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.
Joe,
FWIW, I have read Mauldin’s newsletter for several years. Also bought one of his books. His focus is investing and economics. He doesn’t promote products or stocks. He’s pretty well respected from what I know. For disclosure purposes, I did order Anatabloc today. If I think of it I’ll report my results in a month or so.
I was just quoting what I received from John Mauldin. I have not used the product. I thought that the article provided some useful information. I am not a shill for the company.
Chris, thanks for writing back. I did some quick digging on John Mauldin and Pat Cox as I was not familiar with them. It looks like they are people in the investment industry, yes? If Im right I tend to discount what they say if they are investors of Star Scientific. This is because their words might pump up the stock artificially and make people money. I addressed this possibility in my review. Im not sure if John Mauldin is an investor or an employee at Star Scientific.
I really didn’t notice much change for about 2 weeks. The remission of pain was not an “ah ha” I don’t hurt; it was more a realization over time that there was less pain. It wasn’t like the cortisone shots or taking a couple of vicodin. It was a gradual lessening of pain.
I still have days with pain. And mornings are still tough. But, most of the time, the pain is minimal. I ended up on this site as I was surfing for information on potential side effects. Pain free is good… bad side effects, if they exist, not so good.
Pat Cox of Breakthrough Technology Alert wrote an article describing Anatabloc that appears in today’s Outside the Box from John Mauldin. Here is his description of how it works (Cox has used the product for several years to very good effect).
In the paper “Inflamm-aging: An Evolutionary Perspective on Immunosenescence,” Franceschi and his team point out “… that the persistence of inflammatory stimuli over time represents the biologic background (first hit) favoring the susceptibility to age-related diseases/disabilities. A second hit (absence of robust gene variants and/or presence of frail gene variants) is likely necessary to develop overt organ-specific age-related diseases having an inflammatory pathogenesis, such as atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, and diabetes.”
In other words, you may have a genetic predisposition to atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis or diabetes but it is your own immune system that triggers these conditions. Many researchers studying this phenomenon have focused on NF-κB, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, as the root cause of the problem.
NF-kappa, as it is often abbreviated, is the alarm system of our immune system. NF-kappa is a transcription factor capable of activating your DNA to mount an immune defense. They exist outside of the nucleus in virtually every cell in your body but, if they detect something indicating injury or infection, they migrate into the nucleus and initiate an immune response.
As we age, NF-kappa calls in more and more false alarms until we are in a state of chronic low-level inflammation. Eventually, this chronic inflammation tends to localize at some point of vulnerability until we have a health-threatening disease that ends our lives prematurely.
For this reason, the quest for a substance that would calm down NF kappa activation without suppressing legitimate immune system function has been called the “holy grail” of modern medicine. To make a long story short, that holy grail has been found in members of the solanaceous plant family such as eggplant, peppers and tobacco.
In fact, this alkyloid was discovered while searching for an effective smoking cessation aid. Researchers have long known that there’s more in tobacco that leads smokers to smoke than nicotine. This was obvious due to fact that smoking has a powerful and pleasurable calming effects, via MAO inhibition, that nicotine does not provide. Moreover, despite the clear dangers of smoking, the tobacco plant has known medicinal values.
Jonnie Williams, the CEO of a company dedicated to lessening the harm of tobacco, Star Scientific (STSI), discovered that extra ingredient. After spending years and millions of dollars to find a safe food form of the substance, he proved safety with two years of Harvard University toxicity studies. Then, he put smoking cessation mints containing his anatabine citrate on the market.
Almost immediately, people began posting reports online of improvements in a variety of inflammation-related conditions. Intrigued, Williams took his substance to several important research organizations, including The Roskamp Institute and the Johns Hopkins Medical School.
Personally, since I began using the supplement two years ago, I’ve seen remarkable improvements in health. Due to a bad car accident while in college, I was far into the inflammaging death spiral. Tibial periostitis (shin splints) kept me even from walking distances. Severe cervical arthritis had left my right arm mostly unusable, making most upper-body exercises nearly impossible. Within months, both conditions were significantly improved. After two years, I have no symptoms. As a result, I was able to begin running and lifting weights again.
