Market Intelligence Report

GLP-1 Medications

What Users Experience, What Science Shows, Where the Opportunities Lie

December 2025 Search Data: Dec 2023 – Nov 2025 Clinical Sources: PubMed

Executive Summary

The GLP-1 receptor agonist market represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the supplement and functional ingredient industry. With millions of consumers actively seeking solutions to support their medication journey—or alternatives to it—this report synthesizes three data streams to identify actionable opportunities.

2.9M

Monthly Google Searches for Core GLP-1 Terms

674K

Monthly Amazon Searches for GLP-1 Products

+397%

Year-over-Year Growth Since Late 2023

The Bottom Line

Consumers on GLP-1s face predictable, well-documented challenges at specific points in their journey. The search data quantifies demand for solutions. The clinical literature validates the problems. The supplement industry is positioned to fill significant gaps.

Search Behavior Data

690 Google keywords, 100+ Amazon keywords, TikTok trends revealing real-time consumer demand

Clinical Research

PubMed studies validating which consumer concerns are medically substantiated

User Testimonials

Social media insights showing lived experience across the treatment timeline

I

The Search Data Landscape

Scale of Interest

Platform Monthly Search Volume YoY Trend
Google – Core GLP-1 terms 2,905,000 +397%
Google – "GLP-1" exact match 1,220,000 +397%
Amazon – "GLP1" products 674,000 +172%
TikTok – "GLP1" 996,000 +172%

The Six Major Search Signals

Deep analysis of keyword data reveals six distinct consumer need states, each representing a product development or positioning opportunity.

Consumers desperately want non-injection options. This represents the single largest emerging search category.

Search Term Monthly Volume Trend
glp 1 patches201,000+401,900%
do glp 1 patches work18,100+180,900%
glp 1 patches reviews27,100+1,297%
glp 1 pills49,500+3,795%
oral glp 118,100+1,594%

Amazon echo: "GLP 1 patches" draws 90,300 monthly searches on Amazon—consumers are actively shopping, not just researching.

Opportunity

While actual GLP-1 patches don't exist in prescription form, consumers are searching for transdermal or alternative delivery mechanisms. Products positioned as "GLP-1 support patches" or topical formulations are capturing this intent.

Concerns about side effects and long-term safety are growing faster than general interest in the medications.

Search Term Monthly Volume Trend
glp 1 side effects74,000+1,258%
is glp 1 safe8,100+5,592%
are glp 1 safe1,900+7,100%
does glp 1 cause hair loss1,900+10,700%
long term effects of glp 11,600+3,122%

Clinical Validation

A 2025 review in Biomedicines found that GI adverse effects are reported in 65-84% of patients treated with liraglutide, semaglutide, or tirzepatide.

A 2025 review in Mayo Clinic Proceedings recommends: "dietary modifications—smaller, more frequent meals; adequate hydration; and avoidance of high-fat or high-sugar foods."

Opportunity

Digestive support formulations specifically designed for the GLP-1 population. Products addressing nausea, constipation, and GI discomfort during the dose escalation phase (weeks 1-8) when symptoms peak.

This concern has crossed from curiosity to active product seeking.

Platform Search Term Monthly Volume Trend
Googledoes glp 1 cause hair loss1,900+10,700%
Amazonglp-1 hair loss2,000+1,100%
Amazonglp 1 hair loss supplement90+1,000%

Clinical Validation

A 2025 review in Skin Appendage Disorders confirms that hair loss, "particularly in the form of telogen effluvium, has been observed, potentially linked to rapid weight loss from GLP-1RA use" rather than a direct drug effect.

User Voice

"Are there any side effects of taking both? Can you experience hair loss? I began losing large amounts of hair and stopped the GLP-1 four months in. I am now only on HRT and 4 months out still losing so much hair."

Opportunity

Hair, skin, and nail formulations positioned for the rapid weight loss population. Biotin, collagen, and keratin products with messaging around "supporting your body during transformation."

Financial barriers are creating a desperate search for affordable access.

Search Term Monthly Volume Trend
cheapest glp 1 without insurance5,400+60,400%
cheap glp 18,100+1,951%
cheapest glp 1 online5,400+4,809%
goodrx glp 11,600+5,233%
costco glp 12,900+1,963%

User Voices

"Lucky! My doctor prescribed GLP-1 shots, but I'm self-pay for $499 a month."

"There is a directory of high quality and highly reviewed GLP-1 telehealth providers... which only charge $200-300/month."

Opportunity

Natural GLP-1 "booster" supplements positioned as adjuncts or alternatives. Products that help users maintain results on lower medication doses. Supplements for the maintenance phase that might reduce medication dependence.

Consumers are actively seeking non-pharmaceutical options to stimulate endogenous GLP-1.

Search Term Monthly Volume Trend
natural glp 127,100+834%
natural glp 1 foods3,600+3,900%
supplements that increase glp 14,400+230%
natural glp 1 supplement4,400+1,275%
berberine glp 11,300+156%
moringa glp 1880+700%

Clinical Validation

A 2025 review in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice found that prebiotic oligosaccharides "selectively stimulate beneficial gut microbiota... leading to the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)... These SCFAs play a pivotal role in enhancing the release of gut hormones such as GLP-1."

