25 CHEMICALS KNOWLEDGE HUB Issue 1 / July 2025 METABOLIC HEALTH “As consumer awareness of glucose management and GLP-1 increases, we are excited to present Nextida GC with new clinical data in Barcelona,” said Florencia Moreno Torres, Global Marketing Manager Health & Nutrition at Rousselot. “Nextida GC offers a unique approach in the nutraceutical space to help brands address the evolving metabolic health market, the natural way.” Nextida GC, the first ingredient from Rousselot’s Nextida platform of specific collagen compositions, is designed to maintain balanced post-meals glucose levels in healthy individuals by leveraging the body’s natural GLP-1 response. In pre-clinical and clinical studies, Nextida GC demonstrated its ability to enhance the body’s glucose regulation mechanism, also slowing down the gastric emptying process. Glucose control is important to avoid destabilizing sugar crashes and potentially their associated consequences such as cravings, overeating and fatigue. Other exhibitors in the GLP-1 space included Nexira, who showcased its GLP-1 Collection, featuring ingredients like Carolean, an extract derived from cactus, and VinOgrape, a grapederived polyphenol. Formulation considerations While the promise is there, the process of formulating supplements that support GLP-1 pathways presents a number of unique issues. Whilst regulatory bodies have warned against stating direct comparisons between supplements and pharmaceutical drugs, laws to enforce this remain inconsistent. In the US, the FDA do not regulate dietary supplements for safety or effectiveness before they enter the market. Meanwhile, in Europe the European Commission and national food safety authorities such as EFSA, FSA and BfR monitor and enforce legislation on products that reference GLP-1, ensuring that they are worded to avoid implying a medicinal function unless the product is registered as a medicine. In a landmark case in April of this year, wellness brand Lemme Inc. was accused of misleading marketing practices related to its GLP-1 Daily supplement. The class action complaint highlighted a lack of “clinical data that supports the notion that simply boosting the amount of naturally occurring GLP-1 in the body has sustained weight loss effects.” A spokesperson for Lemme told Bloomberg Law, the lawsuit was ‘frivolous’. Metabolic health strategy This legal challenge serves to underline the growing scrutiny facing brands in the metabolic health space, particularly as consumer expectations rise alongside scientific awareness. As the sector moves beyond quick-fix claims, a long-term strategy grounded in credible science and lifestyle support is taking shape. As David Despain, senior principal nutritionist at Nestlé Health and Science, noted at Vitafoods Europe 2025, “any tools that can help with simply helping people ease into longterm diet and lifestyle changes is still a fantastic opportunity for this industry.” WILL CHU Editorial team CHEMICALS KNOWLEDGE HUB
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