Update 7/28/20. Balance capsules from Alani Nutrition are said to help support hormonal balance, weight management, complexion, and fertility as well as improve overall sleep and improve energy levels. Sounds great but do they really work? Do they have any side effects? Do Alani Nu Balance supplements cause liver failure? In this review, you'll learn about the ingredients and clinical research on Balance hormonal support capsules. I'll also do a deep dive into the accusations of liver problems. If you know the research, you can better decide if they are right for you. For the record, I have no connection to this or any other supplement company.
Alani Nu Balance Research
No clinical research on the supplement could be located. As such it's necessary to look at the research on the ingredients in Alani Nu Balance. Let's do that next.
Alani Nu Balance Ingredients
There are six ingredients in Alani Nu Balance supplements. A serving is 4 capsules. Four veggie capsules contain the following ingredients listed in order as they appear on the label:
- Folate (as 5 methyltetrahydrofolic acid): 400 mcg (200%DV)
- Chromium 120 mcg (100% DV)
- Myo-Inositol 2 grams (no DV established)
- Glutathione 250 mg (no DV established)
- 3,3 Diidolylméthane (DIM) 150 mg (no DV established)
- Alpha Lipoic Acid 100 mg (no DV established)
As can be seen, even though folic acid (folate) is listed first, the supplement is mostly composed of Myo-inositol (2 grams).
Other ingredients contained in the supplement include:
- Hypromellose (used to make the veggie capsule)
- Silica
- Vitamin C palmitate
These other ingredients play no role in how effective the supplement is.
Let's look at the relevant research on each of the ingredients next.
Folate
Folate is a B vitamin (vitamin B9). Folate is critical for pregnant women because it reduces birth defects (neural tube defects). The vitamin can also reduce homocysteine which some think is related to heart disease. Folate does not appear to reduce miscarriage.
The supplement contains a specific type of folate called 5 methyltetrahydrofolic acid (5-MTHF) which is said to be the most biologically active form. Some people may not be able to make 5-MTHF. Thus, providing the vitamin in the 5-MTHF form can help those who can't activate the vitamin.
The Alani Nu Balance supplement label states 4 capsules provides 400 micrograms of folate. This is 100% of the non-pregnancy daily value for this vitamin. The label incorrectly states the supplement contains 200% DV.
Good food sources of folate include dark green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale, as well as fruits and vegetables in general. Nuts and grains and seafood also contain folate.
Folate is the natural form of the vitamin. Folic acid is the synthetic form. Supplements usually contain folic acid because it's better absorbed than the natural folate vitamin.
Chromium
The mineral chromium is known to help reduce blood sugar levels. As such, chromium may benefit women with PCOS – polycystic ovary syndrome. In theory, the blood sugar-lowering effects of chromium may benefit women at risk of gestational diabetes.
Most studies find chromium supplements do not help weight loss. That said, most research involves chromium picolinate. The Balance supplement contains chromium nicotinate. At least one study has noted chromium nicotinate may help weight loss. Overall, more clinical studies find it does not work so it's up to the reader to decide for herself.
Chromium supplements do not build muscle or improve athletic performance, so they are of little value to women who exercise and not deficient in this mineral. Balance capsules contain a specific form of chromium called TRAACS nicotinate glycate chelate. What that? It's chromium which is bonded to the vitamin niacin (nicotinic acid). It's also called chromium nicotinate. This form of the mineral may be better absorbed the chromium alone.
Myo-Inositol
This is the most abundant ingredient in Balance capsules. So, what is myo inositol? Inositol is a compound we get from foods like nuts, beans, and citrus fruits. It looks like sugar but its not sugar. The prefix myo refers to muscle. Inositol is called myo-inositol because it was first isolated from muscle.
There are 9 types of inositol. Myoinistol is the most abundant of those types. It's estimated Americans get about 1 gram a day from food although this may vary from person to person. Fruits, vegetables, and seeds are sources of natural inositol.
Inositol helps cells function by helping make up cell membranes. Inositol also helps cells communicate with each other and the compound also appears to regulate endocrine function.
