Supplements for GLP-1 — What's Worth Taking

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At a glance: supplements for GLP-1

Supplement	Worth considering?	Why / whole-food source
Vitamin D	Often, if labs show low	Common deficiency; fatty fish, eggs, some sun exposure
Vitamin B12	If intake or levels low	Energy and nerve function; eggs, fish, dairy, meat
Magnesium	Often helpful	Regularity, sleep, cramps; nuts, seeds, leafy greens
Multivitamin	If eating very little	Insurance when overall intake is low
Fiber / electrolytes	As needed	Constipation and hydration; whole foods first
Biotin	Hype (unless deficient)	No hair benefit; FDA warns it can skew lab results

Nutrition guidance is general and reflects current evidence; individualize with a clinician or registered dietitian. Information current as of June 2026.

Which supplements are worth considering on a GLP-1?

GLP-1 receptor agonists work by suppressing appetite and slowing gastric emptying — which is why they produce meaningful weight loss in clinical trials like STEP 1 (Wilding et al., NEJM 2021). That same intake reduction, however, creates real risk of nutritional shortfalls over months. A 2025 multi-society nutrition advisory (ACLM/ASN/OMA/TOS) specifically identified vitamin D, calcium, B12, iron, magnesium, and potassium as nutrients at risk during GLP-1 treatment — and recommended proactively considering vitamin D, calcium, and B12, plus a multivitamin if overall intake is very low. Magnesium was specifically highlighted for supporting bowel regularity.

The 2025 advisory's practical guidance, summarized:

• Vitamin D: Deficiency is common in the general population and can worsen with reduced dietary fat (which carries fat-soluble vitamins). Fatty fish, eggs, and sun exposure are food sources; a supplement is appropriate if labs confirm low levels.
• Vitamin B12: Reduced meat and dairy intake can lower B12 over time. Eggs, fish, dairy, and meat are sources; sublingual or supplemental B12 is worth considering if intake drops significantly.
• Magnesium: Supports bowel regularity — helpful for the constipation some people experience on GLP-1s — and also plays a role in sleep and muscle function. Nuts, seeds, and leafy greens are food sources; a supplement can help if food intake is low.
• Multivitamin: A broad-coverage safety net when total intake is very low, covering micronutrients that are hard to individually track.
• Fiber and electrolytes: Helpful where food falls short. See the high-fiber foods guide and the hydration and electrolytes guide for whole-food sources first.

Why GLP-1s increase the risk of nutritional gaps

GLP-1 medications don't just reduce hunger — they can substantially cut the volume of food you eat each day, sometimes below nutrient-coverage thresholds. Unlike a deliberate calorie-restricted diet, this reduction often happens gradually and unconsciously. You may not realize that your vitamin D intake has dropped by half, or that you're rarely eating the leafy greens that were your main magnesium source, until labs reveal it months later.

This is why the 2025 advisory emphasizes proactive consideration of key micronutrients, and why getting baseline labs before starting a GLP-1 gives you a real answer about where your gaps actually are. See our guide on lab work before starting a GLP-1 for what to ask your clinician to check.

Whole-food sources before supplements

Before reaching for pills, cover the basics through food. The goal isn't to achieve perfect micronutrient coverage through supplements — it's to build a diet dense enough that you don't need many of them. On a GLP-1, prioritizing nutrient-dense foods over low-nutrient ones matters more, not less, because you have fewer total calories to work with.

• B12: eggs, fish, dairy, meat
• Magnesium: nuts, seeds, leafy greens, legumes
• Vitamin D: fatty fish, eggs, limited sun exposure
• Potassium: avocado, banana, beans, sweet potato
• Fiber: whole-food fiber sources including vegetables, legumes, and whole grains

Supplements are a backstop for verified gaps, not a replacement for eating well. See the broader what to eat on a GLP-1 guide for a nutrition framework that covers most of these bases through food.

What's marketing hype: biotin and hair supplements

Biotin is heavily marketed for hair loss — and GLP-1 hair shedding (a temporary, stress-related process called telogen effluvium) has made it an especially popular target. The problem: unless you're genuinely biotin-deficient (rare in people who eat normally), biotin supplementation does nothing for hair growth or density.

More importantly, the FDA has issued a safety warning that biotin supplements — especially the high-dose "hair, skin, and nails" formulations — can interfere with laboratory tests, including thyroid function panels and cardiac troponin tests. In some cases, this has led to falsely normal results that delayed diagnosis. If you take high-dose biotin and have upcoming labs, tell your clinician before the blood draw.

The smarter approach for GLP-1 hair shedding is adequate protein and overall nutritional sufficiency. If labs show low vitamin D, B12, or iron, correcting those may help. But a biotin megadose is unlikely to help and carries real lab-test risk. See the full guide on Ozempic hair loss for a complete picture of what's actually happening and what to do.

