Probi: How industry can support GLP-1 users while navigating regulatory scrutiny
04 May 2026 | Probi
Brandy Webb, N.D., Scientific Affairs manager at Probi, explores how GLP-1 therapies are reshaping nutrition science, product innovation, and metabolic health strategies. Seeing the microbiome as a metabolic infrastructure for GLP-1 signaling, she reveals actionable science that brands should be prioritizing now. Webb also touches on companion solutions backed by clinical evidence and how companies might navigate regulatory scrutiny tightening around peptides and grey-market products.
Hello and welcome to Nutrition Insights interview series.
I'm senior journalist Vyna Patel, and today we're exploring how GLP-1 therapies are reshaping nutrition science, product innovation, and metabolic health strategies.
Joining me today is Brandy Webb, who is a scientific affairs manager at ProB, who brings deep expertise in the microbiome and its role in metabolic health.
So to start us off, GOP ones have created what many are calling today a nutritional paradox, so where people are eating less, but they require more precise nutrition.
From your perspective, how should the industry respond to help protect muscle mass and maintain nutrient balance in this new landscape?
First, thank you for having me.
I'm very pleased to be here and talk about GLP-1s and how they're changing the landscape for the dietary supplement industry.
I think we're really at an inflection point.
And this is a really great time to be talking about, you know, talking, about sort of the next level of considerations.
And so to your question about this paradox, that's exactly right.
What we're seeing is that GLP ones are, creating these dietary shifts in people where they are consuming less, their appetites are low, therefore, they're consuming less.
But at the same time, The GLP-1, pharmacology is such that it's actually increasing nutritional risk.
And so, while we have reduced intake, we have increased nutritional risk, and therein lies the paradox, right?
So, we can no longer really be relying on dietary abundance to fill in those nutrition gaps.
So, what we really have to do is have precision nutrition medicine.
And that's really an opportunity for us as an industry.
And there are sort of 3 major areas where I say we need to, really be focusing, and, and to your point about muscle, you know, protecting muscle density, that's key.
So we know that with decreased intake over Overall, there's decreased protein intake and decreased intake of amino acids, results in a loss of, of muscle density.
And it's not just muscles, it's bones, it's brain tissue.
So there's a sort of cascading effect.
And that's where we can really Come in with high density, high nutrition, macronutrients, and, and fill in those gaps, with protein being, you know, primary among those.
But then I think of, you know, micronutrients.
So a lot of times people are more familiar with, oh, I must increase my protein intake, but they forget about the micronutrients, and that's, they're just as important.
So, things like B12, vitamin D, iron is really key.
And these things, you know, are falling by the wayside, and, you know, with less dietary intake, we're finding that patients are actually and consumers are actually experiencing the side effects associated with deficiencies in these areas.
And so, you know, lastly we've got this sort of gut gut support.
There are unique side effects that are associated with GLP-1.
Use, and I think that that's another area where we as an industry can kind of step in and say, hey, like, how can we support the unique challenges of a GLP1 user.
So the between the macronutrients, the micronutrients, and the gut targeted interventions, I think that's where precision medicine can really play a role in in GLP1 use.
Mhm.
Yeah, you've really highlighted how weight management is becoming much more nuanced.
So, building on that, you've positioned also the microbiome as a kind of metabolic infrastructure for GLP1 signaling.
When we translate that into a practical action, what is the most important for actionable science that brands should be prioritizing now?
Yeah, great question.
I think this is such a key point, that should not be overlooked, that the microbiome is no longer this sort of ancillary, sort of wellness focus.
It's really key to success, and we have to address the microbiome.
There is just absolutely no way around it.
So, you know, the way I, I think of the microbiome as being a part of the GLP-1 signaling infrastructure is really.
You know, the role of the microbiome is to help stabilize and amplify GLP-1 signaling.
That's where it starts.
When you eat, you are signaling GLP-1.
So, it's happening all the time, but what Can we do to help influence and shape the microbiome to enhance that GLP-1 signaling and to reduce the side effects associated with any, you know, perturbations to that process.
