The Ozempic craze is shaking up the supplement sector.
On Wednesday, Sowell, a supplement brand founded by Dr. Alexandra Sowa, a board-certified internist and bariatric medicine specialist, will launch its $105 GLP-1 Support System. The system includes electrolytes ($35), protein ($45) and fiber ($35), all specially formulated to address the needs and side effects of GLP-1 users. It will be sold directly to consumers first, and will be available in select retailers in September, Dr. Sowa said.
“[The system] “This product was created because we needed a product for patients. There was nothing on the market that was made specifically for the unique needs of GLP-1 users,” she said, adding that she began developing the product about 18 months ago.
Over the past year, many supplement brands and retailers have jumped on the weight-loss drug bandwagon. When berberine, also known as nature’s Ozempic, became popular, several supplement brands launched their own versions. The Vitamin Shoppe recently created a wall dedicated to products to support GLP-1 users, including protein, electrolytes, fiber, and probiotics to combat side effects like nausea and muscle loss.
There’s a lot of buzz in this space, but Sowa aims to cut through the noise by building a product line that draws on his experience of prescribing GLP-1 over the past decade.
“I have been writing [prescriptions for] “I’ve been working with GLP-1 drugs as part of holistic medicine for over a decade, but I quickly realized there were limitations to what a medical setting could do,” she says. “SoWell was born out of a desire to help more people and share my expertise in metabolic health with the world.”
The brand’s electrolytes are low in carbs and sugar, Sowa said, and also contain ingredients such as vitamin B6, which is said to help reduce nausea.
“One of the issues with taking GLP-1 drugs is that your thirst and hunger are significantly reduced,” Sowa said, adding that the flavors are made to be gentle on the taste buds of GLP-1 users.
“The drug changes your sense of taste and changes the taste your brain desires,” she says. “We don’t use anything artificial and we use the mildest, most natural flavors because that’s what GLP-1 users are looking for.”
While there’s been a lot of discussion around Ozempic and weight loss drugs, especially after Oprah spoke about her experience, there hasn’t been much discussion about how to manage the symptoms and support the medication, which ultimately hinders people’s experience, Sowa said.
“Up to 70 percent of users stop taking the medication within a year, and one of the main reasons for stopping is side effects,” she says. “If you stop taking the medication prematurely without a plan, you’re not getting the full benefit of the medication. Our goal at this company is to create a solution that makes people feel better, reduces side effects and becomes a companion to the medication.”
With that in mind, Sowa sees a big opportunity to continue launching products that support GLP-1 users: “Our goal is to build an ecosystem of products made specifically for GLP-1 users,” she says.
According to the KFF Health Tracking Poll, 1 in 8 adult Americans has tried a drug like Ozempic, and Sowa expects that number to grow as new studies show further benefits and the drug becomes more available.
“Almost every month, new studies are published that add new indications for these drugs to treat everything from sleep apnea to heart disease prevention to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). [and] “These drugs are widely available to treat infertility,” she says. “These drugs continue to be developed and there is a very large development pipeline.”