What are myoinositol benefits? It looks like sugar but ironically, studies find inositol supplements can help lower blood sugar. The supplement seems to benefit women with PCOS and metabolic syndrome (pre-diabetes). Inositol also appears to help pregnancy-related diabetes too (gestational diabetes).
Some researchers have noted depressed people have lower levels of inositol in their blood. As such, some speculate Myo-inositol may be a natural depression supplement. So far the evidence is murky.
Some called Inositol vitamin B8, but this is not true. Inositol is not a vitamin because we can not make it in the body.
Glutathione
Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant defense substance that we make. Some call glutathione the “master antioxidant” because of its found in all the cells of the body. It's technically a peptide-protein molecule made up of the amino acids, glutamic acid cysteine, and glycine. As an antioxidant, glutathione neutralizes free radicals which can damage cells and DNA.
The Balance supplement uses Setria glutathione. Setria is the trademarked name of the Kyowa supplement company (Kyowa-USA.com). The company has supported research on their supplement to show it has benefits. This is likely why other companies use the Setria brand.
The Alani Nutrition company says glutathione brightens complexion and reduces wrinkles. While some studies have looked into the skin anti-aging effects, more research is needed to know which people it would work best with.
Several before and after Youtube videos by women do say their acne has improved such as this video of a woman who used the supplement for 5 months
The good news is it's not hard to raise your levels. Two inexpensive ways to boost glutathione production are exercise and taking N-acetyl cysteine supplements.
See the how-to naturally raise glutathione levels for more insights.
Diindolylmethane
Diindolylmethane is often called “DIM.” You make DIM when you eat broccoli, cauliflower, brustle sprouts, and other cruciferous vegetables. Researchers are interested in DIM because it may help reduce cancer. It appears diindolylmethane can modulate estrogen levels. Because of this, some feel DIM may help reduce hormone-sensitive cancers like breast and endometrial cancer.
DIM may also help men with prostate cancer too. That said, The anti-cancer effects of DIM will require human clinical studies to know for sure. While obtaining DIM from food is safe, those with a history of cancer should talk to their doctor about diindolylmethane supplements.
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is an antioxidant. The nutrient is found naturally in vegetables like broccoli and spinach as well as meats. Because of its antioxidant properties, ALA may be used topically to reduce skin aging although the reason it's said to be used in Balance capsules is to improve insulin sensitivity.
Various studies have noted alpha-lipoic acid can lower blood sugar levels in people with insulin resistance (pre-diabetes). While studies tend to use more ALA than is found in Balance capsules, it's possible that ALA -combined with the other blood sugar lowing ingredients – may work similarly. More research is needed.
Alpha-lipoic acid may also be used to help weight loss. Some studies note ALA may aid weight loss but if it works, the effects may not be noticed by most people. There are better weight loss supplements out there.
Estrogen Modulating Ingredients
Here's a breakdown of the ingredients which may alter estrogen levels
- Diindolylmethane (DIM)
Blood Sugar Lowering Ingredients
Here's a breakdown of Balance capsule ingredients that reduce blood sugar
- Chromium
- Myoinositol
- Alpha-lipoic acid
Several people have reported skin conditions like acne improved when taking Balance supplements. Some evidence suggests high blood sugar levels and insulin resistance are linked to acne. If this is true, then improving blood sugar control may help reduce acne breakouts. Given that 3 of the 6 ingredients in Balance capsules can modulate blood sugar, these ingredients may be responsible for the positive outcomes people are reporting.
Antioxidant Ingredients
- Alpha-lipoic acid
- Glutathione
Who Makes Alani Nu Balance?
The company is called Alani Nutrition LLC and the website is AlaniNu.com. The address listed on the bottles of the Balance supplement is PO Box 35159 Louisville KY 40232. Since this is a PO Box, its possible the company has its supplements made by another organization. No other business address could be located. The website was registered in 2017 by an organization called “Onyx and Rose.”
The company had an F rating from the Better Business Bureau. See the BBB file for updates and more information.
Alani Nutrition Questions and Answers
How much do Balance capsules cost?
One bottle is 49.99. If you purchase a subscription, bottles are $47.49. Not a big savings in my opinion
Can you take Alani Nu Balance while on birth control pills?