And so there are a couple different ways I think of, as strategies that that companies can rely on.
One is really to feed the GLP.
G1 production naturally.
And we're not talking about a replacement for GLP-1 drugs.
I think that that distinction must be made.
But what we're talking about is how can we through diet and, you know, precise nutrition, really focus on those GLP-1 production pathways, and how can we help those?
You know, there are a lot of different techniques to do that, but really, I think probiotic.
O tic s prebiotics, those are setting the foundation for production of, short chain fatty acids like propionate and butyrate.
And those are key for stimulating GLP-1 production.
So just by influencing our own microbiome, can we actually directly impact our inherent GLP-1, machinery, if you will.
And then the second thing I've kind of talked about a little bit is protecting the the gut barrier.
So, you know, this is such a, an area of interest for GLP-1 users.
We know there are a lot of gut side effects associated with GLP-1 use.
But more than just mitigating side effects, it's really about reducing inflammation at the gut level, and that helps to, encourage GLP-1 production and efficiency.
So we really want to support those healthy pathways in the gut, and that will directly help GLP-1 production.
And, and, and overall, you know, success.
And I just like to mention that, you know, we need to meet patients or consumers where they're at.
So these GLP1 users, they're, they've sort of entered this whole new universe, and it's gonna take time for them, to adapt, adopt the proper, you know, dietary and lifestyle, requirements to sustain a GLP-1, you know, weight loss.
And so whatever we can do as, as an industry to support them on their journey, I think.
That's also very helpful.
So that might be, you know, reducing side effects like the, the GI distress, because, you know, nausea is the primary reason that people discontinue it, and so we want to help ensure their success.
What can we do to, make their experiences as, you know, seamless as possible, as comfortable as possible.
So I really see there are a lot of opportunities for brands in this space, and, focusing on the microbiome is really key to that.
Yeah, that, that was really helpful way to connect this emerging science with like new product development and nutrition.
So moving on, as GLP1 use expands, we're also seeing a wave of post GLP one product innovation, some of which you already touched on, particularly around weight regain and managing side effects.
So from your, perspective, which companion solutions are currently backed by the strongest clinical evidence?
Yeah, that's, that's a really key question.
I think there's sort of, as you say, like these two areas, weight regain is such a, interesting, phenomenon that we're seeing.
So there's a high rate of recidivism when it comes to weight regain on this GLP-1s, and so I think, you know, first we have to do whatever we can to, prevent that, and, and largely I think that comes in the form of like a GLP-1 off-ramp protocol.
So patients who are GLP-1 users might discontinue for a variety of reasons.
Maybe it is intolerance, maybe it's cost, you know, there are a lot of different reasons why people might come off of them, but they still want to support their overall metabolism.
What can we do to help that, and prevent that weight regain?
And, you know, there are a couple different ways, you know, strategies we can do.
Increasing, you know, protein and amino acid intake, strength training, those favor lean muscle mass.
We know that weight regain after GLP-1s favors adipose tissue as opposed to muscle tissue.
And so what can we do to reduce the likelihood of adipocity over lean muscles?
So I think that's key is just really providing those micronutrients, or I should say macronutrients, you know, lean muscle mass favors stabilized metabolism and GLP-1 production, and so just by favoring and really building up your muscle tissue, that is probably the number one way you can prevent weight regain.
And it's important to remember it's not going to be the number on the scale, because, you know, lean muscle mass is more dense than adipocity, but it's a matter of, you know, what type of weight are you regaining.
And then secondly, I think that, you know, we can, support metabolic pathways in other ways to help prevent the crashes, the food noise that accompany coming off of DLP ones.
That's what a lot of people talk about that.
They just have all of these cravings.
What can we provide, that's science backed that helps to stabilize that sort of blood sugar roller coaster, and that will help, you know, prevent a lot of those bad dietary habits.
So I think those are two of the areas where we can really, you know, have, an impact.
And then you asked about side effects, so.
I think the science right now is really pointing towards some things I've already mentioned, you know, reducing sarcopenia, so really, mitigating muscle loss, I think it's, it's just key.
