Reports of people taking GLP-1 medications being diagnosed with scurvy have risen. The drugs don’t directly deplete vitamin C; rather, their common effects—reduced appetite and slower gastric emptying—can lead to much lower food intake and fewer vitamin C–rich foods (fruits and vegetables), producing deficiency over time.
A July 21, 2025 BMJ opinion by Ellen Fallows warned that prescribing GLP-1s to people who already eat nutrient-poor diets can reveal or worsen malnutrition. She noted that people with obesity can be calorie-rich but nutrient-poor, and that combining an unhealthy baseline diet with appetite suppression or calorie restriction can cause clinically significant micronutrient shortfalls. Other contributors include gastrointestinal inflammation and some medications (for example, metformin). Reported deficiencies among GLP-1 users include vitamin C, thiamine, and magnesium.
Registered dietitian Fiorella DiCarlo describes how GLP-1s cause early satiety and slower gut motility, so some patients unintentionally consume only 600–1,000 calories per day and miss essential nutrients. Many avoid fruits and vegetables because of reduced appetite or new aversions to acidic or raw foods, and substitute bland, low-nutrient options like toast, crackers, or processed snacks to manage nausea or GI discomfort. Over weeks to months this pattern can produce vitamin C deficiency. Classic scurvy symptoms include easy bruising, bleeding gums, poor wound healing, fragile blood vessels, and fatigue. The good news: scurvy is reversible with appropriate dietary correction and supplementation (for example, a daily multivitamin or about 100–200 mg of vitamin C per day, as guided by a clinician).
How to reduce risk while using GLP-1 medications
– Get a nutrition assessment before starting therapy and monitor nutrient status during treatment, especially if your diet is already poor.
– Work with a registered dietitian to create a realistic meal plan that meets vitamin, mineral, protein, and calorie needs despite reduced appetite.
– Prioritize protein and eat on a schedule to help maintain intake. Try starting meals with a protein source, then have vegetables while you feel less full.
– Include fiber-rich foods (vegetables, fruit where tolerated, legumes) to help counter constipation from slower motility.
– Choose nutrient-dense, high-protein snacks such as low-fat yogurt, cottage cheese, kefir, or fortified dairy alternatives to support protein, calcium, and vitamin D needs.
– Stay hydrated to reduce dehydration and support GI function.
– Consider targeted supplements (a multivitamin or vitamin C) if dietary intake is insufficient; discuss dosing with your clinician or dietitian.
– Watch for deficiency signs—bleeding gums, easy bruising, slow-healing wounds, unusual fatigue—and seek medical evaluation if they appear.
Summary
GLP-1 medications can deliver important weight loss and metabolic benefits, but because they commonly suppress appetite and slow gastric emptying, they can increase the risk of malnutrition and specific micronutrient deficiencies, including scurvy, when intake of key foods falls too low. Pre-treatment assessment, ongoing monitoring, individualized meal planning with a dietitian, and supplementation when needed will help prevent and reverse deficiencies while allowing safe, effective use of these drugs.
