As weight-loss drug users turn to dietary supplements, doctors, regulators raise flags

By Nicholas P. Brown NEW YORK, Oct 20 (Reuters) For Allison Vecchio, 42, GLP-1 drugs were a reset button on life, but at a price — side effects like gastrointestinal distress, brittle nails, and feelings of weakness so intense that at times she could not leave her bed. But the Fort Pierce, Florida-based ER nurse said the symptoms eased when she began a cocktail of supplements that included fiber, collagen and electrolytes, a haul that costs $200 to $300 a month. You really have to take the reins to turn mere weight loss into improved health, ​she said. GLP-1 drugs like Novo Nordisk s Ozempic and Wegovy rank among the biggest medical breakthroughs in years, owing to their efficacy in treating obesity and type 2 diabetes, and reducing ‌the risk of heart disease. Some 10 million Americans used them last year, a figure that could grow to 25 million by 2030, according to JPMorgan research. Their side effects, though, have caused many to turn to loosely regulated dietary supplements. U