There's no proof the supplements interfere with birth control pills and increase the risk of pregnancy. Balance does not contain saw palmetto which some women fear increases pregnancy risk.
See the Saw palmetto birth control pill review for more insights.
Can it help hair grow?
There's no evidence Balance supplements regrow hair or improves hair thickness. If this happened to you, leave a comment below. For more insights on other supplements see these reviews
How do you contact Alani Nutrition?
No company phone number could be found. Customers can reach out via this email address: contact AT alaninu.com. Alternatively, you can write to their PO Box: PO Box 35159 Louisville KY 40232.
How to purchase
The company makes many dietary supplements. they can all be purchased directly from the company website AlaniNu.com. You can also find the supplement at GNC. It's possible some social media influencers may promote these supplements too. As a rule, be cautious with supplements from social media.
Money-Back guarantee
Supplements come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you opened the bottle, the company will refund you 50% of the price you paid. If you did not open the bottle, you will receive a 100% refund of the sales price. You need to email the company first to be issued a refund. See the company information section above for how to do this.
Alani Nu Balance vs Halo Kiwi
Halo Kiwi Seed Booster, made by glam life guru social media giant Tati Westbrook is super popular and like Balance, capsules have several happy customers. Halo Kiwi contains very different ingredients than Balance and like most supplements, there's no clinical testing that compares them against each other. So its anyone's guess which is better. See the Halo Kiwi review for more information.
Alani Nu Balance Side Effects
Bottles of Alani Nu Balance warn people to not take if you are at risk of high blood pressure or are being treated for high blood pressure, have kidney or thyroid problems or if you're being treated for psychiatric problems, anxiety, depression, have difficulty urinating, seizure issues, or have had a stroke. They also state the supplement is not approved for men with prostate problems. The supplements are NOT intended for children.
Testimonials posted on Amazon include the following:
- being sent defective bottles with the seal broken and different color/size capsules
- having allergic reactions / itchy skin
- bloating, acne, and altered menstrual cycle
- thyroid hormone imbalances
- weight gain, anxiety, and depression
Here are general considerations when taking Alani Nu Balance. This list is not complete:
- Start with less than recommended for the first week. For example, don't start with 4 capsules. Start with 1 instead.
- Taking with food may reduce stomach upset. The company recommends taking with food in the morning.
- Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Stop taking Alani Nu at least 2 weeks before having surgery
- Talk to your doctor if you take medicines such as blood thinners
- Those with a history of cancer need to talk to their oncologists
- Antioxidant supplements may interfere with cancer therapy
- This supplement is not intended for children
Alani Nu Balance And Liver Failure?
In January 2020, the New York Post and other news outlets reported that a 23-year-old Emily Goss from Texas who needed a liver transplant on Christmas day 2019 after taking Alani Nutrition Balance supplements for several months.
Heres's a video from news station KETK NBC:
This is an unimaginable nightmare. It appears to be the first case attributed to the Balance supplement. As the New York Post reports, Alani Nutrition denies the claims and states they partner with a licensed pharmacist when creating supplements and that their products are made in a facility that follows good manufacturing procedures (GMP).
What is going on here?
Some of the news reports I saw have called Alani Balance an herbal supplement. But none of the 6 ingredients in the supplement are herbals. So, if news reports are wrong about this, could they also be wrong about the cause of liver failure too?
One way to try to figure this out is to go to the LiverTox website. LiverTox maintains a list of supplements that have been linked to liver damage. I searched LiverTox for the ingredients in Alani Nutrition Balance supplements:
- Folate
- Chromium
- Myoinositol
- Glutathione
- Diindolylmethane (DIM)
- Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA)
None of the 6 listed ingredients in Alani Nu Balance seemed to be connected to liver damage.
I also searched the National Library of Medicine to see if there were isolated reports of hepatitis or liver failure. Here is a breakdown of what I found:
Folic Acid
No reports of human liver damage caused by folic acid supplements could be located.
Chromium
Some reports link chromium polynicotinate to liver hepatitis but in the cases, people were often taking a multi-ingredient supplement and not chromium alone. This leaves open the question as to which ingredient was responsible for the liver toxicity. For what it's worth, there is not much chromium in Balance capsules (only 120 micrograms).
