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India Today
4 days ago
- Health
- India Today
How safe are ‘natural' Ozempic alternatives in diabetes care?
It was late evening when Meera Rao sat at her kitchen table, surrounded by brightly coloured bottles—some labeled 'saffron blend', others 'organic GLP1 support'. The glossy covers promised safer, natural alternatives to GLP1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) drugs such as Ozempic, touting appetite control, gentle bloodsugar regulation and zero Rao, a 45-year-old homemaker in Noida, who had been recently diagnosed with prediabetes, felt overwhelmed. Should she trust a prescription GLP1 receptor agonist or experiment with a 'natural' dose?advertisementGLP1 is a gutderived hormone that enhances insulin secretion, curbs hunger and slows down digestion. Synthetic GLP1 receptor agonists—semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) or tirzepatide (Mounjaro)—have revolutionised diabetes and weightloss can induce up to 15–20 per cent bodyweight reduction while Mounjaro's launch in India has seen a sales surge, doubling in July 2025 alone to total over Rs 470 crore for 157,000 units sold. Unsurprisingly, India's GLP1 market, valued at about $106 million in 2023, is projected to expand nearly sixfold to $579 million by 2030. And India's broader diabetes care drugs market, ranging between $1.70 billion and $2.27 billion as of 2024-25, is expected to reach $2 billion-$ 3.7 billion by 2030. With over 74 million Indians already living with diabetes, projected to climb even higher in coming decades, the demand is the high cost and limited access to GLP1 injections drive a parallel boom: the rise of 'natural substitutes'. Products using naturally-derived ingredients are now being marketed to support GLP1 and GIP hormone pathways. With a polished label, 'natural' guarantee, a moneyback promise and five-star reviews, it lures hopeful consumers towards wellness narratives. Brand labels draped in pastel tones, slogans whispering 'organic, plantbased, gentle', and lifestyle images of yoga mats and herbal teas—all designed to feel less pharmaceutical and more holistic.A wave of 'gut-first' supplements are also being marketed as natural GLP-1 alternatives, aiming to mimic the hormone's appetite-suppressing and glucose-regulating effects. These products often combine ingredients like prebiotic fibers (inulin, psyllium), apple cider vinegar, cinnamon, berberine and probiotics to promote satiety, balance blood sugar and support insulin touted for mood and craving control, and glucomannan, a water-soluble fibre, are also being added to blends that promise to stimulate natural gut hormone responses. While the science behind gut health's role in metabolic regulation is evolving, most of these formulations lack the robust clinical data that GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic have, making them more supportive than substitutive in managing weight or substitutes, such as BRP, a natural peptide-based alternative to GLP1 drugs, are being researched upon as alternatives with less side-effects. Identified by researchers at Stanford via an AI-driven tool that sifted through thousands of potential hormone fragments, this peptide is taken from the BRINP2 protein through natural processing, and has been detected in biological samples including human cerebrospinal preclinical studies involving mice and mini pigs, BRP significantly suppressed appetite—reducing food intake by up to 50 per cent within an hour—and triggered fat-loss without any of the common side-effects associated with GLP1 drugs, such as nausea, digestive distress or muscle wasting. But its final efficacy will only come to light with human clinical studies and regulatory do they work as claimed? The evidence is thin. Experts caution that while supplements may support bloodsugar health modestly, they do not match the robust clinical results of GLP1 drugs. Weight-loss with supplements typically amounts to just onetofour pounds—compared to the doubledigit percentages achieved by prescription treatments. And because dietary supplements are less regulated, quality and safety vary widely. Some supplement lines position themselves as companions for GLP1 users—through a range of shakes and fibres to support those losing appetite and muscle mass on the medication itself. There is no harm in taking these alongside a prescribed medicine, say the lack of clinical proof, many like Rao continue to long for an easy, natural fix, but also fear complacency. In the end, Rao says she resolved to consult her physician, knowing that progress—not placebo—might require interventions that were clinical, not just India's rapidly shifting diabetes landscape, the allure of natural GLP1 alternatives is powerful, but careful awareness is essential. For all the pasteldraped promises, only proven therapies may offer more than to India Today Magazine- Ends
India Today
19-06-2025
- Health
- India Today
Sorry Dad, science says mom is the smart one
When little Aarav, barely four, started solving puzzles meant for eight-year-olds, his family was stunned, except his mother, who smiled knowingly. "He's always been curious, just like I was," she said, brushing off the praise. At first, everyone assumed it was just maternal pride talking. But as it turns out, science might actually agree with living rooms, classrooms, and playgrounds across the world, children display sparks of brilliance that often lead people to wonder: Where did that come from? For years, the answer felt split down the middle. But now, genetic research is beginning to tip the scales pointing, quite strongly, toward mothers as the primary source of inherited intelligence. Studies suggest that when it comes to IQ, mom may have the upper hand in the genetic lottery. Picture credit: freepik advertisementINTELLIGENCE LIVES ON THE X CHROMOSOMEThe theory that intelligence is passed on more significantly from mothers is rooted in genetics. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, and one pair determines sex XX for females and XY for males. Research shows that many intelligence-related genes are located on the X chromosome. Since women carry two X chromosomes, and men only one, the likelihood of a child inheriting these intelligence genes from the mother is statistically GENES AREN'T THE FULL STORYIt's important to note that genetics accounts for only 40-60% of intelligence. The rest comes down to environment, stimulation, education, and emotional support areas where both parents and caregivers play critical roles. "A child's potential is determined by genes, but how far they go depends on the environment they grow up in," says Dr. Meera Rao, a Delhi-based child psychologist. "Nutrition, emotional security, and access to learning are equally critical."NATURE MEETS NURTUREadvertisementInterestingly, mothers often end up playing a more central role not just genetically, but environmentally as well. Numerous psychological studies show that a secure emotional bondDOES BREASTFEEDING MAKE A CHILD INTELLIGENT?Breastfeeding may have a small positive effect on intelligence in children, but this effect largely disappears when you adjust for factors like the mother's IQ, education, and socio-economic status. Journalist Sarah Hall said to the Guardian "Breastfeeding your baby has little or no effect on its intelligence baby's brainpower 'more a matter of IQ AS A STRONG PREDICTORA BMJ study (2006) of over 5,400 children found that maternal IQ was the strongest predictor of a child's IQ. Once maternal IQ was factored in, other variables like breastfeeding or socio-economic status had little impact on cognitive outcomes. Scientific evidence strongly supports that maternal genes, especially those on the X chromosome, have a disproportionately larger role in determining a child's intelligence but environment and parenting still matter both parents matter, science says intelligence is mostly a mom thing. But don't worry, dads, you still get credit for the hairline.
