Research hub
GLP-1 microdosing research
What the trials actually show — and the gap between that and commercial microdosing claims.
The research on GLP-1 microdosing is mostly indirect: strong dose-response and maintenance evidence exists for the approved products at their studied doses, but there is little direct evidence that a deliberate 'microdose' delivers meaningful weight loss. This hub maps what exists to what is claimed.
What the evidence shows
- Dose-response (STEP, SURMOUNT) and maintenance/withdrawal (STEP 4, SURMOUNT-4, SURMOUNT-MAINTAIN) are well studied for approved products.
- Real-world telehealth cohorts describe outcomes at various doses.
What the evidence does not show
- That commercial microdosing reproduces those results.
- That less-frequent dosing maintains outcomes — evidence is weak.
- That compounded oral/ODT products have clinical efficacy evidence.
Study library
Each page below is built on the verified trials dataset (NCT + PMID + DOI) and reviewed by our named medical reviewer.
Landmark approved-product trials
The table below is the backbone dataset for the study library: the major randomized trials of approved semaglutide and tirzepatide products. These establish what labeled doses achieve — and, by their absence of any compounded or microdose arm, exactly what the microdosing conversation lacks.
| Trial | Product | N | Key result | Source | ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEP 1 | semaglutide 2.4 mg (weekly SC) | 1,961 | Mean weight change about -14.9% vs -2.4% placebo | N Engl J Med 2021 | NCT03548935 · PMID 33567185 · DOI |
| STEP 3 | semaglutide 2.4 mg + intensive behavioral therapy | 611 | About -16.0% with drug + IBT vs -5.7% placebo + IBT | JAMA 2021 | NCT03611582 · PMID 33625476 · DOI |
| STEP 4 | semaglutide 2.4 mg (continuation vs withdrawal) | 803 | Continuing lost further weight; switching to placebo regained substantial weight | JAMA 2021 | NCT03548987 · PMID 33755728 · DOI |
| SURMOUNT-1 | tirzepatide (5/10/15 mg weekly SC) | 2,539 | Up to about -20.9% at 15 mg vs -3.1% placebo | N Engl J Med 2022 | NCT04184622 · PMID 35658024 · DOI |
| SURMOUNT-2 | tirzepatide (10/15 mg) | 938 | About -12.8% to -14.7% vs -3.2% placebo | Lancet 2023 | NCT04657003 · PMID 37385274 · DOI |
| SURMOUNT-4 | tirzepatide (maintenance vs withdrawal) | 670 | Continued treatment maintained loss; withdrawal led to regain | JAMA 2024 | NCT04660643 · PMID 38078870 · DOI |
| SELECT | semaglutide 2.4 mg | 17,604 | About 20% reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events | N Engl J Med 2023 | NCT03574597 · PMID 37952131 · DOI |
| SUSTAIN-6 | semaglutide (weekly SC) | 3,297 | Reduced CV events vs placebo in type 2 diabetes | N Engl J Med 2016 | NCT01720446 · PMID 27633186 · DOI |
| OASIS 1 | oral semaglutide 50 mg | 667 | About -15.1% vs -2.4% placebo with the approved oral formulation | Lancet 2023 | NCT05035095 · PMID 37385278 · DOI |
Machine-readable: studies.json, studies.csv. All nine trials carry verified NCT, PMID, and DOI identifiers (ClinicalTrials.gov / PubMed).
See the evidence database for the claim-level record and weight-loss chart.
Frequently asked questions
Is there evidence microdosing works?
Little direct evidence. The robust data are for approved products at studied doses; a deliberate microdose's weight-management benefit is unproven.
Not medical advice. This page is consumer education, not medical advice, and does not recommend a dose, product, or provider. Compounded medications are not FDA approved. Talk with a licensed clinician about your situation.