As weight-loss drug users turn to dietary supplements, doctors and regulators raise flags
XLP•Supplement sales are rising as GLP-1 users seek products to ease side effects, while doctors question their safety and the FDA weighs tighter oversight. U.S. supplement sales exceeded $74 billion in 2025, and TikTok Shop generated more than $1 billion in supplement sales that year.
1. Growing supplement use
Some GLP-1 users say supplements such as fiber, collagen and electrolytes help ease side effects, spending $110 to $300 a month. Nearly half of GLP-1 users started taking new vitamins or supplements after beginning the drugs, a Nutrition Business Journal survey found; Boston Consulting Group said users spend roughly 20% more on protein, fiber and collagen.
2. Sales and scrutiny
U.S. vitamin and supplement sales grew 5% in 2024 and 7% in 2025, exceeding $74 billion last year, according to the Nutrition Business Journal. TikTok Shop accounted for more than $1 billion in dietary supplement sales in 2025. Doctors have raised concerns about product contents and social-media marketing, as supplements do not require FDA preapproval.
3. Potential rule changes
The FDA has issued guidance on submissions for new dietary ingredients, and a proposed rule would eliminate a pathway that lets food companies declare ingredients generally recognized as safe without notifying the agency. Some industry members support more oversight, while the Council for Responsible Nutrition and Thorne CEO Colin Watts have warned that FDA reviews could cause backlogs.