Additionally, my seasonal allergies, while still occasionally evident, no longer take me down. The same is true for my family and many of my friends. My optometrist was surprised to find that sight in my right eye, lost through trauma-induced glaucoma, had improved. I’ve dropped more weight than I care to admit and my numbers are all better.
Many others, including golfer Fred Couples, have also found life-changing relief from serious inflammatory conditions. Jonnie Williams wife’s thyroiditis, on the verge of surgery, reversed and no longer bothers her.
I could go on and on, but anecdotal stories such as these are not valid scientific evidence, though I’ve heard scores of even more remarkable accounts from the research scientists themselves who have given the supplement to friends and family. Even the dramatically successful results that have come from humanized animal studies are not proof that this natural compound, found in the over-the-counter nutraceutical Anatabloc, will work similarly in humans. The conditions we’ve seen improved in animals include, by the way, Alzheimer’s, thyroiditis and multiple sclerosis.
Unbelievable, right? I understand. So I’m not telling you to trust me or take the product.
Rather, I’m telling you to watch for final data from three major studies underway now. The Roskamp Institute, a leading brain disease research center, is doing the Alzheimer’s trials. Roskamp, directed by two of the scientists who discovered the amyloid connection to AD, Drs. Michael Mullan and Fiona Crawford, has also overseen an interventional study in Flint Michigan. Dr. Paul Ladenson, with colleagues from Johns Hopkins is following up an animal study of thyroiditis with a human study.
Preliminary results from the Flint study have been released, revealing that the active ingredient in Anatabloc, at much lower doses than I take, reduced C-Reactive Protein (CRP) levels in 61% of diabetic patients. CRPs are associated with the onset and severity of diabetes and other diseases. These patients, in fact, all had other diseases and extremely high CRPs so results are far more significant than they may appear.
The Hopkins thyroid study results should be completed in December but we already know that the human studies are providing statistically significant results. If they are similar to the animal studies, which provided the first ever improvements in thyroid disease, we will be able to reach extremely important scientifically validated conclusion.
In fact, positive results from all three ongoing studies would confirm the thesis that anatabine citrate does not treat specific diseases directly. Rather, it dramatically reduces the NF-kappa induced inflammation that effects all diseases. If this is true, and I’m personally convinced that it is, it means that we will be able to delay or prevent most of the conditions that prematurely shorten life.
I hope that this helps clear things up.
Chris
Chris, thanks for that. What i can say so far is that the research is still preliminary and while its intriguing I need to see more human research. Considering that Star Scientific is a real company that does real science, i find it ironic that they would release a supplement to the market based on 2 mouse studies an an as of yet not complete human trial.
As for Fred Couples, hes a paid spokesperson for Anatabloc and no matter what his results were, I discount his words since he has a financial intensive.
Im glad you have had some good results with Anatabloc. I just hope they get the research done to prove it to my satisfaction.
Do you worry that marketing and PR teams are seeing this and doing “damage control” and making up false stories about the product working?
This goes for all your reviews, not just this one.
Karla, yes it does occur to me. I do read each comment and I delete those that I believe are spam or the company of a product trying to post false or misleading information. These are not always easy to spot and so its possible that some may get through my
“radar.” That said I do try to answer “overly pro” comments with my own thoughts and concerns, such as the comment from “Chris” above.
Because I believe in freedom of speech, if Chris’s comments are real, I’m glad for him however 99% of what he wrote I personally discount because its based on theory or “proof” that isn’t “real” – and a golfer who is a paid spokesperson for Anatabloc. I do keep tabs on the Anatabolc research and when more is published, I’ll be adding it to my review.
If anyone ever has a concern about a comment as to it being false or misleading or “company sponsored” I hope they challenge the person or show me proof that the person is a “fibber” and I’ll be sure to delete that comment immediately.
I started taking it 3 months ago. I have not been without pain from back and joint issues for nearly 10 years. (Degenerative disc disease and arthritis) Steroids will help for a couple of weeks. Strong pain killers for a day or two. Maybe it’s all in my head, but I have not been without severe pain for this long in years.
