GLP-1 drugs may cause scurvy in patients

(NewsNation) — The popularity of GLP-1 weight loss drugs is bringing back a historic affliction once suffered by sailors on long journeys at sea.

There are reports that those taking the drugs, which include medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, are being diagnosed with scurvy, an illness once common in the 17th and 18th centuries that is now considered rare in developed countries.

Clare Collins, a professor of nutrition at the Newcastle School of Health Sciences, conducted research on the long-term effects of GLP-1 drugs and raised the alarm about potential malnutrition with the popular medications.

Once the province of pirates, scurvy is caused by a deficiency in vitamin C. The condition once accounted for up to 50 percent of deaths of sailors at sea, until it was discovered that providing those on long voyages with citrus fruit would prevent them from becoming ill.

It takes at least a month with little to no vitamin C for scurvy to develop. Symptoms can include irritability, fatigue, weakness and joint pain in the early stages. If scurvy progresses, it can cause anemia, bleeding of the gums, loss of teeth, bruising, bleeding under the skin, leg swelling, rough or scaly skin, wounds that don’t heal or reopen and dry, brittle hair.

If left untreated, scurvy is fatal.

Collins noted that there has been little research on the dietary habits of those taking GLP-1 medications and whether they are getting an adequate intake of key nutrients, like protein, and essential vitamins while eating a reduced amount of food.

With the Food and Drug Administration’s recent approval of GLP-1 pills, which would provide an alternative to the injectable drugs currently on the market, the use of weight loss drugs is expected to continue to rise.

Collins said her research shows the importance of monitoring more than just weight and blood sugar in GLP-1 patients, to ensure they are getting the appropriate nutrients before problems can develop.