A 2025 study in Food Research International demonstrated that dietary fibers from Moringa leaves "remarkably promoted the secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)."

Opportunity

Fiber-based and prebiotic formulations with clinical substantiation for GLP-1 stimulation. The science is catching up to consumer demand.

Branded products are already capturing significant search volume.

Brand/Product Google Monthly Amazon Monthly Trend
Lemme GLP-122,200-87% (declining)
Pendulum GLP-1 probiotic9,900Emerging
Supergut GLP-1 booster4,400Stable
ColonBroom GLP-1 booster2,400+4,614%
Nature Made GLP-1 companion320+8,400%
Bioma GLP-1 booster90+500%

The Lesson

First-movers in branded GLP-1 support products are capturing search demand. The ColonBroom growth (+4,614%) shows the category is still nascent with room for new entrants.

II

The User Journey—Timeline-Matched Opportunities

The search data tells us what people want. User testimonials reveal when they want it. Clinical research validates why they need it.

1

Days 1-7: The Food Noise Stops

User Experience

"I'm only on day 4 using Zepbound and must say the 'food noise' is much less now."

"It's my first week on GLP-1, I have been eating healthy and going to the gym at least 3 times a week—already down 8 pounds."

But also...

"It's my 3rd week on 1mg of Ozempic for weight loss and there are times I feel hungry, full, and nauseous at the same time. Is this normal?"

Supplement Opportunities

Digestive enzymes Ginger-based nausea support Electrolyte formulations Appetite transition support
2

Weeks 2-8: The Adaptation Period

User Experience

"My 3rd week on tirzepatide, and definitely eating much is the most discomforting thing to do while using GLP-1 drugs."

"I've been on GLP-1 for 5 weeks and there is no way a microdose for 90 days would help me. I don't really notice a difference in my appetite at the lowest regular doses."

The Constipation Reality

Constipation is among the most common GI adverse effects. The Mayo Clinic Proceedings review notes management includes "dietary modifications" and "supportive medications."

Supplement Opportunities

Gentle fiber formulations Protein optimization products Probiotic formulations
3

Months 2-6: The Transformation Zone

User Experience

"Two months on GLP-1s while also continuing everything I was already doing, and I lost 30lbs. I literally cried for over an hour seeing the scale numbers because it finally gave me validation after working myself to the bone for nearly a full year."

"In 6 months, I have lost 45 pounds, 33 inches overall, and dropped 3 clothing sizes. An unexpected bonus: my IBS of many years is completely gone!"

But muscle loss emerges as a concern...

"The big debate right now is GLP-1s and muscle wasting. On the anti side, they'll tell you that GLP-1s are shown to cause muscle atrophy, and, for people of advanced ages, this is muscle that they most likely will never get back."

Supplement Opportunities

High-protein, low-volume nutrition Leucine & essential amino acids Creatine formulations Hair/skin/nail support Collagen peptides
4

Months 6-12+: Maintenance and the Discontinuation Question

User Experience

"I've lowered the dose of my GLP-1 meds as I hit my goal weight. Eating the same amount. Exercising more. The result? Weight is slowly creeping on again. The drugs are doing something to my body that diet and exercise alone isn't."

"Used GLP-1s and went from a BMI of 38 to 27. Haven't taken it the past 5 months and maintained that loss easily."

"I don't believe that you can't wean yourself off the GLP-1 drugs, I did and have friends that have too."

Supplement Opportunities

Maintenance formulations Natural GLP-1 support Appetite regulation support Metabolic health supplements

Critical Finding: Muscle Loss

A 2024 review in Obesity Reviews quantified the muscle loss problem: clinical trial participants receiving GLP-1s for obesity lost 10% or more of their muscle mass during the 68- to 72-week interventions—approximately equivalent to 20 years of age-related muscle loss.

Protein Target

>1.2 g/kg/day

evenly distributed across meals

Expert Recommendation

"Oral nutritional supplements" explicitly mentioned in clinical guidance

The Microdosing Phenomenon

Search data reveals an emerging user-driven trend—users experimenting with lower doses and extended intervals to reduce costs and side effects while maintaining benefits.

27,100

Monthly searches "microdosing glp 1"

+54,900%

Growth from zero baseline

64.8%

One-year discontinuation rate

Clinical context: The STEP 1 extension study found participants who stopped semaglutide "regained two-thirds of their prior weight loss." This creates strong demand for maintenance support products.

III

The Probiotic-GLP-1 Connection—Emerging Science

A particularly compelling area of emerging research supports probiotic and prebiotic interventions as GLP-1 adjuncts.

2025 Randomized Controlled Trial (Hormones Journal)

Tested dulaglutide combined with probiotics (Bifidobacterium longum) versus dulaglutide alone in patients with type 2 diabetes:

-1.06%

HbA1c (combo)

vs -0.35% alone

-43.6%

TNF-α reduction

vs -33.3% alone

+34.7%

Beta-cell function

vs +23.1% alone

Beneficial gut

microbiota

Conclusion: "Combining dulaglutide with probiotics enhances glycemic control, reduces inflammation, and improves cardiovascular risk factors... more effectively than dulaglutide alone, likely through gut microbiota modulation."

