Fiber’s Fit for GLP-1 Consumers
GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is often referred to as the satiety hormone. It is a naturally occurring hormone that stimulates insulin secretion and may suppress appetite, promoting satiety. After eating a meal, GLP-1 works by binding to receptors which send messages to the body to increase the amount of insulin released. Insulin tells the body’s cells to take in blood glucose, decreasing glucose levels in the blood.
GLP-1 receptor agonists are a class of medications that can help manage Type 2 diabetes and obesity. Anti-obesity medications, like GLP-1 analogs have grown in usage as the overweight population increases. From 1990 to 2022, the percentage of adults aged 18 years and older who were overweight increased from 25% to 43%.1 Quarterly prescriptions for GLP-1 medications increased >300% between early 2020 and the end of 2023.2
GLP-1 Consumers and Diet
While on GLP-1s and post-GLP-1 usage, consumers need to prioritize certain areas of their diet: nutrient density, increased protein and increased fiber. These nutrients address some of the concerns GLP-1 users face:
- Muscle mass retention: Any time a person loses weight quickly, as can be the case with GLP-1 medications, loss of lean muscle mass can result. In fact, 20-40% of typical weight loss comes from muscle mass.3
- Minimizing gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort: GI discomfort is the most common side effect of GLP-1 medications, since they slow down both gastric emptying and transit time.4
- Hydration: GLP-1s may trigger ‘thirst satiation,’ leading to reduced fluid consumption.5, 6
Even after GLP-1 usage, consumers still need to focus on satiety and weight regain management. The ‘food noise’ that is dampened while on GLP-1s likely returns after stopping use, increasing the importance of dietary levers to induce satiety.7 And it is reported that 2/3 of the weight lost on GLP-1s is regained within one year after discontinuing their use.8
Fiber’s Role for GLP-1 Consumers
Dietary fiber is essential for a healthy diet and is equally important for GLP-1 consumers, both while on medication and after. Key benefits from fiber:
- Satiety
- Digestive health: promotes regularity and improves digestive health via intestinal movement
- Heart health: helps lower cholesterol
- Insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control
Fibersol®’s Fit
Fibersol®, a digestion-resistant soluble dietary fiber backed by over 30 years of extensive clinical research, may support satiety and increase naturally occurring GLP-1 when supplemented with a meal. This makes it an ideal ingredient for foods and beverages that support GLP-1 users, both during and after use.
Ye, Z. Arumugama, V., Haugabrooks, E., Williamson, P., and Hendrich, S. 2015. “Soluble dietary fiber (Fibersol®-2) decreased hunger and increased satiety hormones in humans when ingested with a meal,” Nutrition Research. 35: 393-400.
In addition to its effect on satiety and natural GLP-1 support, Fibersol® also offers the following clinically backed benefits for GLP-1 user support and post GLP-1 user support:
Digestive health: Fibersol® can help deliver the desired benefits of fiber with less digestive intolerance or gastric discomfort of other types of dietary fiber.
Well tolerated: Fibersol® is well tolerated up to 68g a day, so it’s easier for consumers to take in the recommended amount of daily fiber, with less discomfort than other fibers.
Prebiotic soluble fiber: Fibersol® supports both digestion and growth of gut-friendly flora.
Post-meal blood glucose and insulin: Studies have shown that Fibersol® reduces blood glucose and insulin response following a meal in health adults.
Post-meal triglycerides: Fibersol® has been shown to help attenuate the rise in blood triglyerides.
Fibersol® provides the prebiotic dietary fiber solution for GLP-1 consumers both during and after use, benefiting satiety, natural GLP-1 production and digestive health.
To learn more about Fibersol®, download the white paper here: Satiety and GLP-1 White Paper
Case Studies:
Start-Your-Day-Right Breakfast Shake
Power Packed Apple Cinnamon Bites
Sources:
1World Health Organization (2024) https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight
2IQVIA MIDAS, Jun 2023; IQVIA Institute, Dec 2023
3Heymsfield, S.B., M.C.C. Gonzalez, W. Shen, L. Redman, and D. Thomas. 2014. “Weight Loss Composition is One-Fourth Fat-Free Mass: A Critical Review and Critique of This Widely Cited Rule: Weight Loss Composition.” Obesity Reviews: An Official Journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity. 15 (4): 310-21.
4Liu, L., J. Chen, L. Wang, C. Chen, and L. Chen. 2022. “Association Between Different GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions: A Real-World Disproportionality Study Based on FDA Adverse Event Reporting System Database.” Frontiers in Endocrinology. 13 (December): 1043789.
5Winzeler, B., C.O. Sailer, D. Coynel, D. Zanchi, D.R. Vogt, S.A. Urwyler, J. Refardt, and M. Christ-Crain. 2021. “A Randomized Controlled Trial of the GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Dulaglutide in Primary Polydipsia.” The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 131 (20). https://doi.org/10.1172/jci151800.
6McKay, N.J., S.E. Kanoski, M.R. Hayes, and D. Daniels. 2011. “Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Suppress Water Intake Independent of Effects on Food Intake.” American Journal of Physiology. Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology. 301 (6): R1755-64.
7Bettadapura, S., K. Dowling, K. Jablon, A.W. Al-Humadi, and C.W. le Roux. 2024. “Changes in Food Preferences and Ingestive Behaviors after Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Analog Treatment: Techniques and Opportunities.” International Journal of Obesity. March. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-024-01500-y.
8Wilding, J.P.H., R.L. Batterham, M. Davies, L.F. Van Gaal, K. Kandler, K. Konakli, I. Lingvay, et al. 2022. “Weight Regain and Cardiometabolic Effects after Withdrawal of Semaglutide: The STEP 1 Trial Extension.” Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism. 24 (8): 1553–64.
