Individuals using GLP-1-based medications, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, have been seeking supplements to alleviate adverse effects. For Allison Vecchio, 42, these drugs were described as a 'reset button for life,' but they came with negative consequences, including gastrointestinal discomfort, brittle nails, and weakness so severe that it sometimes prevented her from getting out of bed.
A nurse at the Fort Pierce emergency room in Florida reported that her symptoms improved after starting a supplement regimen containing fiber, collagen, and electrolytes, a package estimated to cost between $200 and $300 per month. She emphasized the need to 'truly take control' so that simple weight loss translates into real health improvement.
GLP-1 medications, including Ozempic and Wegovy, manufactured by Novo Nordisk, represent a significant medical advancement in recent years due to their effectiveness in managing obesity and type 2 diabetes, in addition to contributing to the reduction of cardiovascular risk. A study conducted by JPMorgan indicated that approximately ten million Americans used them in the previous year, a number projected to reach 25 million by 2030.
However, the side effects of these drugs have motivated many people to turn to dietary supplements that lack adequate regulation. Supplement sales in the United States have grown sharply in recent years, exceeding $74 billion in 2025, according to the Nutrition Business Journal. Despite user confidence, this growing popularity—partially driven by social media—has generated warnings from doctors and led regulatory bodies to consider new guidelines on the marketing of these items.
Vitamins and supplements do not require prior approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which complicates the assessment of their scientific validity. With social media influencers playing an increasingly prominent role in promoting these products, some medical experts have called for greater oversight of supplement online marketing. Rob Fried, CEO of Niagen Bioscience, a company that recorded $129 million in sales last year, warned that corporations 'can hire an influencer, or even hundreds of influencers on TikTok... to make any claim that aids in sales.'
Supplement Sales Skyrocket
Vecchio, who has 25 thousand followers on TikTok, maintains contracts with three brands and is also part of the TikTok Shop's HealthPro creator program, intended for licensed healthcare professionals.
Terri Hart, 52, residing in Pittsburg, Kansas, a TikToker with over 12,000 followers, works mainly on commission, evaluating products offered by brands to influencers and promoting those she finds most useful. Hart uses magnesium, electrolytes, vitamin B12, and other supplements, which, according to her, helped compensate for what she described as 'terrible' nausea, fatigue, and constipation after starting GLP-1 in 2023. These items cost about $110 monthly, an expense not covered by her health insurance plan. Hart mentions that TikTok income helps cover this expense, stressing that she is not a medical professional and advises her followers to consult doctors before following her advice. She states: 'I establish my authority through my life experience.'
TikTok Shop reached over $1 billion in dietary supplement sales in 2025, representing 5.4% of all supplement e-commerce, according to the Nutrition Business Journal. Concurrently, overall vitamin and supplement sales in the US grew by 5% in 2024 and 7% the previous year. Erika Craft, a data analyst at the Nutrition Business Journal, observed that the products are 'attracting new consumers and expanding established supplement usage routines.'
However, in the absence of prior FDA endorsement, consumers are unaware of the exact composition of many supplements, explains Jonathan Bonnet, an associate clinical professor at Stanford and medical director of the Ardmore Institute of Health, located in Ardmore, Oklahoma. He warns: 'If you cannot know what you are taking, it is difficult to know what risks you are running.'
According to a Nutrition Business Journal survey, almost half of GLP-1 users began consuming new vitamins and supplements shortly after starting medication, with probiotics, proteins, and fibers being the most popular. Research conducted by Boston Consulting Group this year showed that GLP-1 users spend about 20% more on protein, fiber, and collagen—the latter being a protein essential for maintaining skin structure—compared to the period before starting treatment.
