Macronutrient, Micronutrient Supplementation and Monitoring for Patients on GLP-1 Agonists: Can We Learn from Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery?
Abstract
1. Introduction
1.1. Expanding Use of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Obesity Management
1.2. Emerging Nutritional Concerns and Gaps in Clinical Guidance
1.3. Physiological Comparisons Between GLP-1 RA and Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (MBS)
2. Materials and Methods
3. Results
3.1. Impact of GLP-1 Therapy on Energy and Protein Intake
3.2. Vitamin Deficiencies Observed in GLP-1 Therapy
3.3. Mineral Deficiencies Observed in GLP-1 Therapy
3.4. Micronutrient Monitoring Protocols from MBS Guidelines
3.5. Comparative Analysis of Nutritional Risks Between GLP-1 Therapy and MBS
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
| ASMBS | American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery |
| BMI | Body Mass Index |
| BOMSS | British Obesity and Metabolic Specialist Society |
| CVD | Cardiovascular Disease |
| DRI | Dietary Reference Intake |
| EAES | European Association for Endoscopic Surgery |
| ESPEN | European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism |
| GLP-1 | Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 |
| GLP-1RA | Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist |
| GIP | Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide |
| MBS | Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery |
| NV | Nutritional Vigilance |
| RCT | Randomised Controlled Trial |
| RYGB | Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass |
| T2DM | Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus |
| TDEE | Total Daily Energy Expenditure |
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| Guideline | Micronutrients Monitored | Frequency of Testing | Supplementation Recommendations |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASMBS (USA, 2017) [9] | Iron, B12, folate, vitamin D, calcium | Baseline and annually | Multivitamin ± procedure-specific additions |
| BOMSS (UK, 2020) [8] | Ferritin, folate, B12, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, calcium, zinc, copper | Pre-op; 3, 6, 12 months; annually thereafter | Daily multivitamin + targeted repletion based on procedure |
| ESPEN (2023) [10] | Full micronutrient panel (no fixed list) | Annual | Case-by-case supplementation per deficiency |
| ERAS (2021) [11] | Emphasises early post-operative nutritional recovery | Variable | Encourages multidisciplinary dietetic follow-up rather than fixed micronutrient schedules |
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Sibal, R.; Balamurugan, G.; Langley, J.; Graham, Y.; Mahawar, K. Macronutrient, Micronutrient Supplementation and Monitoring for Patients on GLP-1 Agonists: Can We Learn from Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery? Nutrients 2025, 17, 3659. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17233659
Sibal R, Balamurugan G, Langley J, Graham Y, Mahawar K. Macronutrient, Micronutrient Supplementation and Monitoring for Patients on GLP-1 Agonists: Can We Learn from Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery? Nutrients. 2025; 17(23):3659. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17233659
Chicago/Turabian StyleSibal, Rhea, G. Balamurugan, Jasmine Langley, Yitka Graham, and Kamal Mahawar. 2025. "Macronutrient, Micronutrient Supplementation and Monitoring for Patients on GLP-1 Agonists: Can We Learn from Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery?" Nutrients 17, no. 23: 3659. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17233659
APA StyleSibal, R., Balamurugan, G., Langley, J., Graham, Y., & Mahawar, K. (2025). Macronutrient, Micronutrient Supplementation and Monitoring for Patients on GLP-1 Agonists: Can We Learn from Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery? Nutrients, 17(23), 3659. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17233659

