One other MLM GLP-1 complement, one other day.
Lifevantage Mindbody GLP-1 System
Lifevantage is simply one other multi stage advertising and marketing firm that has come out with a GLP-1 ‘system’ aka complement, to attempt to experience on the coattails of the extremely widespread and profitable GLP-1 agonist drugs.
The issue with all of those GLP-1 dietary supplements, is that they do NOT work just like the precise GLP-1 drugs. Not even shut in each operate and efficacy.
Lifevantage makes some very daring claims about its Mindbody GLP-1 system:
The truth that they’d say that individuals misplaced weight however no muscle is a large pink flag. It’s nearly unattainable to attain weight lack of solely fats with out muscle, besides when you’re having liposuction.
Not the little asterisks at every level, which result in the ever-present FDA disclaimer that will get Lifevantage out of being sued for making these claims. Keep in mind that the FDA solely appears to be like into dietary supplements if somebody is harmed from them. Firms could make just about no matter claims they need, so long as they’ve the disclaimer:
Whereas GLP-1 agonist drugs are very highly effective in slowing digestion and curbing urge for food, there are not any dietary supplements or meals that have an impact that even approaches them.
Lifevantage Mindbody GLP-1 System claims to have analysis behind it, and to an untrained eye, that analysis seems compelling. Sadly for Lifevantage, my eye is skilled, and I’m not impressed. Right here’s why:
The 12-week examine was finished on 60 individuals, divided into three teams. One group was supplied with no complement or schooling. They have been the management group.
One group had the GLP-1 system, plus a industrial protein powder.
The final group had the GLP-1 system, a industrial protein powder, plus weight loss plan and train counselling.
Within the outcomes, we see that each the intervention teams misplaced weight. However wait…Lifevantage didn’t report on the management group in any respect. How can we see how efficient the system is with out evaluating it to the group who didn’t obtain any intervention?
We are able to’t!
One other big flaw was that this examine wasn’t blinded. Intervention teams knew they have been receiving the dietary supplements, which places the examine at an enormous threat for bias. Likelihood is, these individuals additionally made modifications to their weight loss plan and exercise patterns (and one of many teams was even counselled to try this) which may skew the outcomes. It could actually additionally induce the placebo impact, with contributors in these two teams saying that the complement ‘lowered cravings’ and ‘much less emotional consuming.’
Lifevantage additionally did an in-vitro examine on their Mindbody GLP-1 system, which confirmed a 150% improve in GLP-1 manufacturing. Are you a cell? In-vitro research don’t present efficacy of a product in precise human beings, and simply because a cell examine confirmed extra GLP-1 manufacturing doesn’t imply that this may occur in an individual and have the specified outcomes by way of weight.
The Lifevantage Mindbody GLP-1 mix has a combination (after all, a lot of it’s proprietary) of plant elements which might be the standard suspects in a lot of these kind of GLP-1 dietary supplements.
Actually none of those elements have been confirmed to be as efficient as GLP-1 agonists.
In the event that they have been, we wouldn’t have needed to invent Ozempic.
Fibre and protein improve GLP-1 manufacturing in our intestine. Your finest guess is to forgo the costly dietary supplements from MLM corporations, all of whom have predatory gross sales fashions that make the most of weak individuals (largely ladies). Please don’t feed the monster.
Learn: listed here are my points with MLMs and their coaches.
What’s Lifevantage Protandim NRF2?
Protandim is a plant-based nutraceutical that comprises milk thistle, bacopa, turmeric, ashwangandha, and inexperienced tea, and this mix is meant to extend the physique’s antioxidant exercise.
This sounds nice, however I’m skeptical. How do these readily-available, primary crops do all of the fantabulous issues that Protandim says they will?
Particularly:
Gene ‘detoxing’
Decreasing oxidative and mobile stress
Regulating ‘survival genes’
Supporting the physique’s capacity to ‘restore and rejuvenate its personal cells’
These are some hefty claims. We all know that oxidative stress could result in accelerated ageing, and should result in illnesses resembling most cancers. However keep in mind that this stuff are difficult, and multifactorial.
Protandim NRF2 Synergizer is “clinically confirmed to scale back oxidative stress in people by 40% in 30 days…it has been proven to extend superoxide dismutase ranges by 30%, and catalase by 54%. When people have been supplemented with Protandim Nrf2 Synergizer for 30 days, the age-dependent improve in lipid peroxidation was lowered to the extent of a 20-year-old.”
Sounds sciencey! DISMUTASE THO.
