A Doctor Weighs In on lemme "Ozempic" Controversy
Following backlash for releasing OTC Ozempic, experts weigh in on its safety.
When Kourtney Kardashian-Barker first teased lemme in 2022, the world suspected everything from a podcast to a clothing line. Little did we know, her new wellness launch would soon become her biggest fumble.
In September of 2024, news broke that the celeb founder was dropping an Ozempic alternative, GLP-1 Daily. The new supplement mirrors the effects of its to-be-prescribed big sister, Ozempic, most notably, suppressing appetite, lemme shared.
Kardashian-Barker’s fans immediately flooded the brand’s Instagram comments following the announcement. Most of the comments revealed two major concerns. One, how TF was lemme selling over-the-counter Ozempic. The issue here is that the drug has grown to trend level with it being used to “clock” others weight loss, while reinforcing unhealthy eating habits and extreme weight loss. Two, the $90 USD price was blasphemous, some shared.
The drag forced them to share the following post unpacking the science behind the supplement. It’s important to note, the science is from PubMed, not the brand.
View this post on Instagram
This isn’t lemme’s first allegation, however. In 2023, the brand released its Purr gummies which were marketed as vaginal health support. More specifically, it “targeted vaginal microbiome health and pH levels to support freshness and odor.” As OB-GYN and female pelvic surgeon Dr. Rebecca Nelken told us, Kardashian-Barker had the right idea bringing attention to vaginal health, but the method reinforced toxic stereotypes like “smelling like roses.”
In the case of lemme GLP-1 Daily, Dr. Amber Wheeler, Endocrinologist and Advisor at hey freya women’s health, sat down with us to discuss the effectiveness and safety of this new supplement.
Is it worth the hype? Or reinforcing harmful trends?
Keep reading to find out.
Lemme
Does research support the effectiveness of lemme’s GLP-1 Daily?
Natural therapies for weight loss have been a hot topic especially with the increasing use of GLP-1 agonists such as semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) for weight management. Unlike semaglutide, which is a pharmaceutical medication that requires a prescription from a healthcare provider — and might not be covered by insurance — supplements that contain ingredients called nutraceuticals which claim to increase your body’s natural levels of GLP-1 have been available for purchase without a prescription. Studies looking at the role of supplements in weight management are often limited to small studies so it is challenging to understand their role and safety.
Lemme GLP-1 Daily is a supplement that claims to support GLP-1 hormone, reduce hunger, promote healthy insulin function and support health weight management. The main ingredients include Eriomin® Lemon Fruit Extract, Supresa® Saffron Extract, and Morosil™ Red Orange Fruit Extract. The website publishes 4 clinical studies to support the effects of Lemme GLP-1 Daily.
However, only one study has a citation available for review and it refers to a small study with 45 participants that was published in 2022 that showed a modest decrease in glucose and increase in GLP-1 in the group receiving Eriomin® Lemon Fruit Extract. The data supporting the effects of Supresa® Saffron Extract, and Morosil™ Red Orange Fruit Extract are not available for review. There are no studies available for review that looked at the effectiveness of combination of all three ingredients.
What are the dangers of using GLP-1 Daily without a doctor’s prescription?
Studies looking at the safety of the individual components in lemme GLP-1 Daily appear to be safe; however, there are no studies examining the safety of the combination of ingredients. The website reports that there are no known side effects to Lemme GLP-1 Daily based on their ingredients’ clinical studies. However, there may be an adjustment period when starting a new supplement. In general, medications that enhance the effects of GLP-1 can cause gastrointestinal side effects including diarrhea, gas and bloating.
Are any Ozempic alternatives truly “safe?”
While many of the supplements could be beneficial tools for weight management along with lifestyle modifications, more information and studies are needed to answer whether any of the Ozempic alternatives are truly safe and/or effective. Also, it is not clear whether many supplements are third-party tested to ensure quality and the integrity of the product.
TLDR? Check in with your doctor first, because scientists aren’t even sure of its effectiveness…
In other news, meet Asia Yuyu, the sex-positive designer spicing up accessories.
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