Injection weight loss craze has exploded the uncontrolled supplement market

GLP-1 group injections, which are groundbreaking in weight loss and diabetes treatment, have radically changed the lives of those who use them and brought with them an unexpected wave of consumption.

Patients who experience nausea, digestive problems, broken nails and severe weakness that cannot get out of bed are looking for solutions in food supplements.

This trend, driven by recommendations spread on social media, creates a new commercial volume worth billions of dollars in the unregulated market, while raising security concerns in the medical world and government institutions.

SIDE EFFECTS CREATED A GIANT MARKET

Drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy produced by Novo Nordisk; It stands out with its success in reducing the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

According to data shared by international investment bank JPMorgan, approximately 10 million Americans used these drugs last year; It is predicted that the number may reach 25 million by 2030.

However, complaints caused by drugs push users to supplements whose contents are not strictly controlled. The US supplement market will exceed $74 billion by 2025, according to Nutrition Business Journal data.

Almost half of those using the drugs say they started new vitamins and supplements after treatment.

Research by the consulting company Boston Consulting Group shows that users' protein, fiber and collagen expenditures increased by approximately 20 percent compared to before the drug.

Allison Vecchio, 42, an emergency room nurse in Florida, told Reuters that GLP-1 injections were a reset button for her life.

Vecchio, who had severe digestive problems and was so exhausted that he could not get out of bed, stated that he felt relieved when he started taking fiber, collagen and electrolyte mixtures, spending $200 to $300 a month.

Vecchio, who has 25 thousand followers on TikTok, works with three brands through a special content producer program reserved for healthcare professionals.

52-year-old Terri Hart, who lives in Kansas, states that she tried to balance the nausea and fatigue she experienced after starting medications in 2023 with magnesium, B12 and electrolytes.

Since the monthly cost of $110 is not covered by insurance, Hart alleviates his expenses with commission income from his TikTok account with more than 12 thousand followers. Emphasizing that he is not an expert, he says, "I establish my authority with my experience."

According to Nutrition Business Journal data, more than $1 billion in supplements were sold through TikTok Shop in 2025.

This amount accounts for 5.4 percent of all supplement sales made online.

The fact that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not require pre-market approval for vitamins and nutritional supplements makes scientific reliability questionable.

Stanford University Clinical Associate Professor and Ardmore Health Institute Health Director Jonathan Bonnet emphasizes that it is difficult to predict the risks you are exposed to when it is not known exactly what you are taking.

Rob Fried, top manager of Niagen Bioscience, which announced $129 million in sales revenue last year, also points out that companies can make agreements with many content producers on TikTok and easily make any claims that will increase sales.

Retail giants are also trying to get a share of this trend.

The Vitamin Shoppe is seeing double-digit growth in fiber and creatine sales as Target expands its product line.

According to PitchBook data, mergers and acquisitions in the sector are growing in volume even though the number of transactions is decreasing; The transaction volume, which was 7.3 billion dollars in 2024, reached 16.9 billion dollars in 2025 and 14.6 billion dollars in the first 10 months of this year.

While Procter & Gamble is preparing to acquire supplement manufacturer Thorne, Japan's Kirin Holdings announced that it will acquire Canadian Jamieson Wellness, owner of the Youtheory brand, which produces special products for GLP-1 users.