Myo-Inositol (Inositol)
Reports of human liver failure caused by inositol supplements could not be located.
Glutathione
No reports of human liver failure by glutathione supplements could be located.
Diindolylmethane (DIM)
DIM supplements don't seem to be related to human liver failure.
Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA)
No reports of human liver failure by alpha-lipoic acid supplements could be located.
Summary: No good evidence for the ingredients in Alani Nu Balance causing liver damage in people could be found – at least from what I could tell. Leave a comment below if you found the evidence I missed.
Speculation: Other Causes of Liver Failure?
If the ingredients are not connected to liver damage, what could be the reason for what happened to the woman from Texas? We can only speculate. For those seeking answers, here is some speculation. Take it for what it is:
1 Could it be the unique combination of ingredients in Alani Nu Balance are responsible? In other words, some or all of the ingredients combined with each other to cause the problem. At this time, I'm not aware of this combination of ingredients causing problems.
2 Could the ingredients contain adulterations – other compounds not listed on the label? Unfortunately, China and other countries make many dietary supplement ingredients (and medications). In the past, the FDA has recalled several prescription medications due to the presence of hazardous compounds.
3. Could the liver damage be due to a tainted batch of ingredients? The company states they work with a facility that follows good manufacturing practices. That's good. But, what country do the ingredients come from?
Is Alani Nu Balance Right For You?
To me, Alani Nu Balance looks like an expensive inositol supplement. Myoinoisitol makes up most of the ingredients – and it's very affordable. Several of the ingredients lower blood sugar and this may help reduce acne too. There's no evidence the supplement improves menopause symptoms or helps women get pregnant. When in doubt, investigate health supplements you take and if you have medical problems, talk to your doctor first.
Hello,
So I have been taking Balance for approx. 6 months and just stumbled on what happened to that poor girl! It freaked me out!
Then, I stumbled on this and was glad to see it doesn’t seem to be Balance hopefully BUT I have had some weird things happen lately. I have been nauseous off and on where I thought I was pregnant or a stomach virus the past couple of months. I was even thinking about going to Dr. to get checked out. On the minor side, I have had slight side pain which is at random.
Maybe, it’s just a coincidence but now the nauseous part, I am really like hmmmmmmmmmmm. I think I might stop and see if I notice any difference. I too bought 6 months worth on Black Friday BOGO sale. And, I really like my face glowing, energy, less appetite, more “happy’, and better hormonal state. I hope Balance is not the culprit 🙁
I would like to just take something to clear up my skin which is not too bad and keep my hormone state well. I just had a baby so it really helped ease my crazy postpartum anxieties and well being, not like in my previous postpartum period.
Hi Veronica, based on what you said, try getting off Anani Nu Balance for a while to see if your symptoms clear up. Just because I was not able to find a connection between Alani Nu ingredients and liver problems does not necessarily mean there isn’t one. I’m not sure what caused the girl to need a liver transplant. But, it can’t hurt to cycle off of the supplement -and any other supplements you are taking – and see if your symptoms improve. If your symptoms don’t improve quickly, you might want to see your doctor. A quick blood test will tell how your liver is doing.
let me know what happens.
Hi Joe,
I’m not saying the two are connected, just after this story I began to wonder myself. I was taking balance for approximately 3 months. During that time I had blood drawn and my liver enzymes were elevated. My doctor thought it might be due to recent weight gain and suggested I lose 10% of my body weight.
After the 3rd month of no beneficial results from balance (it made me binge eat A LOT) I stopped taking it. A few months later I had to get my blood drawn again. My weight was actually the same, but my liver enzymes went back down to a low normal. Balance was the only supplement I was taking at the time.
Thought it could be worth mentioning, though not as extreme as liver failure. I now wonder if it could have gotten that far if I kept taking it.
I’m interested in how this all plays out.
Autumn, thanks so much for sharing what happened to you. It so interesting your liver enzymes went up when you took Alani Nu Balance but were normal again after you stopped taking it. I understand why your doctor considered your weight. Sometimes gaining weight can raise liver enzymes too. I’m still at a loss as to what may be behind the Alani Nu Balance liver issues. I have to think eventually there will be an answer.
