In Asia, about 3% of people use GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) medications regularly while 10% are irregular users, based on a research conducted by Lumina Intelligence last November.
The survey collected responses from 6,000 individuals from nine countries across the world, including China, Japan, South Korea, UK, France, Italy, and the US.
The GLP-1 users are an untapped consumer group which biotics supplements could cater to.
In fact, beyond GLP-1 users, the biotics space can also look into addressing a wider consumer concern - which is metabolic health support, said Ewa Hudson, director of insights at Lumina Intelligence, during her presentation at the Growth Asia Summit held in Singapore in July.
Supporting GLP-1 users
There are two key ways in which biotics can play a role in supporting consumers who are on GLP-1 medications, said Hudson. First is the use of probiotics as a companion product in tackling the side effects of GLP-1 medications.
“We need to be aware that many people suffer from side effects. Up to 50% of people may suffer from nausea, up to 20% on vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation etc.
“These are GI-related symptoms that we know we can potentially help alleviate with the biotics,” she said.
Second, biotics can be used as an alternative solution to help with weight loss in the long run.
“Secondly, biotics can be used as an alternative solution to help with weight loss or weight regain after the GLP-1 drug journey.
“Because many people who have aborted the treatment will be looking for solutions to help them mitigate the weight regain, where probiotics and prebiotics can potentially step in as well,” she said.
There are already research showing biotics’ use in weight management.
One of the most talked about example is Akkermansia muciniphila.
The Akkermansia Company, which was acquired by Danone in June, has a Akkermansia muciniphila probiotic which is said to help manage obesity, diabetes, as well as reinforcing the gut barrier.
In the U.S., there is also already the emergence of a new category of products known as the “GLP-1 probiotics”, said Hudson.
The trend is predominantly driven by Akkermansia.
Hudson gave the example of Pendulum “GLP-1 Probiotic”, which claims to “naturally curb cravings” with the use of live probiotics, including Akkermansia muciniphila.
A recent study from China also found that supplementation of Weizmannia coagulans BC99 could significantly reduce body weight in overweight individuals.
Elsewhere, the strain Bifidobacterium breve B-3 has been approved by South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) for making body fat reduction claims.
Who are Asia’s GLP-1 medications users?
Based on the survey findings, Asia’s GLP-1 medication users are mostly young women between 25 and 34 years old, with this group comprising 14% of GLP-1 drug users.
This is followed by men above 65 years old (13%), women between 35 and 44 years old (11%), and men between 45 to 54 years old.
GLP-1 medications are primarily used to manage type II diabetes mellitus.
It works by reducing food craving and increasing the insulin made by the body in response to the food consumed.
Aside from blood sugar control, GLP-1 medications could also support weight loss, lower the risk of heart disease, such as heart failure, stroke and kidney disease.
Beyond weight loss and into metabolic health
Beyond weight management, companies can also look into the wider scope of supporting metabolic health with biotics, said Hudson.
This is because globally, there are only 5% of consumers take biotics to support weight loss, said Hudson.
A similarly small percentage of consumers - 6% globally - are using biotics to support heart health, while 11% are using biotics to address digestion.
Therefore, she believes that a strategy is for companies to address the wider issue of metabolic health with their biotics products.
“With this (weight management) and coupled with cardiovascular health, digestion, it’s actually probably time to talk about metabolic wellness rather than just weight loss as the primary goal.
“Therefore, I think it’s time to look at the broader issue, combining microbiome and move towards metabolic wellness,” she said.
