Update 12/6/22. At one time, Anatabloc was a SUPER popular anti-inflammation supplement. It was sold online and at GNC and elsewhere. It was touted to help reduce pain, help joints and arthritis pain, and reduce chronic inflammation. Anatabloc was unique. It contained an ingredient not found in any other supplement I've EVER seen in over 20 years of investigation. This unique ingredient also contributed to its own downfall. In this unbiased, updated review, I reveal everything you need to know about Anatabloc, from its rise – and fall – to the research and proof and the company which made it. I'll also shed light on other anatabloc supplements too.
What Is Anatabloc
Before we talk about Anatabloc (sometimes misspelled Anatablock), I need to tell you about Anatabine (also called anatabine citrate). Anatabine is the active ingredient in Anatabloc. Anatabine is a chemical found in
- eggplants
- potatoes
- green tomatoes
as well as tobacco and tobacco smoke (remember this).
Chemically, anatabine “looks” like nicotine. Because of this, it was also used some anti-smoking supplements. Anatabine has a longer half life than nicotine, so it stays in the body longer. That's why it was thought it might help people quit smoking.
How Does Anatabloc Work?
Here is the way Anatabloc was supposed to reduce chronic inflammation:
1. Anatabine enters the cells of the body where it…
2. Deactivates a protein called NFkB.
3. When NFkB is deactivated, it can't enter the nucleus of the cell (the brain center of the cell) to cause excessive cellular inflammation.
Inflammation is thought to play a role in MANY diseases, such as:
and many others.
So, if Anabloc worked, it might have disease-modifying benefits. If you read the comments below, you will see some people have said some pretty amazing things too.
Anatabloc Ingredients
Anatabloc contains these ingredients
| Anatabine | 1 mg |
| Vitamin A | 500 IU |
| Vitamin D3 | 40 IU |
This review will focus only on Anatabine because this is “secret sauce” in Anatabloc.
Other Ingredients
These other ingredients are also found in this supplement: Mannitol, natural and artificial mint flavors, sucralose, silicon dioxide, stearic acid, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, magnesium stearate, titanium dioxide (color), natural glaze, methylparaben, propylparaben, triethyl citrate, citric acid, BHT, mono and diglycerides, and polysorbate 80
These ingredients played no role in the results or benefits of Anatabloc.
Anatabloc Research
When this review was originally created, the proof for Anatabloc was mostly on lab animals. There is now human proof. This review will focus only on human research. Much of the research is on Anatabine, which is an active ingredient in Anatabloc. Still, proof for anatabine is proof for Antabloc.
Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals (more on them below) supports and plays a role in much of the research.
Studies On Anatabloc
In one report, researchers in the US gave Anatabloc or a placebo to 146 people with Hashimoto's disease – the most common form of hypothyroidism. People were given 9-24 mg of anatabine in the form of lozenges. Those taking Anatabloc saw a significant reduction in thyroid autoantibodies.
Some people saw over a 20% decrease in thyroid autoantibodies. This means better working thyroid glands.
One small study (10 people) noted a face cream containing anatabine improved skin appearance, reducing redness and blotchy skin appearance. This does make some sense. Niacin, which looks a little bit like anatabine has been used in skin creams for years.
Niacin is also VERY popular in the anti-aging world. See the Niagen review for more on this.
Anatabine cigarettes have been shown to reduce nicotine levels in smokers significantly. This study reflects the interest in using anatabine to help people quit smoking.
Because inflammation follows exercise, researchers were interested in seeing if anatabine would reduce inflammation after people worked out. In this study, 18 men were given either a placebo or 6-12 mg of anatabine per day for 10 days. They also performed an intense exercise program.
Unfortunately, this noted anatabine did not reduce pain, or swelling or help muscle strength. This is noteworthy, given TV commercials featuring pro golfers John Isner and Fred Couples.
In another exercise study, researchers gave Anatabloc or a placebo to 17 men. The dosage of Anatabloc used was 6-12 mg. While these researchers saw that Anatabloc did not reduce exercise-induced muscle damage, it did appear to reduce markers of inflammation such as C reactive protein (CRP). That is interesting.
Preliminary research suggests anatabine activates NFR2, a substance that raises naturally produced antioxidant defenses such as superoxide dismutase (SOD). This is at the heart of some proposed anti-aging supplements, such as Protandim and PB125.
There are also several lab animals and test-tube studies involving Anatabloc/anatabine. I won't cover them here because we are people and not mice, rats or test tubes.
Summary Of Anatabloc Research
Here is a summary of the Anatabloc human research:
- Anatabine reduced thyroid antibodies in people with hypothyroidism
- Anatabine lowers nicotine levels in smokers
- Anatibine did not reduce muscle damage, pain, or swelling but may lower CPR levels
Anatabloc Questions
Let's now answer some common questions people have asked me about this supplement.
Can Anatabloc help muscle soreness?
Muscle soreness after exercise (DOMS) is very common. Currently, the proof seems to show Anatabloc doesn't reduce muscle soreness, swelling or muscle damage. It may reduce a blood test marker of inflammation called CRP. I think we need more exercise research.
Can Anatabloc Help Concussions?
There is brain inflammation when someone gets a concussion. But there is no proof that taking Anatabloc:
- reduces the risk of getting a concussion
- improves recovery time after getting a concussion
- reduces brain damage from concussions
I cannot find any research involving anatabine and concussions.
