22% of U.S. Households Use GLP-1 Drugs. Probiotics Are Filling the Gaps.
Twenty-two percent of American households now include someone taking a GLP-1 medication. Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro have fundamentally altered the weight management landscape, delivering results that conventional approaches rarely matched. And that massive user base is creating an entirely new category of complementary supplements.
At Expo West 2026, the largest natural products trade show in the United States, GLP-1-adjacent functional products emerged as one of the most prominent categories on the show floor. The products split into three directions: reducing the gastrointestinal side effects that GLP-1 users frequently experience, offering similar appetite-modulating effects through non-pharmaceutical pathways, and addressing the muscle loss that often accompanies rapid weight reduction.
Kerry BC30: Tackling GI Discomfort
Kerry’s BC30 (Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086) drew attention specifically for its relevance to GLP-1 users. Nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea are among the most common side effects of GLP-1 medications, and a 253-person clinical study showed that BC30 supplementation significantly reduced these symptoms. BC30 is a spore-forming strain with natural resistance to stomach acid, which means a higher proportion of viable organisms reach the intestine intact. An additional four-week consumer perception study found that 80% of GLP-1 medication users reported meaningful GI symptom relief with BC30.
FrieslandCampina Fermentis: Energy, Digestion, Mood
FrieslandCampina presented data from a 150-person clinical trial linking its proprietary fermented ingredient blend to improvements in energy levels, digestive function, and mood. While this study did not specifically target GLP-1 users, the results were positioned within the broader context of metabolic and functional support for people managing their weight.
Saanroo Trpti: A Natural Appetite Pathway via OEA
Saanroo’s Trpti is built around OEA (oleoylethanolamide), a compound your small intestine naturally produces when it absorbs dietary fat. OEA sends satiety signals to the brain through a mechanism distinct from GLP-1’s pathway of insulin secretion and delayed gastric emptying. OEA holds GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status with the FDA.
Also notable was Bioberb, a bioavailability-enhanced form of berberine. Berberine has accumulated clinical evidence for blood sugar regulation and lipid metabolism improvement, with some studies reporting glucose-lowering effects comparable to metformin. Poor absorption has historically limited its utility, and Bioberb’s formulation targets that specific bottleneck.
Format Innovation: Shots, Gels, and Bars
Another visible trend at Expo West was the diversification of delivery formats. Traditional capsules and powders are giving way to liquid shots, gel pouches, and functional bars designed to make daily supplementation feel less like a medical ritual and more like a normal part of eating. This shift in form factor reflects a broader industry bet: that compliance improves when supplements resemble food.
The GLP-1 drug market continues to expand, and with it grows a parallel ecosystem of products designed to address what the medications do not fully cover, from gut discomfort and nutrient depletion to lean muscle preservation. These supplements are not competing with GLP-1 drugs. They are building around them.