July in review: Gray market peptides, teen GLP-1 use & AI-driven nutrition innovation

Metabolic health, supplement safety, AI-powered innovation, and global nutrition security were key topics shaping the nutrition industry last month. Debates over the health impacts of plastic food packaging and ultra-processed foods (UPFs) continued, as scientific research explored the benefits of creatine for mental health. 

In our July review, Nutrition Insight explores some of the month’s biggest stories, including warnings that gray market peptides are blurring the boundaries between drugs and supplements. 

In the US, GLP-1 use is increasingly replacing bariatric surgery among adolescents and young adults, prompting researchers to question long-term effects. Meanwhile, the American Nutrition Association backed a new biomarker test that combines glucose and ketone measurements to support more personalized metabolic health assessments.

Experts also debated the impact of plastic food packaging on human health and called for new evidence. Additionally, researchers behind two studies argued that UPF marketing and product design followed tobacco tactics, citing similarities in marketing and engineering strategies.

Industry experts backed AI’s expanding role in nutrition innovation, while urging a need for scientific validation and human oversight. PharmaLinea pointed to the increasing importance of China as a source for nutraceutical innovation, as funding and acquisition activity highlighted interest from investors in longevity supplements. 

This month’s release of the 2026 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report drove discussions on the global hunger gap and public health policy. Meanwhile, a review on creatine reported mixed findings on the nutrient’s potential to treat major depressive disorder. 

Gray market peptides blur drug and supplement distinctions, raising health risks
Consumers are increasingly using unapproved peptides hoping to boost health, focus, and appearance, prompting experts to call for tighter regulation and research. Legal specialists warned the trend — worsened by social media influencers — is blurring lines between drugs, supplements, and wellness. The authors of a recent JAMA manuscript told us that synthetic peptides are moving quickly from research into mainstream markets. Although some peptides are clinically approved, many are not, they warned. Meanwhile, health entrepreneurs are increasingly selling these as nutrients, although regulators treat them as unapproved drugs.We spoke with Kaneka Probiotics about its latest research on KABP-051 and the future of weight management and psychobiotics.

Experts debate plastic food packaging’s health impact, urging new scientific evidence
Amid ongoing debate over plastic food packaging’s health impact, experts discussed what current science shows. As new evidence emerges, they argued the field needs standardized testing methods, while urging that findings on rising plastics in human tissue shouldn’t be ignored. An Earth Action spokesperson said its recent report quantified how much micro- and nanoplastics migrated from packaging into food to be ingested directly, while other research found microplastics in human brain tissue. A toxicology expert from the Plastics Research Council countered that evidence does not support definitive conclusions about how plastics affect organs under real-world exposure. 

American Nutrition Association backs finger-prick GKI test to track metabolic health
The American Nutrition Association (ANA) is calling for wider use of evidence-based biomarkers in personalized nutrition care to manage chronic diseases. The organization highlighted the potential of a new real-time biomarker test that assesses the glucose ketone index (GKI) from a blood sample drawn from a finger prick. The GKI can be linked to the risk of chronic diseases and may help predict risk more accurately than a glucose reading alone. ANA’s CEO, Corinne Bush, argued that policy reform and medical nutrition training are key to equitable access to such tests. Meanwhile, the Physicians Association for Nutrition International told us it is calling for wider adoption of nutrition education and training across medical schools to drive system-wide change. Although professionals increasingly recognize nutrition’s importance for preventative health, the nonprofit said only 61% of physicians feel prepared to discuss diet. 

Unpacking how AI reshapes nutrition innovation from discovery to commercialization
In a three-part series on AI’s role in nutrition, we explored its potential from ingredient discovery to commercialization with experts from AI-powered nutraceutical suppliers Brightseed and Nuritas, as well as marketing and AI strategy specialists. They told us AI compresses discovery timelines and shifts the challenge from generating ideas to choosing between them. The experts also underscored that a successful use of the technology requires scientific validation of AI-generated insights, high-quality data, human oversight, and clear communication on its use to customers. Moreover, they said transparency is key to separating successful innovations from hype. At IFT FIRST, Beneo shared how it targets different GLP-1 stages and fiber diversity.

GLP-1 use among US adolescents surges, but long-term health effects remain unknown
GLP-1 use among US teenagers and young adults in obesity care jumped from 88.2% to 96.1% between 2022 and 2026, while the use of bariatric surgery declined. The study’s lead author, Sarah Messiah, told us that long-term effects of the drugs during adolescence are not known, especially on this young population going through a significant physical development period. She underscored that nutrition, mental health, and physical activity should be part of comprehensive obesity care. In related news, research indicated how semaglutide and tirzepatide extend GLP-1 benefits to liver health, mobility, and longevity, while Virginia Tech researchers received funding to study whether obesity accelerates brain aging and memory decline. Ingredient suppliers backed protein, biotics, and fiber to close common nutrient gaps for GLP-1 users. 

