Another 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 journey on the coattails of the extremely widespread and profitable GLP-1 agonist medicines.
The drawback with all of those GLP-1 dietary supplements, is that they do NOT work just like the precise GLP-1 medicines. Not even shut in each operate and efficacy.
Lifevantage makes some very daring claims about its Mindbody GLP-1 system:
The indisputable fact that they’d say that folks misplaced weight however no muscle is a big crimson flag. It’s nearly not possible to attain weight lack of solely fats with out muscle, besides in the event 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. Remember that the FDA solely appears to be like into dietary supplements if somebody is harmed from them. Companies could make just about no matter claims they need, so long as they’ve the disclaimer:
While GLP-1 agonist medicines are very highly effective in slowing digestion and curbing urge for food, there aren’t 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. Unfortunately for Lifevantage, my eye is educated, and I’m not impressed. Here’s why:
The 12-week examine was performed on 60 folks, divided into three teams. One group was supplied with no complement or training. They had 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-reduction plan and train counselling.
In the outcomes, we see that each the intervention teams misplaced weight. But 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 can’t!
Another large flaw was that this examine wasn’t blinded. Intervention teams knew they had been receiving the dietary supplements, which places the examine at an enormous threat for bias. Chances are, these folks additionally made adjustments to their weight-reduction plan and exercise patterns (and one of many teams was even counselled to do this) which might skew the outcomes. It may induce the placebo impact, with individuals in these two teams saying that the complement ‘reduced cravings’ and ‘less emotional eating.’
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 mix (after all, a lot of it’s proprietary) of plant elements which can be the same old suspects in lots of these kind of GLP-1 dietary supplements.
Literally none of those elements have been confirmed to be as efficient as GLP-1 agonists.
If they had been, we wouldn’t have needed to invent Ozempic.
Fibre and protein improve GLP-1 manufacturing in our intestine. Your greatest wager is to forgo the costly dietary supplements from MLM firms, all of whom have predatory gross sales fashions that reap the benefits of weak folks (principally ladies). Please don’t feed the monster.
Read: listed below are my points with MLMs and their coaches.
What is Lifevantage Protandim NRF2?
Protandim is a plant-based nutraceutical that incorporates milk thistle, bacopa, turmeric, ashwangandha, and inexperienced tea, and this mixture is meant to extend the physique’s antioxidant exercise.
This sounds nice, however I’m skeptical. How do these readily-available, fundamental vegetation do all of the fantabulous issues that Protandim says they will?
Namely:
Gene ‘detoxification’
Reducing oxidative and mobile stress
Regulating ‘survival genes’
Supporting the physique’s capacity to ‘repair and rejuvenate its own cells’
These are some hefty claims. We know that oxidative stress could result in accelerated growing older, and will result in ailments akin to most cancers. But keep in mind that these items are difficult, and multifactorial.
Protandim NRF2 Synergizer is “clinically proven to reduce oxidative stress in humans by 40% in 30 days…it has been shown to increase superoxide dismutase levels by 30%, and catalase by 54%. When individuals were supplemented with Protandim Nrf2 Synergizer for 30 days, the age-dependent increase in lipid peroxidation was reduced to the level of a 20-year-old.”
Sounds sciencey! DISMUTASE THO.
Essentially what the corporate is saying this complement does, is cut back harm to cells from, nicely, dwelling life. Lipid peroxidation is solely the method the place free radicals (which we don’t need numerous) are created from fatty acids within the physique. Superoxide dismutase is an enzyme that neutralizes free radicals. Catalase is one more enzyme discovered within the physique, that neutralizes free radicals.
So sure, these issues are good to have.
Lifevantage Protandim Research.
I went searching for the analysis on Protandim, because it sounded so superb.
What I discovered was not so superb. 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 performed on Protandim have been performed on rats and on cells in lab dishes. And whereas I don’t suppose animal research are nugatory, they’re preliminary. We aren’t rodents, genetically, socially, and bodily, and we are able to’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, nicely, 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 firms do that.
The 2006 human examine that Protandim quoted above is simply a half-truth: sure, there was a 40% lower in oxidative stress in examine topics – utilizing the TBARS take a look at (which isn’t thought of to be a dependable marker.) The methodology was additionally a large number.
Another human examine performed 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 leads to people?
Maybe as a result of they will’t.
I can let you know although that wanting by all of the research which have been performed on Protandim, there aren’t numerous outcomes that present the dietary supplements being helpful to the growing older course of, illness prevention, psychological acuity, or oxidative stress and points ensuing from it. It’s advantageous to say that your complement will increase X or Y within the physique, however what impact does that improve have?
Probably nothing, since we’re all nonetheless getting older, and Protandim hasn’t launched any compelling proof on the contrary. And consider me, they’ve had loads of time.
Protandim’s different merchandise aren’t any higher.
Lifevantage Protandim NRF1.
The NRF1 Synergizer is identical previous factor – they mix L-carnitine, quercitin, alpha lipolic acid, and Q10, and declare that NRF1 provides you power (‘Boost ATP!’) and extra mitochondria.
None of those claims have been confirmed in any analysis in any respect.
In reality, L-carnitine is available in meals, and our our bodies make it themselves. It has a popularity amongst weightlifters for rising endurance, however these aren’t supported by science.
Lifevantage Protandim NAD Synthesizer.
Their NAD Synthesizer capitalizes on the current recognition of the Sirtfood Diet – 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%.
According to Protandim, NAD Synthesizer:
Improves temper and motivation
Improves focus and focus
Boosts psychological and bodily power
Supports wholesome longevity and autophagy
Supports the physique’s inflammatory response
Maintains levels of cholesterol which can be ALREADY within the wholesome vary
But as you’ve in all probability guessed, there’s completely no analysis to show the efficacy of this complement for any of the above claims.
Wasabi? Pass 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 ailments. They had been purported to take away all of these claims, and so they did. But the livelihood of the product will depend on its supposed efficacy in bettering 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.
Because MLM.
Bottom Line:
Lifevantage and Protandim appear to make numerous claims that they will’t assist. They makes use of scientific jargon supposedly to persuade potential prospects that the corporate is aware of its stuff, nevertheless it looks like a complete rip-off…they’re promoting dietary supplements that human analysis doesn’t again up.