In December 2013, the FDA sent a warning letter to Star Scientific – makers of Anatabloc – telling them to remove references on their websites which gave people the impression the supplement might help concussions and other forms of traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
For more on concussions and TBI see these reviews:
Can Anatabloc Help Multiple Sclerosis?
The proof that Anatabloc can help MS is in its infancy. There is some mouse evidence it may help, but no human studies have been conducted yet.
What About Anataboc and Weight Loss?
Websites might discuss how anatabine/Anatabloc can help people lose weight or reduce weight gain, which sometimes happens when people quit smoking. But there is no good proof for this. No study has looked at reducing gaining weight after quitting smoking.
What is CigRx?
This is the anti-smoking product Star Scientific was developing before it began researching anatabine for arthritis pain and other health problems. CigRx contains anatabine too.
Anatabloc Dosage
The general recommendation is to take 2 lozenges per day. Do not use more than 6 lozenges per day. Another dosage recommendations= take your body weight into consideration. Here the Anatabloc dosages would be:
- 100-120 lbs: 2 lozenges 3x per day
- 121-170lbs: 2 lozenges 4x per day
- 171-220lbs: 2 lozenges 5x per day
- over 220lbs: 2 lozenges 6x per day
I've never seen this dosage regimen used in human studies. So, I'm not sure how accurate this is.
Who Makes Anatabloc?
Anatabloc is a product of a company called Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals. Another name for this company is Star Scientific. Star Scientific was the original name of the company. When the research changed directions from looking at Anatabine as a cure for smoking to helping arthritis pain, the company changed its name to Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals.
The phone number for the company was 800-778-2031. The company website was Anatabloc.com (the website no longer works). When this review was originally created, the Better Business Bureau listed the company address as 4470 Cox Rd Ste 110, Glen Allen, VA 23060.
There is also a connection to another company called the RosKamp Institute, located in Florida. Some of the research on Anatabloc has been conducted by this company too.
The company has since filed for bankruptcy and is no longer making Anatabloc supplements.
Should I Invest In Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals?
Star Scientific formally changed its name to Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals in 2014. Its stock symbol is RCPI. It's a publicly traded company. Regardless of what you invest in, do your homework.
Be careful with “gurus” who talk stocks up on websites, as you don't always know who you are dealing with. Sometimes unscrupulous people say things about a company to create interest so they can pump the stock price up so they can dump it for a profit. This trick is sometimes called “pump and dump.” Unless you’re an investing pro (think Warren Buffett), I recommend you talk to a financial advisor before risking any money.
Anatabloc And The FDA
Many people think the FDA does not regulate supplements. Anatabloc is proof it does. Almost from the start, the FDA claimed anatabine contained a new dietary ingredient (NDI). A new dietary ingredient is any substance that was not sold as a supplement before 1994.
Products containing new dietary ingredients need to prove to the FDA they are safe. There is also the issue that anatabine is found in tobacco. Tobacco cannot be called a dietary supplement. I think this may also have played a role in the demise of Anatabloc.
Rock Creek pharmaceuticals state that because anatabine is found in things like peppers and eggplants, it is not new and can be sold as a supplement. In the end, the FDA won, and Rock Creek stopped making Anatabloc.
Calls To Bring Back The Sale Of Anatabloc
Problems with the FDA have not stopped people from hoping for the return of Anatabloc.
This has not stopped people who loved Anatabloc from continuing to hold out hope. Former customers have launched a petition at Change.org to petition the FDA to reverse their decision and let Anatabloc be sold again.
They created the website BringBackAnatabloc.org where you can share your testimony of how the supplement helped you, sign an FDA petition to bring Anatabloc back, and read news about the supplement.
How To Buy Anatabloc: Can You Still Purchase It?
While this supplement was once VERY popular and sold at GNC and other stores, it is no longer permitted to be sold in the US. The FDA forced Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals to stop the production of Anatabloc.
Anatabloc Supplements
While Anatabloc is no longer able to be purchased in the US, I did notice other companies selling supplements said to contain anatabine.
One such company is HydraPharm (PredatorNutrition.com). They sell a supplement literally called “Anatablok” which they say contains “pure anatabine.” Predator Nutrition is not based in the US. I am not sure if they are allowed to ship their Anatablok supplement to the US.
The supplement is marked as an anti-inflammatory nootropic (brain enhancer) used to support memory and attention.
The Va Governor Controversy
As if things could not get worse, Rock Creek Pharm found itself at the center of a very public controversy involving the former Virginia governor, Robert McDonnell, and his wife. It's alleged Rock Creek gave $165,000 in gifts to the former Va governor and his wife in exchange for helping Rock Creek's development of Anatabloc.
Anatabloc Side Effects
Anatabloc is probably safe for healthy people, at least for short-term use. Human research shows no significant negative side effects. Mild to moderate side effects reported have included:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Headache
- Tingling feelings
- Insomnia
In the comments section below, one person reported feelings of depression. This has not been observed in clinical studies.
Does Anatabloc Work?
Despite the problems with the FDA, several people swore Anatabloc worked. I never experimented with it when it was being sold and the only person I knew who did try it told me it did not reduce his pain. Pain is complicated and its possible others may have had better results.
Unfortunately, Anatabolc supplements are no longer available in the US. While, in the past, I have been rather hard on this supplement and Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals, I was sad it was taken off the market. I am happy to see some human research on anatabine, look forward to more and hope one day to see it sold once again.