For the month before I began I could barely bend over to pick up a piece of paper. Moving anything more than 10 lbs was incredibly painful. Now I move 40 lb boxes for 2-3 hours with minimal pain. I realize walking up stairs that I don’t hurt. Maybe it’s a coincidence, maybe psychological … I don’t really care. I will continue to spend $85 a month until the pain returns.
Paul how long did it take for Anatbloc to work?
There are a ton of Anatabloc reviews on the GNC website under the product information and on the Anatabloc Facebook page. Worth a read.
And I’ll bet they all say it works too 😉
My doctor told me about Anatabloc because he started taking it for chronic pain and it worked. Yes, he became an investor in Star Scientific and so did I. I have heard a lot of people say it works for them for a variety of inflammation-related diseases/problems. I am just a small shareholder in the company and not pumping and dumping. I think it has exciting potential. But I await results of a couple of their studies which could come out soon.
Greg, I hope you keep me posted when Star Scientific publishes future anatabloc studies. Its an interesting compound. I can say that the friend who originally told me about anatabloc did not see any relief when he used it.
Joe – This is a great analysis, very informative. I suffered a serious injury to my foot and after many dead end treatments to reduce the chronic pain I finally found a doctor who treated me for inflammation (not pain) and he recommended an omega 3 diet and fish oil supplements.
For me the result was amazing and much cheaper than this product. In addition I also use nicotine gum (very addictive) and I feel great today. I don’t recommend the gum unless you have a real issue with pain, but it does help. I heard about Anatabloc on Golf Channel by the way.
Pete, thanks for the heads up on the golf channel and anatabloc. Glad you found something that is working for you.
In response to Ron. It would not hurt you to take Anatabloc – it is very low toxiticity. Whether it helps you is another question. As I read your post and see that methotrexate has not helped you I am wondering if your doctor has ruled out a diagnosis of familial Mediterranean fever which has symptoms like rheumatoid arthritis and rashes (ever have a rash on the lower legs?). It is almost never correctly diagnosed – and it is very treatable. Middle Eastern ancestry (Ashekenazy or Sephardic Jewish, Turkish, Armenian, Arab) would put you in a risk group (but is not always obvious). Would you please e-mail me at janine.jagger@yahoo.com and I will give you further info.
Joe, I am 59 and have been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. My rheumatologist has prescribed methotrexate. I would have to say methotrexate has had minimal results since i started using it about a year ago. i asked him about anatabloc, he was unfamiliar with the product. Do you think trying anatabloc with methotrexate would be ok?
I make my living playing guitar and my fingers really ache, anything to help would of be great.
Hi Ron, good question and Im not sure. Ive never seen any study looking at anatablock and methotrexate. Why don’t you print up my review and show it to your doctor – or better yet, just print up the studies and show them. The research are basically mouse studies at this point though. I wish I had a better answer for you Ron.
I have a brief update on Anatabloc. About 5 patients with familial Mediterranean fever (a disorder that causes inflammatory regulation to go haywire) tried Anatabloc. The results were not impressive. Out of the five, one reported a reduction in only one of her multiple symptoms. The rest reported no benefit and one had to stop taking it because of feelings of anxiety and tension it caused.
There could be a confounding factor since all patients who tried Anatabloc were taking colchicine, an anti-inflammatory, which significantly alters the inflammatory pathology of the disorder. It was a disappointment for us.
However, do not assume that this negative response applies to other inflammatory conditions. FMF is a highly idiosyncratic disorder and few generalizations can be drawn from it.
Janine, thanks for the update!
Thanks for the info. I am going to do what is advised and will report effects at a later date.
Dorothee, thanks and I hope it helps. Will look forward to reading what happened.
I’ve been using anatabloc for a few months now because i have operations on my knees, bicep tendon, and ripped both calf muscles. Anatabloc makes my body feel much better. I am working on going down to have my blood tested too to see if there is any difference in my numbers.
Jeff, thanks for writing. make sure your doctor also measures CRP levels as this is an indicator of inflammation.
Way To GO Joe!
