Soaring Mounjaro Prices Push Users Toward Supplements
The weight-loss injection Mounjaro is set to see a staggering price hike of 170% next month, with the highest dosage jumping from £120 to £330. This leaves many users searching for alternatives to shed unwanted pounds.
As the demand for these medications has surged, numerous supplement companies have begun marketing their herbal powders, capsules, and patches as ‘GLP-1’ products. The aim? To attract those unable or unwilling to take the injections.
GLP-1, a hormone released after we eat, helps manage appetite. Weight-loss injections like Mounjaro and Ozempic mimic this hormone, but at levels significantly beyond what our bodies can typically produce. But, the question remains: can supplements really replicate these effects? We consulted pharmacist and nutrition expert Aidan Goggins, co-creator of Kyros Nutrition, to share his insights.
ColonBroom GLP-1 Booster
Price: £70.99 for 30 servings
Claim: It promises to transform cravings and boost metabolism, claiming it can help reduce hunger and burn visceral fat.
Key Ingredients: Berberine, 5-HTP, saffron extract, chromium picolinate, bupleurum root extract.
Expert Opinion: While berberine supports metabolic health, this product only offers 140mg per serving, far less than the 500mg or more typically seen in studies. Chromium picolinate may assist with blood sugar levels if someone is deficient, but it won’t necessarily lead to weight loss. Saffron has shown slight reductions in snacking, while 5-HTP’s effectiveness varies and can sometimes produce nausea. Bupleurum shows potential for GLP-1 release, but lacks human testing for weight loss efficacy.
Score: 1/5
Lemme GLP-1 Daily
Price: £109.95 for a month’s supply
Claim: This supplement claims to boost natural GLP-1 production and promote weight management when paired with a healthy lifestyle.
Key Ingredients: Eriomin lemon bioflavanoid complex.
Expert Opinion: Eriomin has shown an increase in GLP-1 levels in people with high blood sugar, but without reducing body weight. This highlights how elevating natural GLP-1 might not translate to weight loss.
Score: 1.5/5
Steiger Pro GLP-1 Plus
Price: £49 for a month’s supply
Claim: This aims to support metabolism and manage weight.
Key Ingredients: Reducin (mulberry leaf extract), akkermansia (probiotic), grains of paradise, black ginger extract.
Expert Opinion: Mulberry leaf can help manage carbohydrate absorption, but the key player seems to be akkermansia. Though promising for metabolic health, its effect on weight loss is still limited. Meanwhile, grains of paradise and black ginger show minor effectiveness in reducing visceral fat.
Score: 2/5
Myota Metabolic Booster
Price: £112.50 for a quarterly subscription
Claim: It claims that dietary fiber can enhance GLP-1 levels, regulating appetite.
Key Ingredients: 9.8g dietary fiber.
Expert Opinion: This is an efficient way to get fiber, which can support gut health and potentially GLP-1 release. However, it should be seen more as adding vegetables to your diet rather than a weight-loss solution.
Score: 3/5
Aura GLP-1 Patches
Price: £24.99 for a month’s supply
Claim: These patches advocate for painless weight management through skin absorption.
Key Ingredients: Berberine, pomegranate, cinnamon, L-glutamine.
Expert Opinion: For this patch to work, the ingredients would need to be small enough to penetrate the skin, which they aren’t. Evidence supporting their effectiveness is lacking.
Score: 0/5
Sensilab GLP-1 Active
Price: £29.99 for 60 capsules
Claim: Claims to boost GLP-1 and serve as a natural weight-loss alternative.
Key Ingredients: Berberine, white mulberry extract.
Expert Opinion: The included berberine is at a standard research dosage, though typically taken twice a day. White mulberry may help regulate blood sugar levels, but the primary mechanisms might not work through GLP-1 pathways.
Score: 2/5
PEAKA GLP-1 Ultra-Concentrated Liquid Pearls
Price: £6.99 for 30 capsules
Claim: Positions itself as a solution to weight loss without diet or exercise.
Key Ingredients: Apple cider vinegar, moringa, NA+.
Expert Opinion: Studies have shown real weight loss with apple cider vinegar, but these capsules lack the effective amount. Moringa and NA+ are unlikely to contribute to weight loss.
Score: 1/5
Feel Pro Metabolic
Price: £64.94 for a month’s supply
Claim: Claims to stimulate GLP-1 secretion to help manage appetite and cravings.
Ingredients: Kombucha black tea leaf powder, soy peptide, Bifidobacterium Breve.
Expert Opinion: Each ingredient has some support for affecting gut hormones and appetite, but don’t expect any drastic weight loss outcomes.
Score: 2/5
