153-3. PMID: 27990172; PMCID: PMC5148911. Abstract available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27990172/
- Hira T, Trakooncharoenvit A, Taguchi H, Hara H. Improvement of glucose tolerance by food factors having glucagon-like peptide-1 releasing activity. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Jun 21;22(12):6623. doi: 10.3390/ijms22126623. PMID: 34205659; PMCID: PMC8235588. Abstract available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34205659/
- Yaribeygi H, Jamialahmadi T, Moallem SA, Sahebkar A. Boosting GLP-1 by natural products. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2021;1328:513-522. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-73234-9_36. PMID: 34981502. Abstract available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34981502/
- Wang Y, Dilidaxi D, Wu Y, Sailike J, Sun X, Nabi XH. Composite probiotics alleviate type 2 diabetes by regulating intestinal microbiota and inducing GLP-1 secretion in db/db mice. Biomed Pharmacother. 2020 May;125:109914. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.109914.Epub 2020 Feb 5. PMID: 32035395. Abstract available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32035395/
- Dietitians of Canada. Are herbal and botanical products safe and effective for glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes? In PEN: Practice-based Evidence in Nutrition. 2023-06-07. Available from: https://www.pennutrition.com/KnowledgePathway.aspx?kpid=2171&pqcatid=146&pqid=1441
- Dietitians of Canada. Are nutraceuticals/ dietary supplements/ herbal supplements safe and effective in stimulating weight loss in adults? In PEN: Practice-based Evidence in Nutrition. 2024-10-18. Available from: https://www.pennutrition.com/KnowledgePathway.aspx?kpid=15325&pqcatid=146&pqid=30760
- Fujiwara Y, Eguchi S, Murayama H, Takahashi Y, Toda M, Imai K, Tsuda K. Relationship between diet/exercise and pharmacotherapy to enhance the GLP-1 levels in type 2 diabetes. Endocrinol Diabetes Metab. 2019 May 16;2(3):e00068. doi: 10.1002/edm2.68. PMID: 31294084; PMCID: PMC6613229. Abstract available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31294084/