So intersting you said Balance caused you to start binge eating also. I wonder if anyone else has experienced this. I’m really glad to hear your liver is back to normal! If you hear anything else on this, I hope you will let us all know.
Hi Joe, what are your thoughts on cinnamon vs berberine for insulin resistance?
After looking again at the ingredients list of Balance again, I’m still at a loss as to why it could have caused liver damage. I failed to mention that although I did not see any improvement in my acne on the 6 weeks I took it, I did lose my cravings to snack and lost a bit of weight.
Hi Julilana, both cinnamon and berberine have some evidence for improving blood sugar levels and insulin resistance. Between them, cinnamon has more overall studies. Interestingly there is some animal studies suggesting cassa cinnamon may be bad for the liver when used long term and in high doses. Im not aware of supplements doing this in people. I do want to do a review of both of these. look for that in the near future.
Reading what you, Juliana, and Britt are saying, plus the sad fact of the young woman who needed a liver transplant after acute liver failure that her doctors seem to attribute to this supplement, I think it would be crucial for customers to know WHERE this supplement is manufactured, or at least where its component parts come from.
I wonder if they tested the patient’s supplement bottle for contaminants? It seems so strange that acute liver failure of that degree would result from a list of ingredients which do not cause liver failure individually.
From the short video, it seems her doctors DO blame this supplement for causing the liver failure, and saying that x caused y is pretty bold for doctors to say without good reason. They usually say it COULD BE associated with the liver failure or something along those lines, but they, at least the doctor on the video, came right out with it. I think the company needs to tell customers exactly where it is manufactured.
I wrote a previous email like this, but I don’t think it went through.
Roseann, I agree it was pretty bold of them to implicate the Alani Nu supplement. My guess is they ruled out everything else. I don’t know if they analyzed the supplement for contaminants. Im not sure what country the ingredients come from. Supplement ingredient country of origin is something I’ve wondered a lot about since reading the China RX book. I am keeping an eye out for updates on this story.
I checked and this and your other email where only posts I saw from you today.
Hi Joe, I see from your link that Amazon has “The China Rx” book. I probably should purchase it and get scared. Unfortunately, I have to take a lot of prescription medications, and I take supplements. If components of medications and supplements are being manufactured in China outside of the purview of the FDA and other regulatory bodies, and if they are being manufactured under conditions that are less than satisfactory, that is really frightening.
And US companies, when profit is the bottom line (and we all have to make a living) are buying the least expensive components they can, well, chances are these components are coming from China and other countries that have cheap labor and maybe less exemplary manufacturing practices.
This is not to say that every American company uses good materials and great practices.
You and Consumer Labs have shown that that isn’t always the case!
But I believe that supplement companies should at least be telling consumers where their main ingredients are coming from. Some companies do.
Roseann, I understand your thoughts. The China RX book is definitely a page-turner. Rosemary Gibson who wrote the book really did her homework. The book has lots of references and she talked to industry insiders too. I can understand how a book like this would frighten people who take meds. The good news is I’ve been paying attention to recalls for a while I don’t see lots of them so that is good. My hope is the book picks up traction, gets the publicity it deserves and gets companies to return to making drugs here in the US or in countries that are our allies.
Let’s see what the future holds in store for all of this.
Joe, this goes way back to January, but I sincerely hope things change and that the USA becomes far less reliant on China for our medications, our medical supplies, and our ventilators now with COVID-19! I bought the China Rx book, and it’s frightening how dependent we are on China!! Thank you for bringing up the subject!
Roseann, I hope so too. I hope those discussions are going on now. After the dust settles I hope we have a public conversation about what we are willing to do as a nation.
Hi Joe,
Thank you for sharing the “LiverTox” website. It’s important for us to know that herbal supplements are not always safe just because they are natural. So any supplement I plan to buy will be checked first on your site, the LiverTox site, and Consumer Labs. Arsenic is natural (although not an herb or supplement), and it’s NOT SAFE! And your advice about starting on lower doses is also great.
