(P20-042-25) Bovine Colostrum and Chicken Egg Reduce GLP-1 Induced Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Non-diabetic Subjects. Results of a Pilot Study

Objectives: GLP-1 therapy for weight loss/diabetes is effective but causes GI side effects in 50% of subjects. We examined if combination of egg powder + bovine colostrum (BC) mitigated GLP-1 induced GI side effects.

Methods: GLP-1 was initiated on clinical grounds. Only non-diabetic patients were recruited to reduce cohort variability. Patients were provided with sachets containing 7g of 55:45 ratio egg+BC and advised to take up to 3 sachets/day if GI symptoms developed. Follow up used a predetermined questionnaire regarding symptoms of nausea, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and overall benefit. These were graded as no improvement, mild/slight, moderate, major improvement or not applicable.

Results: 20 subjects, all GLP-1 naive, were enrolled. 12/20 subjects (60%) reported developing GI side effects requiring treatment following initiation of GLP-1. The symptomatic group comprised 6 M, 6 F, 2 aged 45-54 years, 6 aged 55-64 years, 4 ≥65 years. 9 received weekly tirzepatide; 5 @ 2.5mg, 2 @ 5mg, 1@ 7.5mg, 1 @12.5 mg. Three received semaglutide 1 @1 mg & 2 @2 mg/week.

Overall benefit: An overall benefit of egg +BC was reported by all 12 symptomatic subjects (5/12 reporting mild/slight benefit, 7/12 major benefit). Median dose taken was 1 sachet/day (range 1-2)

Nausea was reported in 10/12, with egg+BC providing mild/slight benefit in 5/10, moderate benefit in 2/10, and major improvement in 3/10.

Diarrhea was reported in 9/12 (egg + BC provided no improvement in 1/9, mild/slight improvement in 3/9, moderate improvement in 2/9, and major improvement in 3/9).

Constipation was reported in 3/12 (egg+BC causing mild/slight improvement in 2/3 and moderate improvement in 1/3).

Abdominal pain reported by 7/12 (egg+BC causing mild/slight improvement in 4/7, moderate improvement in 2/7, major improvement in 1/7).

Bloating reported by 6/12 (with egg+BC causing no improvement in 1/6, mild/slight improvement in 2/6 and moderate improvement in 3/6).

Conclusions: A high frequency of GI side effects occurred following GLP-1 initiation, with overall benefit of egg+BC being reported by all symptomatic subjects. Egg+BC may provide a natural, non-pharmacological approach, without diminishing efficacy of GLP-1. Placebo controlled randomized trials should be performed.

Funding Sources: None