Preventing Bone Loss on GLP-1 Medications: Key Supplements to Consider
Table of Contents
- The Impact of GLP-1 Agonists on Bone Metabolism
- Preventing Bone Loss on GLP-1 Medications
- The Key Supplements for Preventing Bone Loss During GLP-1 Treatment
- The Takeaway
Calcium is one of the most critical minerals for those on GLP-1 treatment. It is one of the nutrients that you are the most likely to lack due to taking medications like Ozempic. The consequences might be severe, leading to your losing bone density and your body becoming weak. And this is just one of the nutrients you may lack. Therefore, it is crucial to actively prevent bone loss on GLP-1 medications by following an appropriate diet or taking the right supplementation. Learn more.
The Impact of GLP-1 Agonists on Bone Metabolism
Taking GLP-1 agonists, such as Ozempic, Wgovy, or Zepbound, may result in bone mass loss. This happens due to the suppressed appetite, which interferes with your nutrient intake.
Calcium, protein, and vitamin D—these nutrients are crucial for keeping your bone mass at your current level. At the same time, calcium, protein, and vitamin D deficiencies are some of the most common drawbacks of taking GLP-1 medications. As a result, you are prone to bone loss during GLP-1 treatments… unless you introduce measures to prevent that from happening.
Preventing Bone Loss on GLP-1 Medications
How can you prevent bone loss on GLP-1 medications? There are three ways to do that. Let’s look at them now.
Exercising
In a recent study by Jensen et al., it was discovered people who were treated with GLP-1 agonists for a year and exercised (moderate to rigorous regimen) did not experience any significant bone loss—their results were similar to those who did not undergo any treatment. However, as the researchers underline, they did test this on people below 65, without any chronic treatments—the results might not necessarily apply to people suffering from diabetes.
Proper Diet
Secondly, there is the case of diet. Bone mass loss during GLP-1 treatments is caused by nutrient loss, so if you can provide sufficient amounts of calcium, vitamin D, and proteins with suppressed appetite, you should be able to prevent it.
However, you need to remember that the effects of GLP-1 on appetite and weight loss are also dependent on the foods you eat. Some might stimulate the process, while others hinder it. Therefore, you should be really careful when planning your diet—perhaps it is worth a visit to a specialist?
Supplementation
Finally, there is a much easier way to provide your body with the necessary nutrients—you may opt for dietary supplements. They will not replace a healthy and balanced diet, but they might be a good alternative if you don’t have an appetite and cannot consume enough calcium or vitamin D.
The Key Supplements for Preventing Bone Loss During GLP-1 Treatment
Which supplements should you choose to support your bone mass? While we won’t suggest specific brands and/or products, we can point out the three most important supplement types that you should be looking for:
- bone health supplements,
- protein supplements,
- multi-vitamins—they need to include vitamin D3.
You will find hundreds of supplements from each category at Covenant Health Products, so we invite you to browse our offerings and find the perfect products for you.
The Takeaway
- What is the impact of GLP-1 on bone metabolism? Taking medication that imitates this hormone might result in bone loss due to reduced nutrient absorption of bone-building minerals and vitamins.
- How can you prevent bone loss when taking GLP-1 agonists? There are three ways to do that:
- exercising,
- proper diet,
- and supplementation.
- What are the key supplements for GLP-1-based bone mass loss prevention?
- General bone density products,
- multi-vitamins that contain vitamin D,
- and protein products.
You may also read: Why Supplements Are Essential While Taking GLP-1 Weight Loss Medication
References:
- Jensen SBK, Sørensen V, Sandsdal RM, et al. Bone Health After Exercise Alone, GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Treatment, or Combination Treatment: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(6):e2416775. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.16775