The same skepticism applies to other heavily marketed "GLP-1 support" supplements — berberine, chromium, various proprietary blends — most of which lack the quality evidence to recommend routinely. The 2025 multi-society advisory reviewed the evidence and landed on the targeted list above, not a broad protocol.

When to test, not guess

Lab testing before and periodically during GLP-1 treatment is the most efficient way to know what you actually need. Starting supplements "just in case" — especially fat-soluble vitamins like D and A, which can accumulate — isn't without risk. A basic panel that includes 25-OH vitamin D, B12, CBC, ferritin (iron), and a comprehensive metabolic panel gives you a real baseline and directs supplementation to actual gaps. The NIDDK recommends regular monitoring of nutritional status for people on chronic weight-management medications.

Talk to a clinician or registered dietitian about your specific situation — especially if you have diabetes, kidney disease, or take other medications that affect nutrient absorption.

How Nouri builds nutrition support into the program

Eating well on a GLP-1 is the difference between losing fat and losing muscle — and it's where many programs leave you on your own. Nouri includes a whole-food nutrition plan built around adequate protein and fiber, with whole-food fats like extra-virgin olive oil, avocado, and nuts rather than ultra-processed convenience foods — plus a movement plan to protect muscle and concierge care to adjust the plan as your appetite changes.

Plans start at compounded semaglutide from $120/month (on the 6-month plan) and compounded tirzepatide from $175/month (on the 6-month plan) — all-in, any dose, same price. Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide are not FDA-approved and are not the same as the brand-name drugs. Medications are compounded by Jungle Jim's Pharmacy, a state-licensed 503A pharmacy in Fairfield, OH, and VialsRX, and prescribed only when clinically appropriate after review by a U.S.-licensed physician.

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Frequently asked questions

What supplements should I take on Ozempic?

Consider (ideally lab-guided) vitamin D, B12, and magnesium, a multivitamin if you're eating very little, and fiber or electrolytes as needed. Whole foods come first; supplements fill verified gaps. A clinician or registered dietitian can help individualize this based on your labs and dietary intake.

What vitamins should I take on a GLP-1?

Vitamin D, B12, and magnesium are most commonly considered, since reduced food intake can lead to deficiencies over months. Test where possible rather than guessing, and prioritize food sources alongside any supplements.

Do I need magnesium on Ozempic?

Many people benefit — magnesium supports regularity (helpful for GLP-1 constipation), sleep, and muscle function, and dietary intake often drops when you're eating less. Nuts, seeds, and leafy greens are good food sources; a supplement can help if labs or symptoms suggest a gap.

Does biotin help hair loss on a GLP-1?

No, unless you're genuinely biotin-deficient (which is rare). The FDA has warned that high-dose biotin can interfere with laboratory tests — including thyroid panels — sometimes producing falsely normal or abnormal results. Adequate protein and overall nutritional sufficiency matter far more for GLP-1 hair shedding.

What supplements help with Ozempic hair loss?

Adequate protein and overall nutrition matter most. If labs show low vitamin D, B12, or iron, correcting those may help. GLP-1 hair shedding (telogen effluvium) is typically temporary and resolves as nutrition stabilizes. High-dose biotin is not recommended and can skew lab tests — avoid it unless you have a confirmed deficiency.

Sources & references

• Tier 1 — Multi-society guideline: 2025 GLP-1 Nutrition Advisory (ACLM/ASN/OMA/TOS) — at-risk nutrients and supplementation recommendations
• Tier 1 — FDA safety communication: FDA warns: biotin may interfere with lab tests (thyroid, cardiac markers)
• Tier 1 — NEJM primary trial: Wilding et al. — Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity (STEP 1), NEJM 2021
• Tier 1 — NIH/NIDDK: NIDDK — Prescription Medications to Treat Overweight and Obesity
• Tier 3 — Clinical media: Cleveland Clinic: the GLP-1 diet
• Tier 3 — Clinical media: GoodRx: supplements to take with Ozempic
• Nouri nutrition program overview — joinnouri.com/becoming (June 2026).

Medically reviewed by Amber Patel, MD. Nouri Editorial Team content is reviewed by licensed clinicians and updated as guidance changes.

This article is general nutrition information, not individual medical or dietary advice — talk to your clinician or a registered dietitian about your needs, especially if you have diabetes, kidney disease, or take other medications. Nutrition guidance reflects the 2025 multi-society GLP-1 Nutrition Advisory (ACLM/ASN/OMA/TOS) and other current sources cited above. Ozempic®, Wegovy® and Rybelsus® are registered trademarks of Novo Nordisk; Mounjaro® and Zepbound® are registered trademarks of Eli Lilly; Nouri is not affiliated with these companies. Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide are not FDA-approved and are not the same as the brand-name drugs. Information is current as of June 2026.