Primarily what the corporate is saying this complement does, is cut back harm to cells from, effectively, residing life. Lipid peroxidation is solely the method the place free radicals (which we don’t need a number of) are created from fatty acids within the physique. Superoxide dismutase is an enzyme that neutralizes free radicals. Catalase is yet one more enzyme discovered within the physique, that neutralizes free radicals.
So sure, these issues are good to have.
Lifevantage Protandim Analysis.
I went on the lookout for the analysis on Protandim, because it sounded so wonderful.
What I discovered was not so wonderful. SHOCKER.
One factor to recollect about ALL MLM merchandise: if one thing spectacularly revolutionary and life-changing existed, the FDA could be promoting it, not an MLM.
I promise you that.
So about that analysis:
The overwhelming majority of the research finished on Protandim have been finished on rats and on cells in lab dishes. And whereas I don’t assume animal research are nugatory, they’re preliminary. We aren’t rodents, genetically, socially, and bodily, and we will’t simply extrapolate the outcomes of animal research to people doing precise human analysis to again it up.
In different phrases, an organization like Lifevantage can and does declare that its merchandise have been researched at Harvard and different nice establishments, but when that analysis has solely been on animals or in a lab, effectively, I’m unimpressed. Sorry. It’s an enormous leap – to not point out disingenuous and deceptive – to make use of these research to market a product, however so many corporations do that.
The 2006 human examine that Protandim quoted above is just a half-truth: sure, there was a 40% lower in oxidative stress in examine topics – utilizing the TBARS check (which isn’t thought-about to be a dependable marker.) The methodology was additionally a large number.
One other human examine finished in 2016 on Protandim supplementation in athletes discovered that the complement had no impact on TBARS or efficiency. The trial was additionally not randomized or managed, two severe marks towards it.
And so far as anti-aging, whereas Protandim could have elevated lifespan in male rats by 7%, why haven’t they reproduced these ends in people?
Perhaps as a result of they will’t.
I can let you know although that trying by all of the research which have been finished on Protandim, there aren’t a number of outcomes that present the dietary supplements being helpful to the ageing course of, illness prevention, psychological acuity, or oxidative stress and points ensuing from it. It’s superb to say that your complement will increase X or Y within the physique, however what impact does that improve have?
In all probability nothing, since we’re all nonetheless getting older, and Protandim hasn’t launched any compelling proof on the contrary. And imagine me, they’ve had loads of time.
Protandim’s different merchandise aren’t any higher.
Lifevantage Protandim NRF1.
The NRF1 Synergizer is similar previous factor – they mix L-carnitine, quercitin, alpha lipolic acid, and Q10, and declare that NRF1 provides you vitality (‘Enhance ATP!’) and extra mitochondria.
None of those claims have been confirmed in any analysis in any respect.
The truth is, L-carnitine is available in meals, and our our bodies make it themselves. It has a popularity amongst weightlifters for growing endurance, however these aren’t supported by science.
Lifevantage Protandim NAD Synthesizer.
Their NAD Synthesizer capitalizes on the latest reputation of the Sirtfood Weight loss program – the one which Adele used to lose a ton of weight (I reviewed it right here).
Protandim claims that the mixture of theacrine – a compound present in tea, plus niacin, copper, wasabi, and olive leaf enhance cell signalling pathways and will increase sirtuin exercise by 94%.
In accordance with Protandim, NAD Synthesizer:
Improves temper and motivation
Improves focus and focus
Boosts psychological and bodily vitality
Helps wholesome longevity and autophagy
Helps the physique’s inflammatory response
Maintains levels of cholesterol which might be ALREADY within the wholesome vary
However as you’ve most likely guessed, there’s completely no analysis to show the efficacy of this complement for any of the above claims.
Wasabi? Go the spicy tuna rolls!
In different phrases, Protandim looks like a complete dumpster fireplace.
In 2017, Lifevantage was served with a warning letter by the FDA for claiming that Protandim can deal with sure illnesses. They have been purported to take away all of these claims, they usually did. However the livelihood of the product depends upon its supposed efficacy in enhancing well being and reducing threat for illness, and due to this fact, the corporate’s advertising and marketing nonetheless implies that Protandim can impact these issues.
As a result of MLM.
Backside Line:
Lifevantage and Protandim appear to make a number of claims that they will’t assist. They makes use of scientific jargon supposedly to persuade potential clients that the corporate is aware of its stuff, but it surely looks like a complete rip-off…they’re promoting dietary supplements that human analysis doesn’t again up.
