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What we cite. Per product.

Every published source behind every formulation, organized by product. RCTs, meta-analyses, guidelines, and EHR cohort studies. We chose them; we did not pay them.

Reviewed by Zachary Poll, Founder of APLOMB. Cambridge, Penn, CHOP. · Last updated .

APLOMB. Facial Serum

What we cite for the two-driver mechanism.

Volume loss + the 9-16 week window (the volumetric half, what fillers address)

  • Cotofana S et al. 2021. Anatomical study of midface fat-compartment volume changes after rapid weight loss. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
  • Glogau RG, 2023. Clinical observation series on the onset of the GLP-1 facial-change pattern within the 9-16 week window. Dermatologic Surgery.
  • PMC12110338. Narrative dermatology review of GLP-1 facial volume loss and treatment algorithm. Source for the two-driver framing. View source ↗

The dermal-half evidence base (where the Facial Serum acts)

  • Sederma SAS, Matrixyl 3000 Technical Dossier. ~N=23, 2 months, twice-daily 3% formulation. 45% reduction in deep-wrinkle surface area; +20% skin tonicity by profilometry. Manufacturer-sponsored. Manufacturer page ↗
  • Sederma SAS, Synthe’6 (palmitoyl tripeptide-38) Technical Dossier. N=25, ages 42-70, 2 months, twice-daily 2%. In vitro: collagen I +105%, collagen III +104%, collagen IV +42%. Manufacturer page ↗
  • Li Y et al. 2023. Efficacy of yeast ferment + palmitoyl peptide eye cream. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology 22(8):2169-2178. N=37, 12 weeks, +54.99% collagen density, +18.81% elasticity by ultrasound and cutometer. No placebo arm.

No GLP-1-specific topical trials exist for this category. Evidence is in general dermal-aging populations and extrapolated on the shared collagen-loss mechanism.

APLOMB. Roots

What we cite for hair loss on GLP-1s.

Real-world incidence

  • Shah et al. 2024. EHR cohort study, 187,400 GLP-1 users matched to 187,400 controls. JAAD. Adjusted odds ratio 1.76 for telogen effluvium, 1.64 for androgenetic alopecia.
  • Wilding et al. STEP-1 trial, 2021. Phase III RCT of semaglutide for obesity. 3-4% report alopecia. NEJM. View source ↗

Why iron, D, and zinc, not biotin

  • Famenini et al. 2014. Iron and vitamin D in telogen effluvium and female-pattern hair loss. JAMA Dermatology.
  • FDA Safety Communication, 2017. Biotin interference with troponin and TSH assays at supplement-level doses. View source ↗
APLOMB. Calm

What we cite for nausea on GLP-1s.

RCT incidence + duration

  • Wilding et al. STEP-1 trial, 2021. 44% of users report nausea; median episode duration 8 days; severity worst in titration. NEJM. View source ↗
  • Jastreboff et al. SURMOUNT-1, 2022. Phase III RCT of tirzepatide. Nausea 17-22% across doses. NEJM. View source ↗

Adjacent-population evidence

  • Cochrane Review, 2014. Ginger for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. 26 RCTs. 30-50% reduction at 1 g/day. View source ↗
  • Matthews et al. 2015. Vitamin B6 for nausea in pregnancy. 30-60% reduction vs placebo. View source ↗
APLOMB. Protein

What we cite for lean-muscle loss on GLP-1s.

Real-world incidence + mechanism

  • Sargeant et al. 2019. Systematic review and meta-analysis of GLP-1 receptor agonists and body composition. Lean mass accounts for a substantial share of the weight lost. Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism. View source ↗
  • Wilding et al. STEP-1, 2021. Phase III RCT of semaglutide for obesity; the DXA body-composition substudy found roughly a quarter to forty percent of weight lost was lean mass. NEJM. View source ↗
  • Prado CM, Phillips SM, Gonzalez MC, Heymsfield SB. 2024. "Muscle matters": the effects of medically induced weight loss on skeletal muscle. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.

Intervention evidence

  • Wycherley et al. 2012. Meta-analysis of 24 RCTs (n=1063): energy-restricted higher-protein diets mitigated the loss of fat-free mass (+0.43 kg vs standard-protein) and resting energy expenditure. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 96(6):1281-98. View source ↗
  • Babault et al. 2015. Double-blind RCT (n=161), 12-week resistance program: 25g of pea protein twice daily increased muscle thickness comparably to whey and significantly above placebo. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 12(1):3. View source ↗
  • Bauer et al. (PROT-AGE Study Group) 2013. Evidence-based position paper: adults over 65 need at least 1.0-1.2 g protein per kg body weight per day (more if active) to maintain lean body mass and function. JAMDA 14(8):542-59. View source ↗
  • Maltais et al. 2009. Changes in muscle mass and strength after menopause: estrogen loss accelerates the muscle decline a GLP-1 then compounds. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. View source ↗

No GLP-1-specific protein-supplementation RCT exists yet. The intervention evidence is in energy-restricted and older-adult populations and extrapolated on the shared mechanism: a sustained caloric deficit costs lean mass, and dietary protein plus resistance training is the established way to defend it.

APLOMB. Breath

What we cite for bad breath on GLP-1s.

Prevalence + mechanism

  • ADA News, 2025. American Dental Association observational reporting on Ozempic-related oral malodor. ~30% of users self-report. View source ↗
  • PMC PMC12729639, 2025. Narrative review of three converging mechanisms: hyposalivation, early-ketosis acetone, gastric-stasis fermentation. View source ↗
  • Wilding et al. STEP-1, 2021. ~9% report eructation as adverse event, partial proxy for the gastric-stasis mechanism. NEJM. View source ↗

Intervention evidence

  • Quirynen et al. 2002. Zinc-acetate lozenges for oral malodor. Dose-response binding of hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan in the oral cavity. View source ↗
  • Mäkinen, 2011. Xylitol and the oral microbiome.
  • Hershey Q1 2026 earnings call. +8% Ice Breakers segment growth attributed to GLP-1 user pull-through. Investor relations ↗