The Nutrient Gap

The science · Part 3 of 4

Your plate gets smaller.

Eating less is the goal. But a smaller plate also brings in fewer vitamins and minerals, and researchers are now measuring how often that turns into a real shortfall. Here is what they found, and what +Steady backs up.

The short version

  • In a study of 461,382 people on GLP-1s, 22% had a diagnosed nutrient shortfall within a year of starting.1
  • Vitamin D was the most common. In a separate study, vitamin D, magnesium and iron had the biggest intake gaps.1,2
  • +Steady backs up all three, plus B12, B6, folate and zinc, with BioPerine® to support absorption.*
  • It doesn't replace protein or a full multivitamin. More on that below.

What the research found

Researchers followed 461,382 people who started a GLP-1. Within 6 months, 12.7% had a nutritional deficiency on their medical record. Within a year, it was 22.4%. Vitamin D deficiency was the most common, at 13.6% after a year.1

22%

had a diagnosed nutrient shortfall within a year1

14%

had a vitamin D deficiency within a year1

One limit worth knowing: those numbers come from diagnosis codes in medical records, not from testing everyone, and most people in the study were managing type 2 diabetes. The true number could be higher or lower.1

A smaller 2025 study looked at what 69 GLP-1 users actually ate. Vitamin D, magnesium and iron had the biggest shortfalls, and only 43% reached even the low end of the recommended protein intake.2

Why these nutrients matter

  • Vitamin D: helps your body absorb calcium for strong bones, and your muscles and immune system need it too.3
  • Magnesium: takes part in more than 300 processes in your body, including energy production and normal muscle and nerve function.4
  • Iron: helps your red blood cells carry oxygen through your body.5
  • Vitamin B12: needed to make red blood cells and to keep your nerves healthy.6

Many people describe feeling drained on their medication, even on a good day. One person put it this way:

"some days it feels genuinely hard to get through normal daily tasks"

Patient review, Drugs.com, June 20267

Tiredness on a GLP-1 can have more than one cause, so if it doesn't let up, ask your clinician about checking your levels.

What's in +Steady

Per serving of two capsules:

Vitamin D3 50 mcg
Vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin) 525 mcg
Folate (L-5-MTHF) 400 mcg DFE
Vitamin B6 (P5P) 26 mg
Iron (bisglycinate) 18 mg
Magnesium 200 mg
Zinc 20 mg
BioPerine® (black pepper extract) 5 mg

Each mineral stays under the US upper limit for adults: iron (45 mg), zinc (40 mg) and magnesium from supplements (350 mg).5,8,4 Our iron is a gentle bisglycinate form at 18 mg, well under the 45 mg level linked to nausea and constipation.5 BioPerine® is there to support the absorption of the nutrients you take in.*

What +Steady doesn't cover

  • Protein. A capsule can't deliver the protein you need. Make protein a priority at every meal, and ask your clinician how much is right for you.
  • A full multivitamin. +Steady has no vitamin A, vitamin C or calcium. If you already take a multivitamin, compare labels or ask your pharmacist, since doubling up can push some nutrients close to their limits.
  • Iron for everyone. Men and people past menopause often don't need extra iron. If you've been told to avoid iron, +Steady isn't the right fit for you.

What +Steady can and can't do

It can

  • Back up vitamin D, magnesium, iron, B12, B6, folate and zinc while you eat less.*
  • Support absorption of those nutrients with BioPerine®.*

It can't

  • Replace protein or a balanced diet.
  • Diagnose or treat a deficiency. Only a test from your clinician can tell you that.
  • Replace a full multivitamin.

A smaller plate doesn't have to mean an empty tank.

Seven vitamins and minerals in two capsules a day, plus BioPerine® to support absorption.*

BACK UP MY SMALLER PLATE

30-day money-back guarantee. Free shipping on subscriptions.

← Part 2: Your digestionNext: Why it resets each step up →

Sources

  1. Butsch WS, et al. Nutritional deficiencies and muscle loss in adults with type 2 diabetes using GLP-1 receptor agonists: a retrospective observational study. Obesity Pillars. 2025;15:100186. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12205620/
  2. Johnson B, et al. Investigating nutrient intake during use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist: a cross-sectional study. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2025;12:1566498. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1566498/full
  3. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin D fact sheet for health professionals. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/
  4. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Magnesium fact sheet for health professionals. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/
  5. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Iron fact sheet for health professionals. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iron-HealthProfessional/
  6. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin B12 fact sheet for health professionals. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB12-HealthProfessional/
  7. Patient review, June 30, 2026, Drugs.com user reviews. https://www.drugs.com/comments/tirzepatide/zepbound-for-obesity.html?page=3
  8. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Zinc fact sheet for health professionals. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

This page is for general education, not medical advice. Talk to your prescriber or pharmacist before starting any supplement, and before changing anything about your medication. DigeZyme®, LactoSpore® and BioPerine® are registered trademarks of Sabinsa Corporation. Last reviewed October 2026.