SOFI 2026: Global hunger eases but healthy diet costs stall women’s and children’s nutrition
The SOFI 2026 report was released this month, showing that global hunger rates are improving gradually, yet dietary diversity remains inadequate for women and children. For these population groups, nutrition progress is too slow and reversing in some areas. We spoke with Action Against Hunger about the report’s findings, needed actions, and how the private sector can help. Danone provided an industry perspective on the report, which noted that affordability is central to nutrition access as inflation squeezes household food budgets. In other global nutrition and sustainability goals, research found that shifting to EAT-Lancet diets could cut agriculture-related net CO2 emissions by 85% by 2050 and improve health. Authors of a separate review called to integrate Indigenous food knowledge into public health policies to help resolve challenges in nutrition, climate change, and biodiversity loss. 

Ultra-processed food marketing follows tobacco playbook, researchers argue
Two US studies compared UPF marketing and product design to tobacco tactics, citing similarities in marketing distribution and product engineering strategies aimed at overconsumption. For children, marketing targeted foods “to play with,” such as cartoon characters, and “king-sized” foods for adults, with the aim to “promote overconsumption and maximize profits.” The authors said tobacco companies invested heavily in food firms and imported their strategies. We sat down with authors from the University of Kansas and the University of California to discuss the similarities and how tobacco influenced the food industry as it is today. Meanwhile, another study found that UPFs leave a metabolic signature in the blood that is associated with potential health issues, such as cellular and lipid disruption. In contrast, different researchers argued that nutrition quality matters more than food processing levels for long-term health, finding strong associations between high-quality plant-based diets and lower disease risk, regardless of whether foods were minimally or ultra-processed. Mibelle Biochemistry presented new research findings on its water-soluble collagen booster for skin health benefits.

PharmaLinea sees China shifting from nutraceutical manufacturer to innovation source
The Chinese nutraceutical market is increasingly relevant for international brands and manufacturers, said supplement manufacturer PharmaLinea. The company has observed opportunities for international companies that want to expand their reach and connect with a large and increasingly health-conscious consumer base. We spoke with Matevž Ambrožič about longevity, children’s health, and liver health categories, format innovation, and why local partnerships are essential for market entry. He said that China is becoming one of the world’s most influential nutraceutical innovation markets, with global brands increasing their commitment to the country. He underscored the importance of local partnerships to help understand local consumer behavior, e-commerce ecosystems, regulatory requirements, and communication channels. 

Can creatine treat depression? Review reveals mixed findings
A scientific literature review has found mixed results in creatine monohydrate’s potential to treat major depressive disorder, suggesting it could serve as an adjunct treatment. However, the evidence is not settled. The researchers from the University of Ottawa in Canada analyzed five randomized controlled trials conducted across Brazil, India, Israel, South Korea, and the US. The review found that two trials showed benefits of creatine when combined with antidepressants, but the other three showed no significant effect. The study’s corresponding author said that “there is no clear signal” whether creatine works better in women or men. Researchers cautioned that the link between brain creatine and mood remains correlational. Additionally, on World Brain Day 2026, we explored the EU-funded Nutrimind project that uses AI to map links between diet, the microbiome, and mental health. Lehvoss Nutrition said that one of the main challenges in marketing brain health ingredients is achieving a clear differentiation in a competitive market, while translating complex science into value propositions. 

David Beckham’s IM8 longevity supplement brand secures US$1B in funding
Prenetics Global, parent of David Beckham’s co-founded longevity supplement IM8, has closed US$1 billion in growth financing from General Catalyst’s Customer Value Fund (CVF). Since the label’s NASA research-backed powdered drinks launched in December 2024, the brand has expanded rapidly in direct-to-consumer supplements, scaling to more than US$200 million in revenue. CVF will finance up to 70% of IM8’s marketing costs, with IM8 retaining full creative direction. General Catalyst will receive a capped share of income from customer cohorts financed by the deal. In other business news, Kuehnle AgroSystems secured multi-million-dollar Series B funding to commercially scale its natural astaxanthin dark fermentation technology. In addition, SuanNutra signed an agreement to acquire a portfolio of specialty natural ingredients businesses from IFF, including vitamins and minerals.