What is GLP-1?
When you eat a meal, your body needs to prepare to put the nutrients you just ingested to use. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is a hormone which helps in this process.
GLP-1 is from the family of hormones called incretins, which include GLP-1 as well as another hormone called glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). These hormones are released by the gut in response to a meal, and help increase insulin secretion after eating, which helps the body regulate blood sugar levels.[1]
In addition, GLP-1 also slows gastric emptying and increases satiety, leading to decreased food intake. This property of GLP-1 has led to the use of a class of drugs that mimic GLP-1 (e.g., semaglutide, whose brand names include Wegovy and Ozempic) for weight loss.[2]
GLP-1 is made by cells in the brain as well as in the gut. Also, GLP-1’s receptor can be found in parts of the brain that are involved with eating behavior and hunger. This partially explains why drugs like semaglutide can help people lose weight.[3]
What supplements affect GLP-1 levels?
A small handful of test tube and animal studies suggest that supplements such as yerba mate tea,[4] Momordica charantia extract,[5] berberine,[6] resveratrol,[7] curcumin,[8][9] and Ginseng[10][11] could boost GLP-1 levels.
However, the few randomized controlled trials that have looked at supplements’ impact on GLP-1 have yielded negative results: Green tea extract,[12] resveratrol,[13] and green-plant membranes[14] all don’t seem to boost GLP-1 levels.
What lifestyle interventions affect GLP-1 levels?
The macronutrient content of a meal affects the amount of GLP-1 that’s released. GLP-1 is released mainly in response to the carbohydrates and fats in a meal. Protein stimulates GLP-1 release to a lesser extent.[15] This should not be interpreted as a license to eat large amounts of fat and carbs in order to boost your GLP-1 levels, though! A more promising way to healthily boost your GLP-1 levels is through exercise. GLP-1 seems to rise immediately after exercise, and baseline levels of GLP-1 in people who exercise remain elevated in the medium term, too.[16] Not only that, but exercise may help decrease GLP-1 resistance in people with type 2 diabetes and may make medications like semaglutide even more effective.[17]
Examine Database: Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1)
| Intervention | Grade | Effect | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whey Protein | D | ||
| Aspartame | D | ||
| Ketogenic Diet | D | ||
| Cannabis | |||
| Colostrum | |||
| 16:8 Intermittent Fasting | |||
| OMAD And 20:4 Intermittent Fasting |
Research FeedRead all studies
Frequently asked questions
When you eat a meal, your body needs to prepare to put the nutrients you just ingested to use. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is a hormone which helps in this process.
GLP-1 is from the family of hormones called incretins, which include GLP-1 as well as another hormone called glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). These hormones are released by the gut in response to a meal, and help increase insulin secretion after eating, which helps the body regulate blood sugar levels.[1]
In addition, GLP-1 also slows gastric emptying and increases satiety, leading to decreased food intake. This property of GLP-1 has led to the use of a class of drugs that mimic GLP-1 (e.g., semaglutide, whose brand names include Wegovy and Ozempic) for weight loss.[2]
GLP-1 is made by cells in the brain as well as in the gut. Also, GLP-1’s receptor can be found in parts of the brain that are involved with eating behavior and hunger. This partially explains why drugs like semaglutide can help people lose weight.[3]
A small handful of test tube and animal studies suggest that supplements such as yerba mate tea,[4] Momordica charantia extract,[5] berberine,[6] resveratrol,[7] curcumin,[8][9] and Ginseng[10][11] could boost GLP-1 levels.
However, the few randomized controlled trials that have looked at supplements’ impact on GLP-1 have yielded negative results: Green tea extract,[12] resveratrol,[13] and green-plant membranes[14] all don’t seem to boost GLP-1 levels.
The macronutrient content of a meal affects the amount of GLP-1 that’s released. GLP-1 is released mainly in response to the carbohydrates and fats in a meal. Protein stimulates GLP-1 release to a lesser extent.[15] This should not be interpreted as a license to eat large amounts of fat and carbs in order to boost your GLP-1 levels, though! A more promising way to healthily boost your GLP-1 levels is through exercise. GLP-1 seems to rise immediately after exercise, and baseline levels of GLP-1 in people who exercise remain elevated in the medium term, too.[16] Not only that, but exercise may help decrease GLP-1 resistance in people with type 2 diabetes and may make medications like semaglutide even more effective.[17]
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References
Examine Database References
- Cannabis - Mehdi Farokhnia, Gray R McDiarmid, Matthew N Newmeyer, Vikas Munjal, Osama A Abulseoud, Marilyn A Huestis, Lorenzo LeggioEffects of oral, smoked, and vaporized cannabis on endocrine pathways related to appetite and metabolism: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, human laboratory studyTransl Psychiatry.(2020 Feb 19)
- OMAD And 20:4 Intermittent Fasting - B D Horne, J B Muhlestein, D L Lappé, H T May, J F Carlquist, O Galenko, K D Brunisholz, J L AndersonRandomized cross-over trial of short-term water-only fasting: metabolic and cardiovascular consequencesNutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis.(2013 Nov)
- Colostrum - Marchbank T, Davison G, Oakes JR, Ghatei MA, Patterson M, Moyer MP, Playford RJThe nutriceutical bovine colostrum truncates the increase in gut permeability caused by heavy exercise in athletesAm J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol.(2011 Mar)
- Ketogenic Diet - Rosenbaum M, Hall KD, Guo J, Ravussin E, Mayer LS, Reitman ML, Smith SR, Walsh BT, Leibel RLGlucose and Lipid Homeostasis and Inflammation in Humans Following an Isocaloric Ketogenic DietObesity (Silver Spring).(2019 Jun)
- 16:8 Intermittent Fasting - Hutchison AT, Regmi P, Manoogian ENC, Fleischer JG, Wittert GA, Panda S, Heilbronn LKTime-Restricted Feeding Improves Glucose Tolerance in Men at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Crossover TrialObesity (Silver Spring).(2019 May)
- Whey Protein - Chiang SW, Liu HW, Loh EW, Tam KW, Wang JY, Huang WL, Kuan YCWhey protein supplementation improves postprandial glycemia in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Nutr Res.(2022-Aug)
- Whey Protein - Smedegaard S, Kampmann U, Ovesen PG, Støvring H, Rittig NWhey Protein Premeal Lowers Postprandial Glucose Concentrations in Adults Compared with Water-The Effect of Timing, Dose, and Metabolic Status: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Am J Clin Nutr.(2023-Aug)
- Aspartame - Zhang R, Noronha JC, Khan TA, McGlynn N, Back S, Grant SM, Kendall CWC, Sievenpiper JLThe Effect of Non-Nutritive Sweetened Beverages on Postprandial Glycemic and Endocrine Responses: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.Nutrients.(2023-Feb-20)