US researchers have identified a daily supplement that mimics the appetite-suppressing effects of drugs like Ozempic . This postbiotic option reportedly triggers significant weight loss without the typical side effects associated with prescription injections.
The 3 per cent weight loss gap between ResM and Wegovy
A study conducted by a team from the University of Alabama suggests that a specific supplement can produce weight loss results that rival pharmaceutical interventions.. According to the report, a trial involving 80 overweight or obese US adults found that those taking the supplement lost an average of 3 per cent of their body weight over two months. In contrast, the placebo group actually gained 0.5kg during the same period.
While these results are significant, they still trail slightly behind the gold standard of medical weight loss. The report notes that trials for Wegovy typically show patients losing roughly 4 per cent of their body weight over a similar two-month window. However, the supplement group reported a notable reduction in food cravings and fewer gastrointestinal issues, such as gas and bloating, compared to the placebo group.
How Lactiplantibacillus plantarum doubles GLP-1 levels
The biological mechanism driving these results is the bacteria Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. Unlike traditional probiotics, which use live microorganisms , this supplement utilizes a "postbiotic"—bacteria that has been killed using heat. This process creates by-products and fatty acids that stimulate cells in the gut to release GLP-1, the hormone responsible for signaling fullness to the brain.
Blood tests from the University of Alabama trial reveaed that GLP-1 levels more than doubled in participants taking the supplement. Dr. Madusha Peiris, a neurogastroenterologist at Queen Mary University of London, explained that these short-chain fatty acids activate gut cells to release anti-hunger hormones, effectively mimicking the action of blockbuster weight-loss jabs.
The price gap between £45 ResM and 20p probiotic pills
The financial incentive for switching to supplements is stark, especially compared to weight-loss injections which can cost upwards of £300 per month. The specific product used in the trial,ResM, is sold online for approximately £45 for a four-week supply. ResM also includes vitamin D3, vitamin B12, and fenugreek extract to support bone health and red blood cells.
However, the core active ingredient may be available for far less. As the report highlights, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum is available in probiotic form from online chemists for as little as 20p per pill. professor Naveed Sattar of the University of Glasgow suggested that while early data is exciting , such supplements could eventually serve as a primary obesity-prevention tool or a way for patients to maintain weight loss after stopping prescription jabs.
Company funding and the missing peer review
Despite the promising figures,several critical caveats remain. The University of Alabama study was funded by the company that produces ResM and has not yet undergone the rigorous process of peer review by independent scientists. This creates a potential conflict of interest that necessitates a cautious interpretation of the "clinically effective" claims made by the authors.
Furthermore, it remains unclear if the bacteria alone is responsible for the weight loss. Professor Penny Ward, a pharmaceutical expert from King's College London, noted that the fenugreek extract included in ResM might also be stimulating GLP-1 release. This leaves an open question as to whether the 20p generic probiotic would yield the same 3 per cent weight loss as the more expensive, multi-ingredient ResM formula.
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