WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- Some patients on weight loss drugs have developed scurvy, a sign of a nutrient deficiency, according to the Advisory Board and researchers at the University of Newcastle.

Scurvy is a disease mostly known for its connection to the deaths of nearly two million sailors between 1500 and 1800. The condition is rarely seen in the 21st century.

Weight loss drugs like Ozempic are becoming more popular than they were two years ago and there have been some cases where patients developed scurvy. Amanda Kann, the medical director at The Wellness Drip in West Springfield, said those cases of scurvy are very rare. “But it’s not the medication. It’s that they’re not eating the right food,” she explained.

Kann noted she walks clients through nutrition and preparation education before clients go on any type of GLP-1. “I talk a lot about how these medications are a tool in your toolbox. They are not an automatic result guaranteed, so they’re going to help you lose the weight, but what you do still really matters,” she explained.

Nutrition and exercise are important when taking these types of medication because they can suppress appetite. “And so, what you eat matters more, so we talk about eating nutrient-dense foods, eating high-protein fruits, vegetables, those sorts of things, prioritizing eating those first. So, that way, we can avoid these nutritional deficiencies before they start,” she added.

Kann has yet to see any cases of scurvy at the clinic. Nutritional deficiencies can be treated before a patient contracts scurvy. The Wellness Drip offers vitamin injections and IV drips as part of their weight loss packages. “So, when people aren’t necessarily hungry or might have some side effects like nausea from these medications, we sort of bypass your stomach and all of that and are able to just give you the nutrients that you need directly into your bloodstream for your body to use and absorb,” she noted.

Signs of nutrient deficiency include feeling unusually tired, easy bruising, and in extreme cases, hair loss. The medications can be effective tools to help kick start a weight loss journey, but experts say patients should always consult with a medical provider before taking any form of a GLP-1.

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