Key takeaways
People who take GLP-1s commonly experience changes in digestion. Certain probiotic strains may help support digestive health and gut balance.
In addition to probiotics, staying hydrated and eating nutrient-dense whole foods support overall digestive wellness.
GLP-1s like semaglutide and tirzepatide are helping millions of people with weight management. Some people using GLP-1s notice digestive changes that can affect their experience. The good news is that researchers are studying whether probiotics may support digestive comfort and gut balance. Let’s take a look at how probiotics and GLP-1 intersect.
Many people taking GLP-1s notice changes in how their digestive system feels, such as different sensations around meals or shifts in digestive patterns.1 Given that GLP-1s target metabolic processes, these experiences aren’t surprising. But how exactly are GLP-1s affecting your body?
GLP-1 is a naturally occurring hormone that stimulates insulin secretion, inhibits glucagon release, and modulates the speed of digestion. While natural GLP-1 quickly degrades, synthetic GLP-1s are designed to work consistently for days.
GLP-1s work partly by affecting the speed of digestion. This makes you feel full faster and may create a sense of fullness that lasts longer than usual.
GLP-1s can affect motility throughout the GI tract. Slower digestion leads to more water being absorbed in the process. Along with reduced food and fluid intake in some users, this may affect bowel movement patterns and digestive comfort. On the other hand, the shift in hormonal signaling can also affect digestive patterns differently in some users.
GLP-1s can also affect signaling pathways in the brain involved in appetite regulation and digestive comfort, which influence how satisfied people feel after eating.
While research is still ongoing around the use of probiotics for GLP-1 users, probiotics’ role in gut health and digestive function is certainly well studied. Certain gut microbes ferment dietary fiber into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including butyrate, which helps support gut lining health and normal digestive function.
Nurturing a balanced gut microbiome through probiotic and prebiotic foods supports healthy digestive function. Researchers are studying the degree to which supporting gut health may be beneficial for overall digestive comfort.
When choosing a probiotic, the most important factor is the specific strain of bacteria. If you’re looking for probiotics for GLP-1 users, your best bet is on strains that have been well-studied for their gut health support. This includes strains like Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, and Bifidobacterium lactis HN019.
Beyond the specific strain’s benefits, you should choose products like AG1 Next Gen that are backed by clinical research.
You’ll also want to confirm that the ingredients are high-quality and free of banned substances by checking for third-party verification, such as NSF Certified for Sport®.
Most people on GLP-1 have less of an appetite. Eating and drinking less can lead to dehydration and nutrient gaps that may affect overall well-being.
2 In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled 2-week cross-over clinical trial assessing nutrient gaps and microbiome shifts in 20 active adults ages 19-37.
3 In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled 2-week cross-over clinical trial assessing nutrient gaps and microbiome assessments of 24 healthy adults with occasional GI distress ages 26-59 over the course of 4 weeks.