Roseann, thanks so much and yes I should mention LiverTox more. it’s a good website resource.
Hi Joe
Thank you for your prompt reply. Yes I do know that exercise and weight loss are key in PCOS. I exercise 3 times a week which is tough with young kids and a job with long hours. I try to eat clean as much as I can but I do have issues with my diet due to a sweet tooth which I’m trying to curb. I’ll look into the 2 supplements you mentioned.
Thank you also for your feedback on DHT Block, will read up on beta-sitosterol.
Thank you once again.
Juliana, Im glad to help. keep me posted and feel free to ask if you have any other questions. I completely understand having a sweet tooth 🙂
Joe, thank you so much for sharing this. I, along with many other women, have been extremely concerned since reading the Emily Goss article and have had no answers or clarity on the matter. I have had an overall positive experience since taking Balance, but
It is obviously not worth doing damage to my body.
I do have one question for you in regards to chromium – is it true that it is not meant to be taken for long periods?
Again. Thank you so much for the clarity on this!!
Hi Britt, thanks so much for saying that. I worked so hard on this review after learning what happened to Emily. I feel so awful this happened and pray she continues to improve. Chromium supplements have been used by people since the 90s that I remember. Small amounts of chromium are found in foods like apples, tea and wheat bread.
I have not heard of any long term problems with chromium supplements. If I remember, the FDA has deemed chromium supplements safe for healthy people when taken for up to 6 months at a dosage of 200 micrograms (200 is what Alani Nu Balance has). Because chromium can lower blood sugar it may interact with diabetes medicine.
For what its worth I don’t think chromium helps weight loss. I added chromium to my list of scam weight loss supplements
Are peopel saying about specific about the long term effects of chromium supplements?
Thank you for the quick reply. Yes I read a comment on one of the articles I found mentioning the 6 months it is “safe” to take it. Do you know why the FDA states specifically up to 6 months?
Just curious since the product is advertised as something you take long term – another reason I’m going to stop taking it – I do not want to be dependent on a supplement forever and would rather add these things into my diet naturally.
I have also reached out to the hospital and other sources to try to get more answers on this “forensic evidence” that “proves” it was Balance that did this all on its own.
Hi Britt, I’ve seen a few 6 month-long studies on chromium supplements so that’s probably why the FDA picked that time frame. While I can’t speak for why the company would say it’s ok to take it long term, but one thing I wonder about is who is behind the company. All I saw was a PO Box. To me, that may mean the company has someone else make supplements. I didn’t mention it in the review but the website was registered by “Onyx and Rose.” I’m not sure what that refers to but there is a CBD/Hemp website by that name that also appears to be located in Kentucky.
If you come up with anything else on this, I’d be interested in learning more.
Hi Joe, so the company was founded by Katy Hearn and her husband Haydn Schneider. Their success comes from their popularity on Instagram and their fitness challenges. They have since then founded Bite Meals, Alani Nu, Onyx and Rose, and are launching a clothing line.
They HEAVILY push Balance through social media, and are always sharing all the positive testimonials, along with their own from taking it for years. Until recently, I have highly respected them as I have used and loved many of their products.
My issue now is how they are handling the current Balance situation. Comments from concerned customers are getting deleted from K&Hs social media without being addressed, and they have messaged many customers reassuring them it’s NOT balance and then deleted those as well.
I’m just concerned for the safety of the thousands of women that take these pills daily – in case there is something in them that is not on the label or something else we aren’t aware of.
Feel free to email me back if you’d like to discuss directly. Again – thanks! This article is very well written and informative and I will be sharing it with other women I have discussed Balance with.
Britt, I was wondering about Katy Hearn. I had not heard of her before but did notice some references to her as I was doing my research but was not sure. thanks for the confirmation. As I understand it shes a personal trainer. I’m not sure who she is certified by (I always wonder about this as I teach personal trainer courses).
Thanks for sharing my article with others. I worked really hard on this one.
Dear Mr Cannon
Your article mentions that for Myo-Inositol (Inositol), reports of human liver failure caused by inositol supplements could be located. Is that a typo error or there are indeed reports? Thank you.
