What Are GLP-1 Supplements? Why They Are Not the Same as GLP-1 Medicines
You've probably seen GLP-1 mentioned alongside medicines such as Wegovy or Mounjaro. Then the same letters appear on a bottle of probiotics. It is fair to wonder: are these products meant to do the same thing?
GLP-1 supplements are generally products containing probiotics, fibres, botanical ingredients or minerals marketed in connection with research into GLP-1-related biology. They are not approved GLP-1 medicines, and you should not expect them to reproduce the effects seen in prescription medicine trials.
That doesn't make their ingredient lists any less interesting. It simply makes the ingredients the best place to start. At Healthy, we offer two Codeage formulations worth a closer look: GLP-1 Probiotic+, centred on gut bacteria and fibre, and GLP-Advantage+, with a wider mix of botanicals, minerals and probiotics. Here's what those names mean, and what is actually inside the capsules.
The GLP-1 part of the story starts inside your body
GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1. It is a hormone released by your gut, including after you eat. It helps carry messages between your digestive system, brain and pancreas, contributing to feelings of fullness, insulin release and the regulation of blood glucose.
Your gut naturally makes GLP-1. That doesn't mean an ingredient connected with gut research will create a noticeable GLP-1 effect.
Prescription medicines are a different story. Wegovy contains semaglutide and Saxenda contains liraglutide; both act on GLP-1 receptors. Mounjaro contains tirzepatide, which acts on both GLP-1 and GIP receptors. These medicines have been evaluated in clinical trials for specific medical uses and are regulated accordingly.
In New Zealand, they are medicines for people to discuss with an appropriate health professional. Their evidence, medical supervision and intended purposes are not interchangeable with those of a supplement that happens to share the letters GLP-1.
So why does GLP-1 appear on supplement labels?
Supplement names sometimes reflect an area of research rather than a medicine ingredient. In this case, scientists are interested in connections between the gut, certain microbes, food components and hormones such as GLP-1. That is why you may see probiotics, prebiotic fibres, plant extracts and minerals grouped under the term GLP-1 supplements.
A GLP-1 probiotic is still a probiotic supplement. For example, our Codeage GLP-1 Probiotic+ brings together three named probiotic species and chicory inulin. Its name points towards an area of scientific interest, not a prescription drug hidden inside a capsule.
The same distinction applies when you search for natural GLP-1 supplements or GLP-1 supplements NZ. Those phrases can help you find a category of products, but they do not establish what a particular formula does in people.
Neither of our Codeage formulations lists GLP-1 hormone, semaglutide, tirzepatide or another prescription GLP-1 medicine as an ingredient. Instead of judging the bottle by its name, we think it is far more useful to look at its ingredients, quantities and recommended serving.
What does the research tell us about supplements?
A laboratory experiment may suggest how an ingredient could interact with a biological process. A human study may test a particular strain of bacteria or a specific botanical preparation. And a clinical trial of a finished product may show what happens when people take that exact formula.
Those steps matter. An interesting lab finding is not the same as proof that a capsule changes how you feel. And a result involving one microbial preparation does not automatically apply to a blend containing other species or different quantities.
Akkermansia muciniphila is a good example. Researchers have studied particular live and pasteurised preparations, including an exploratory trial in 2019 and further controlled trials in 2026. Findings have varied: one 2026 trial explored outcomes after an initial dietary phase, while another did not find a significant difference in its main insulin-sensitivity measure. These were studies of specific preparations, not our finished Codeage products.
Berberine also attracts scientific interest, but the studies differ in doses, people and methods, with limitations in the evidence. That does not make berberine a natural version of a prescription GLP-1 medicine.
For now, no verified clinical trial evidence establishes medicine-equivalent effects, or a clinically meaningful GLP-1 increase, from either finished Codeage formulation. The best reason to explore them is the ingredient combination you can actually see on the label.
Why we offer these two Codeage GLP-labelled formulas
We stock both because they offer genuinely different ingredient combinations. If you're curious about probiotics and prebiotics, there is a focused option. If you prefer to investigate a wider blend of botanicals and minerals, there is another. Neither is a GLP-1 medicine, and we don't treat them as two versions of the same capsule.
Codeage GLP-1 Probiotic+: a formula built around gut bacteria and fibre
Our Codeage GLP-1 Probiotic+ combines Akkermansia muciniphila, Clostridium butyricum and Bifidobacterium infantis. Per capsule, the label lists 167 million AFU, 166 million AFU and 167 million AFU respectively, making a declared probiotic blend of 500 million AFU at manufacture.
Alongside these three species is 211 mg of chicory inulin, a prebiotic fibre. Putting probiotics and a prebiotic together is often called a synbiotic approach. What we like here is the clear focus: you can see exactly which species are named and how the added fibre fits the formulation.
The bottle contains 90 vegetarian capsules. With the listed adult serving of one capsule daily, that is a three-month supply. It is also listed as vegan, non-GMO and free from gluten, dairy and soy. For someone particularly interested in a probiotic and prebiotic combination, it is an appealing label to explore.
There is one important instruction to keep in mind: GLP-1 Probiotic+ is a food supplement and its label says not to use it for weight reduction.
Codeage GLP-Advantage+: a broader mix of botanicals, minerals and probiotics
Our Codeage GLP-Advantage+ takes a different approach. Its adult serving is two capsules, with 60 capsules in a bottle. Each serving lists 425 mg of berberine HCl, 200 micrograms of chromium, 425 mg of decaffeinated green tea extract standardised to 50% EGCG, 200 mg of gymnema and 200 mg of curcumin extract standardised to 95% curcuminoids.
