Table of Contents

• Why Do You Need Supplements to Maintain Muscle Mass on GLP-1 Agonists?
• How Protein Supplements Support Muscle Mass on GLP-1?
• The Takeaway

Protein deficiency is one of the biggest threats when taking GLP-1 drugs. Due to lower appetite and other side effects (vomiting, diarrhea), you consume and absorb fewer proteins than normally, which may result in lean body mass loss—an unwanted effect where you lose muscle tissue. Thus, in this article, we will explore supplements to maintain muscle mass, a type of health support you may need while on GLP-1 drugs.

Why Do You Need Supplements to Maintain Muscle Mass on GLP-1 Agonists?

GLP-1 drugs have two main effects: appetite suppression and weight loss. While these are, in theory, positive, they might also have some downsides. If untackled, these might lead to a number of health problems, including muscle mass loss.

The logic here is simple: you have a lower appetite, so you eat less; since you eat less, you do not consume as many nutrients as you need to maintain your lean body mass.

Naturally, this strongly depends on your diet. If it is protein-dense, you will be able to maintain muscle mass without additional health support. Moreover, you actually need slightly more proteins when losing weight—physicians usually prescribe 60-75 g/day. It might be difficult to provide such an amount to your body, especially if we consider another side effect of GLP-1 drugs: lower nutrient absorption.

All these factors mean that, although you might be able to prevent muscle loss naturally, this will be extremely difficult in practice and require you to go the extra mile. What is more, even if you manage to achieve this goal, you still need to remember about preventing bone loss on GLP-1 medication, promoting energy production, and supporting your liver—these drugs do not only affect protein absorption; they also impact other nutrients absorbed by your body. So, unless you have a really careful, well-thought-through diet, you may need to take muscle mass supplements.

How Protein Supplements Support Muscle Mass on GLP-1?

Protein supplements play one crucial role in maintaining muscle mass on GLP-1 drugs—they provide the necessary proteins you might lack due to taking such medications. They give you the building blocks that constitute your muscle tissue—the material to keep your muscle mass on the same level.

At the same time, they might contain other nutrients crucial for GLP-1 users. For instance, Organic Phytotein Unflavored 15 svgs by Designs for Health also contains iron, another nutrient that you might lack while on GLP-1 drugs. Meanwhile, FIT Food Lean Collagen Vanilla 14 svgs provides you with calcium and vitamin D3. In the end, protein supplements may provide you with general health support while on GLP-1 drugs, expanding beyond muscle mass retention to other potential benefits, depending on the product.

At the same time, we must underline that taking such supplements without any additional effort won’t let you maximize your results. If you want to squeeze the 100% out of muscle mass supplements, you should combine taking them with:

• exercises, for instance, running or walking,
• staying hydrated—this is vital for nutrient transportation and muscle function.

Hence, although protein supplements may help you maintain muscle mass when on GLP-1 drugs, it is highly recommended that you add exercise to your routine and ensure good water intake.

The Takeaway

• How does protein support muscle mass on GLP-1 drugs? Proteins are the building blocks of your muscles, crucial for building lean body mass. Yet, due to the side effects of GLP-1 drugs, you will likely consume and absorb fewer proteins during the therapy, hence the need for additional intake.
• How do protein supplements support you on GLP-1 drugs? They help you provide enough proteins to your muscles and resupply your body with other nutrients you may lack while taking GLP-1 agonists.
• Is supplementation enough? While protein supplements themselves may help you maintain muscle mass during your GLP-1 agonist therapy, combining them with exercise (even simple, like walking) is best. You should also drink a lot of water to support nutrient transportation in your muscle tissue.

You may also read: What Is BPC-157? Understanding Its Potential Benefits and How It Works in the Body

References:

1. Almandoz, J. P., Wadden, T. A., Tewksbury, C., Apovian, C. M., Fitch, A., Ard, J. D., Li, Z., Richards, J., Butsch, W. S., Jouravskaya, I., Vanderman, K. S., & Neff, L. M. (2024). Nutritional considerations with antiobesity medications. Obesity, 32(7). https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.24067