Juliana, yes that was a typo sorry for the confusion. I corrected it. I could not find any evidence that myo-inositol (inositol) caused liver problems or elevated liver enzymes in humans. As it stands now, I’m at a loss for what caused the woman’s liver failure.
If you have any other questions, just let me know Thanks for catching my typo!!!
Hi Joe, thanks for your quick reply. I have just started taking Balance for the last 6 weeks. I’ve yet to see any very positive change in my acne which is the main reason why I bought it. I was hoping it would be my holy grail for hormonal imbalance but this recent case has really swung things for me.
I also recently bought like a 6 month supply while it was on sale, so it’s a real bummer. By looking at the ingredients alone, it would not seem to have caused the liver failure but there may be some other concerns like the manufacturing and their crisis control like Britt mentioned which is worrying.
It looks like I’ll take a break until there is some new facts that come up on this case. If you’ve any opinion on a supplement for hormonal acne, pls let me know, Joe. Meanwhile, thanks again for your input.
Hi Juliana, I’m sorry Alani Nu Balance is not working for you and that you purchased 6 months upfront! For what it’s worth, with the exception of DIM, I don’t see anything in Balance that would alter estrogen or other hormones. Even with DIM, I don’t see acne studies. I don’t think there’s a supplement for balancing hormones that I have faith in. The thing I’d wonder about if whether your hormones really are out of balance? Only your doctor can tell you that.
I agree about the liver failure controversy. I’m at a loss for what happened. I feel so bad for that girl.
I did look into this for you. Here are some things which have some clinical evidence for acne.
benzoyl peroxide – you probably already know this. Its been around for years and is not expensive. Look for a product that has a 5% solution. Some say a 10% solution is better but I think its a toss up. Either way, this stuff is not expensive.
Guggul (not the search engine). this is a dietary supplement. Its usually taken for cholesterol levels. At least one study has noted it may help.
Tee Tree Oil. One study appeard to show tee tree oil worked as well as Benzol perioxide.
Niacinamide gel/ cream. Niacinamide is a form of the vitmain niacin. With acne its applied to the skin.
Have you talked to a doctor/dermatologist about your acne? They may have other options for you. I’m so sorry to hear you are going through all this.
Hi Joe
Thank you for your reply. I usually give up on supplements after 2 months or so. With Balance this time, I was determined to give it at least 6 months since some commented they only saw changes after 3 months. Thank you for your input on some options for acne. I’ve been reading up for many years and still can’t seem to find anything that has helped much.
I did get my hormones checked and nothing seemed out of norm but I’ve been diagnosed with Pcos so I’m insulin resistant. My gynae did offer birth control which would definitely solve my issues but I don’t want to go down that path.
Have you heard of DHT Block by Delgado Protocol. I’m thinking of giving it a try. It would probably make more sense to give up sugar and lower down stress levels but it’s easier said than done. The problem with most of these supplements is that they seldom ship to Malaysia. Alani Nu did and at an affordable price. I’ll give them credit for that at least.
Thank you for your empathy. Going through deep and painful cystic acne every month at 40 can be very disheartening.
I will definitely run through the list you provided. I do use some of them but I’m trying to find something to address the cause.
Thank you again.
Hi Juliana,
So with PCOS and insulin resistance you already know exercise and weight loss will do the best job on this. I looked into Supplements supplements for PCOS for you and these have some evidence too
Berberine 500 to 1500 mg per day
L Carnitine 1000 mg to 2000 mg per day
I looked up DHT Block by Delgato Protocol for Health. This supplement also has DIM, like Alani Nu Balance but all the ingredients are in a propriotary blend so I cant tell how much of each ingreidnt is present. They only tell us each capsuel contains 750 mg of everything. The last ingredient in the blend is beta sitosterol. This is an extract of saw palmetto. It blocks DHT so this is probalby where the supplement gets its name from.
Beta sitosterol is also found in hair growth and prostate supplements for the same reason. Here are some reviews of supplements that contain beta sitosterol so you can learn more
Super Beta Prostate
Halo Beauty
Nutrofol vs Viviscal
Are you doing any physical activity currently? What does your diet look like? I do think these will make the biggest impact.