The green tea figure is the amount of extract, not 425 mg of EGCG. The formula also includes L-taurine, trans-resveratrol, boron and a 100 million AFU probiotic blend containing Akkermansia muciniphila and Bifidobacterium infantis, with the AFU amount stated at manufacture.
Another feature is its sunflower-derived phospholipid complex, described as a liposomal time-release matrix. That tells you something about how the product is put together, but it is not proof of superior absorption or a particular clinical result.
We like having this broader ingredient option alongside our probiotic-led formula. Both are capsule supplements with clearly different serving formats and ingredient emphasis. If you want to see what else we carry from the brand, you can explore our Codeage collection, which includes more than these two formulas.
If you're already taking a GLP-1 medicine
If you're using Wegovy, Mounjaro, Saxenda or another prescription medicine, talk to your prescriber or pharmacist before adding a supplement. This is particularly important if you also take diabetes medicines or other medicines that affect blood glucose. Berberine can interact with medicines, so it is worth checking the whole ingredient list rather than assuming a supplement is automatically suitable.
GLP-Advantage+ contains berberine and concentrated green tea extract. Berberine raises concerns during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and uncommon cases of liver injury have been reported with concentrated green tea extracts. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, speak to a qualified health professional before considering a product containing these ingredients.
People who are severely unwell or have a weakened immune system should also seek advice before using live probiotic products. Our two Codeage supplements are intended for adults. Follow the label, don't exceed the stated serving and don't combine the formulas or alter prescribed treatment without individual advice.
What is worth knowing before you choose?
Once you've moved past the GLP-1 wording, the labels make the differences much easier to see. One formula is centred on three probiotic species and chicory inulin. The other has a broader botanical and mineral list, plus a smaller probiotic blend. The AFU numbers describe the declared probiotic quantities at manufacture; they are not a score for which product works better.
Think about the ingredients you actually want to explore, any sensitivities you have and the format that suits your day. GLP-1 Probiotic+ has a one-capsule adult serving, while GLP-Advantage+ has a two-capsule adult serving.
If botanicals and minerals interest you more, take a closer look at the GLP-Advantage+ ingredient list. If your focus is probiotics with added prebiotic fibre, the GLP-1 Probiotic+ label is the natural starting point. There is no need to take both to appreciate what makes each one different.
Common questions about GLP-1 supplements
Are GLP-1 supplements the same as Ozempic or Wegovy?
No. Ozempic and Wegovy contain semaglutide, a prescription medicine that acts on GLP-1 receptors. GLP-1-labelled supplements contain nutritional ingredients and are regulated differently. The Codeage capsules we offer do not list semaglutide or tirzepatide and should not be expected to work like prescription medicines.
What is a GLP-1 probiotic?
It is a probiotic supplement whose name relates to research interest in gut microbes and GLP-1 biology. Our Codeage GLP-1 Probiotic+ contains Akkermansia muciniphila, Clostridium butyricum, Bifidobacterium infantis and chicory inulin. Its name does not mean it contains GLP-1 hormone or acts like a medicine.
Do GLP-1 supplements contain the GLP-1 hormone?
Not by default. The term is used for supplements with ingredients being studied in connection with gut and metabolic biology. Neither of our Codeage formulations lists GLP-1 hormone, semaglutide or tirzepatide as an ingredient. Always check the ingredient panel instead of making an assumption from a product name.
Can probiotics increase natural GLP-1 levels?
Some research has explored connections between gut microbes and GLP-1 signalling, including work on particular Akkermansia preparations. Results depend on the preparation and the study. That research does not establish that our finished Codeage supplements produce a clinically meaningful rise in GLP-1 or any medicine-like effect.
What is the difference between Codeage GLP-1 Probiotic+ and GLP-Advantage+?
GLP-1 Probiotic+ centres on three probiotic species plus chicory inulin and has a one-capsule adult serving. GLP-Advantage+ combines botanical extracts, minerals, other nutrients and a smaller probiotic blend, with a two-capsule serving. They are different dietary supplements, so consider their actual ingredient lists rather than their similar names.
Can I take a GLP-1 supplement with prescription GLP-1 medication?
Please ask your prescriber or pharmacist before combining them. This matters particularly if you take other prescription medicines, including medicines that affect blood glucose, because ingredients such as berberine may interact. Do not change or stop prescribed treatment because of a supplement, and don't assume combining products offers extra benefits.
Explore the Codeage formulas at Healthy
Once you know what GLP-1 means on a supplement bottle, it's easier to appreciate the formulas for what they contain, rather than expecting a prescription medicine effect. Our GLP-1 Probiotic+ puts three named probiotic species and chicory inulin into a convenient one-capsule adult serving. Our GLP-Advantage+ offers a wider mix of botanicals, minerals and probiotics in a two-capsule serving.
We're pleased to offer both approaches, with ingredient lists you can explore in detail. If you're drawn to probiotic and prebiotic ingredients, start with GLP-1 Probiotic+ and see whether the combination and capsule format suit what you're looking for.
References
- Health New Zealand: Injected weight-loss medicines
- Medsafe: Regulation of dietary supplements
- Medsafe: Weight management and weight loss products
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Probiotics
- Depommier et al. (2019): Akkermansia exploratory human study
- Mount et al. (2026): Pasteurised Akkermansia controlled trial
- Suenaert et al. (2026): Pasteurised Akkermansia trial in metabolic syndrome
- NIH NCCIH: Berberine and weight loss
- NIH NCCIH: Green tea safety