Opportunity

Probiotic and prebiotic formulations designed as GLP-1 medication companions, with clinical substantiation for enhanced efficacy. This positions supplements not as alternatives but as synergistic adjuncts to prescription therapy.

IV

Strategic Opportunity Summary

Opportunity Matrix by User Phase

Phase Timeline Primary Concerns Search Signal Product Opportunities
Initiation Days 1-14 Nausea, adjustment "side effects" +1,258% Digestive support, anti-nausea
Titration Weeks 2-8 GI symptoms, constipation "is glp 1 safe" +5,592% Fiber, probiotics, electrolytes
Transformation Months 2-6 Muscle loss, hair loss "hair loss" +10,700% Protein, collagen, hair support
Maintenance Months 6+ Dose reduction, cost "without insurance" +60,400% Natural GLP-1 boosters
Discontinuation Variable Weight regain "microdosing" +54,900% Metabolic support, appetite regulation

Highest-Conviction Opportunities

1

Digestive Support for Titration Phase

  • Demand: 74,000 monthly searches; 65-84% experience GI symptoms
  • Validation: Mayo Clinic Proceedings recommends dietary modifications
  • Formats: Ginger-based anti-nausea, gentle fiber, digestive enzymes
2

High-Protein, Low-Volume Nutrition

  • Demand: Users consistently cite difficulty eating enough protein
  • Validation: Expert consensus: >1.2g/kg/day; oral supplements mentioned
  • Formats: Concentrated protein, collagen peptides, amino acids
3

Hair/Skin/Nail Support

  • Demand: +10,700% Google, +1,100% Amazon for "GLP-1 hair loss"
  • Validation: Telogen effluvium linked to rapid weight loss confirmed
  • Formats: Biotin complexes, collagen, keratin
4

Probiotic GLP-1 Companions

  • Demand: Pendulum at 9,900 monthly searches; category growing
  • Validation: RCT showing enhanced outcomes with combination
  • Formats: Specific strains (Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus)
5

Natural GLP-1 Boosters

  • Demand: 27,100 monthly for "natural GLP-1" (+834%)
  • Validation: Studies showing fiber → SCFAs → GLP-1 pathway
  • Formats: Prebiotic fibers, fermented ingredients, botanicals
6

Maintenance Phase Support

  • Demand: +60,400% for cost searches; microdosing trend emerging
  • Validation: Two-thirds weight regain after discontinuation
  • Formats: Metabolic health, appetite support, dose-reduction aids
V

What Users Say About Medical Supervision

A consistent theme across user communities: outcomes correlate with quality of medical guidance.

"I'm on GLP-1s and my doctor has me eating high protein diet and doing strength training three times a week to prevent muscle loss. I'm lucky that I have a physician that cares, follows the research, and tries to ensure patients are set up for success nutritionally before prescribing these drugs."

"I saw her weekly for 12 weeks, and met with her dietitian from the Cleveland Clinic. My doctor gave me strict instructions: I needed to drink at least 80 ounces of water every day, significantly increase my protein, and weight resistance training was absolutely required."

"Getting them compounded through various websites makes me feel a little twitchy—I really believe that doctors need to follow you closely while taking them."

The Gap

Many users do not receive comprehensive nutritional and lifestyle guidance. Expert consensus explicitly calls for "comprehensive treatment programs" but acknowledges this is often not delivered.

The Opportunity

Educational content and protocols that supplement companies can provide—positioning products within evidence-based frameworks for protein intake, resistance training, and supportive supplementation.

Conclusion: The Strategic Imperative

The GLP-1 medication class has transformed weight management. Millions of users are now on a predictable journey with well-documented challenges at specific phases. The search data quantifies their needs. The clinical literature validates those needs. And the supplement industry is positioned to serve them.

The Key Insight

This is not about positioning supplements as alternatives to GLP-1 medications (though that market exists). The larger, more defensible opportunity is positioning supplements as companions to the medication journey—solving real problems that the medications create or don't address:

GI distress

of titration

Muscle loss

of rapid weight reduction

Hair thinning

of telogen effluvium

Protein deficit

of suppressed appetite

Metabolic support

for maintenance

The search behavior shows millions of people actively looking for solutions. The clinical literature shows which problems are substantiated. The user testimonials show what people actually struggle with day-to-day.

For supplement and ingredient companies, the question is not whether this market exists—the data proves it does. The question is whether you'll develop the products and positioning to capture it.

Data Sources & Methodology

Search Data

  • • Google Keyword Tool: 690 keywords
  • • Amazon Keyword Tool: 100+ keywords
  • • TikTok Keyword Tool
  • • Period: Dec 2023 – Nov 2025

Clinical Sources

  • • All retrieved from PubMed
  • • N Engl J Med, Mayo Clin Proc
  • • Obesity Reviews, Hormones
  • • JAMA Network Open

User Testimonials

  • • Public social media discussions
  • • Reddit, TikTok, health forums
  • • Period: Dec 2024 – Nov 2025
  • • Presented verbatim