Weight Loss…A Supplementary Question
Last month we looked at Eli Lilly’s highly successful weight-loss drug Mounjaro (tirzepatide) from the point of view of Lilly’s patent thicket and how it delays generic versions from entering the market. In this article, we examine the approach taken by the supplements sector spurred on by consumers seeking alternatives in this key area of health management.
Sustainable weight loss may be considered one of the holy grails of healthcare...
And over the years there has been no shortage of products making claims to that end. However, Mounjaro’s success has heightened public interest in the approach it takes to metabolic and appetite regulation. The weight loss achieved by many users is based on the dual action of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) and GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) receptor agonists.
A closer examination of these peptides shows that they act to stimulate insulin, suppress glucagon (a hormone which raises blood sugar), slow gastric emptying, reduce appetite and improve fat metabolism and insulin sensitivity. It is these specific attributes which have led the supplements sector to look for natural compounds that might align with Mounjaro’s indications.
GLP-1 and GIP Receptors
While there appears to be no single compound that activates both GLP-1 and GIP receptors directly, several botanicals appear to influence similar metabolic pathways. Berberine (from berberis vulgaris) and ginger are thought to improve insulin sensitivity and may increase GLP-1 secretion. Particular interest is being shown in Citrus Bioflavonoids (e.g. hesperidin and naringenin) to reduce fat mass whilst Fenugreek and Psyllium have both been used to slow gastric emptying and lessen appetite. In addition, cinnamon and epigallocatechin (ECGC) from green tea extract are seen as enhancing fat metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Curcumin (from turmeric) is also considered as supporting insulin sensitivity and metabolic regulation to indirectly support weight loss.
Given the many mainstream medicines which find their origins in naturally occurring compounds…think aspirin (willow bark), morphine (opium poppy), digoxin (digitalis)…, it may be considered premature to rule out the supplements’ alternative, notwithstanding the need for significant further investigation. A combination of these extracts could synergistically resemble Mounjaro’s modes of action although it must be said to a lesser pharmacologic extent as they lack the potency and targeted specificity of tirzepatide. However, clinical trials on some of these are already suggesting that the “natural approach” is worth pursuing.
Even before clinical trials get started, those investigations will need to include a forensic-like approach to evaluation and authentication of plant identity, standardization of extracts to defined levels of active markers, control of contaminants associated with plant materials and a level of validated quality and regulatory documentation that meets the highest international standards. It is no mean set of tasks…but it is very much at the heart of Surfachem’s meticulous and comprehensive approach to ingredient stewardship.
