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Join today<\/a><\/p>\n \n Already a member? GLP-1 users are facing<\/a> nutrient deficiencies<\/a> that can impact patients\u2019 overall health, according to a growing body of research. <\/p>\n Some 30 million Americans are taking the medications for weight-loss and diabetes. But while curbing appetite with the shots has helped many people shed large amounts of weight, there are downsides.<\/a><\/p>\n An August review<\/a> of multiple studies, from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and University of Copenhagen, showed GLP-1 users are deficient in vitamin B12<\/a>, which protects nerves; protein<\/a>, which repairs muscles and organs; and fiber<\/a>, which supports the digestive system.<\/p>\n \u201cAs GLP-1 prescriptions reach millions of patients across diverse and often under-resourced clinical settings, integrating nutrition into this care model is not just advisable; it is urgent,\u201d the researchers stressed.<\/p>\n Overall, 10 million Americans aren\u2019t getting enough B12, according to researchers at Ohio State University<\/a>.<\/p>\n B12 is often found in animal-based foods, so people who eat on plant-based diets are at increased risk of deficiency if they are taking GLP-1s.<\/p>\n The review also found that 43 percent of GLP-1 users are eating inadequate amounts of protein, and that low fiber intake could lead to nausea, bloating and constipation \u201ccreating a cycle in which patients eat even less.\u201d<\/p>\n The body needs protein, along with fiber, to maintain a healthy weight and fight blood sugar spikes that can leave people at a risk of developing diabetes, according to the Mayo Clinic<\/a>. <\/p>\n It\u2019s not just adults who are affected by nutrition deficiencies while on GLP-1 drugs, either. American children under-12 are taking GLP-1 drugs to fight obesity at 300 times the rate of seven years ago<\/a>. Nearly one in six kids, aged 10-17, who took GLP-1s for a year were diagnosed with nutrient deficiencies, a September study<\/a> from Northwestern University found. <\/p>\n The most frequent complication was vitamin D deficiency. The vitamin, which is added to milk and cereal, helps keep bones healthy and supports immune health.<\/p>\n \u201cNutrients such as vitamin D, iron, and calcium are of particular concern during adolescence, when deficiencies may have lasting implications for skeletal health and overall development,\u201d the study authors noted.<\/p>\n Middle-aged and older adults showed a similar deficit in vitamin D – a concerning development as the nutrient is needed for strong bones, particularly at a time in life when they begin to deteriorate. <\/p>\n Vitamin D deficiency affected 13.6 percent of more than 480,000 adults on the drugs after a year of treatment, a January review<\/a> showed.<\/p>\n
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Taking GLP-1 drugs for weight loss has been tied to shortages of key nutrients in both kids and adults, according to research published this year (Getty\/iStock)<\/p>\n![\"Nutrient](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/iStock-2256623167.jpeg\")
Nutrient deficiency has been linked to hair loss and softening bones (Getty Images\/iStock)<\/p>\n