These amino acids are not just supporting muscles, they're in for, you know, we can't just think of it as like a cosmetic thing because really bone density is impacted, you know, GLP-1 users were finding or having accelerated bone loss, there are brain impacts, loss of, you know, cognitive function, we're seeing, declines in cognitive function.
Something new that we're noticing now is, that there's somewhat of a depression or, a malaise that's setting in for people, and maybe that's because there are nutrient deficiencies causing neurotransmitter, you know, alterations, and so.
So there are a lot of different reasons that might, that, that might be playing into that, but, whatever we can do to provide those nutrients to prevent those.
So that might be again, micronutrients like B12 or iron, vitamin D, etc.
So that's where we can come in and prevent those side effects from occurring.
And then really just, as I mentioned before, gut support, really trying to prevent these GI side effects and intolerance.
That's where I'm seeing a lot of impact with dietary supplementation, and that's where the science is leading.
Leading us.
So I think again, just to reiterate, reiterate, it's not about replacing GLP-1 drugs, it's about supporting them.
It's about this GLP-1 companion, nutrition category that that's really where we can play a role.
Yeah, it's really interesting to see how the entire nutrition, how nutrition can support like the ecosystem of, GLP-1 and users in the pharmaceuticals and how it's starting to take shape, as companion, products.
I also wanted to touch a little bit on regulation and category.
So finally with the regulatory scrutiny tightening around peptides and gray market products, how can legitimate companies, especially those that are working with probiotics or metabolic solutions, help protect the credibility of the category and also build trust with consumers and regulators.
Yeah, this is something we're encountering a lot more now with that gray areas you talked about with peptides, that's been something that I've been hearing a lot about, and I think we have to really confront that, issue.
I think probably the best way that companies can, protect themselves is to lead with the science, lead with transparency.
I think that's how you're really going to set yourself apart from a lot of these bad actors, if you will, that are trying to, you know, avoid scrutiny.
And so, you know, that's where human data, clinically supported doses, that's where, You know, clear mechanisms of action, all of those things come into play.
So anything we can do as ingredient suppliers or product manufacturers to show, you know, that there is credibility, and that we're not just making lofty claims.
We really have to con convey to the consumer, the underlying You know, mechanism, the underlying reason why these things are helping, and to the, you know, we're communicating that to the consumer, but we're also communicating that to the regulators as.
And then secondly, I think we just have to, you know, be mindful of those regulatory landscapes and really try to avoid those landmines, do, what we need to do as industry players to really play within the confines of this, of this game, and I think that, you know, things like avoiding drug like claims, pharmacy or pharmacological language, things like that.
You know, really focusing instead on like health supporting pathways and systems like gut function and muscle protection, mental support, you know, things like that, that's, that's really where we need to be playing, not in, just, you know, discussing or talking about supplements like they are drugs, or like they can replace GLP-1 drugs, and I think as long as we really stick to that, the scrutiny.
You know, we'll avoid scrutiny, and, and that those are the players in the industry that are really going to succeed, I think in the long run.
We've seen the sort of bell curve where a lot of people, a lot of players got in early, making a lot of, you know, really wild claims about their products, and then the scrutiny followed, and now we're really seeing a clamping down on that, and I think the response to that has been and must be, let's talk about, let's.
Turn to what we're good at, which is to support these biological systems, and let's talk about those benefits.
And we don't have to talk about anything else.
We can, you know, we can really stand on our own science.
So I think, you know, those are going to be the ways that we avoid scrutiny.
And of course, you know, more tactically talking about like validation.
So, you know, relying on third party.
Validating, you know, testing laboratories just to test for ID purity, potency, when you can produce that documentation, that goes a long way for, you know, when it comes to to regulatory scrutiny and consumer trust, and so I think those things really do come hand in hand.
Yeah.
Those are some really great strategies that you shared, and that brings us to the end.
So, Brandy, thank you so much for your time and sharing your insights into how microbiome science and metabolic health are evolving alongside GLP one therapies.
And thank you to our audience also for joining us and we look forward to seeing you next time.
Thank you so much for having me.