Stumbled on your site researching my husband’s mention of a product for menopause symptoms, I love your info and the intelligent comments.(truly rare on most websites) Thanks for sharing your unbiased expertise and to all those sharing their research and experience.
Kathleen thanks I’m glad you found me 🙂
I am a member of a support group for families with children with certain disorders, many neurological and digestive, that cause behavioral disruption. Quite a few people who have been on that list for years have recently posted about significant success with Anatabloc, even when many other treatments have failed. It seems that by calming inflammation real healing is allowed to take place. I would happily try it if it weren’t so expensive.
Joe, I just came upon your website and do appreciate your efforts to provide an objective assessment of dietary supplements. Such disinterested reviews are needed. I also have no financial link or any other link to the company that makes Anatabloc. I represent a support group of an auto-inflammatory disease and am always searching for anti-inflammatory products and treatments – I also am very concerned about steering people in the wrong direction.
I have been seriously investigating anatabine to find out if it could benefit patients with this inflammatory disorder – if it does then I want to be first to know and put it to use. I can clarify some of the issues you raised. The following is not an endorsement of Anatabloc – it just represents what I know at present. As you said quite accurately the science is still rudimentary and it is the science – credible clinical trials – that will provide the ultimate answers.
First, Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals is a subsidiary of Star Scientific located in Glen Allen, VA. You are right it is a very small company. Anatabine (the active compound in Anatabloc) is a naturally occurring molecule found in tomatoes and potatoes. It closely resembles nicotine and was marketed first as a smoking cessation product, CigRx. CigRx was developed as a product to reduce the craving for nicotine. It went on the market relatively recently – less than two years ago. The company was taken by surprise that CigRx users started reporting that a variety of inflammatory disorders were regressing while taking CigRx.
At that point the company started investigating these claims and doing basic research to document whatever anti-inflammatory properties anatabine has. The company did not initially set out to find an anti-inflammatory product – they only discovered these potential properties from anecdotal reports. A research group, Roskamp Institute, was established to do basic research and to set up clinical investigations of anatabine.
Roskamp Institute is partly funded by Rock Creek and partly funded by other sources including the NIH. I have spoken to the research director there and it is a credible research group (I am an academic researcher myself). The research director did not make any claims that exceeded their research findings. This research is very recent – taking place in the past year. They have protocols for clinical trials – but it takes time to do this kind of research. The fact that Rock Creek is a small company just reflects that they were a one-product company targeting a narrow market. If they have “hit the jackpot” with anatabine (time will tell) it was totally serendipitous.
When the company used the term “pre-clinical” data it means that FDA approved clinical trials have not been completed. The FDA approved Anatabloc as a dietary supplement since anatabine occurs naturally in food. But clinical trials will have to be conducted on specific conditions (such as Alzheimers and MS) before anatabine can be marketed as a treatment for specific conditions.
So the criticism about the paucity of data is due to the fact that these observations are so recent. But there is a very active research program by credible scientists to test the anecdotal observations using the “scientific method.” Yes, there is hype surrounding Anatabloc – if it constitutes a totally new class of anti-inflammatory -it will be a very important development. It’s toxicity and side-effects profile is certainly much less than anti-inflammatories on the market like steriods and NSAIDS – that much is known.
You mentioned vitamins A and D in the formulation of Anatabloc and I learned why it is there. In order for the body to effectively metabolize anatabine there is a minimum level of vitamins A and D required. The company added them to assure that people who might be deficient in those vitamins had adequate levels to metabolize anatabine.
About the company – I had a long discussion with the medical director and another long discussion with the research director at Roskamp. I found them to be forthcoming, informative, and they did not suggest anything more than the research has borne out.
So anatabine is certainly of interest, and the hard science is yet to come. There is a handful of patients with the auto-inflammatory disorder who have just started to take Anatabloc and we will be watching closely to see if this can be of help to us. I hope these comments were helpful.
Janine, yes your comments were extremely helpful! Thanks for the research that YOU did! you answered some of the questions I was asking myself. I’m going to be looking forward to more research on anatabine. I found their preliminary research on the thyroid very intriguing. Do keep me posted as you learn more. I will try to do the same.
I’m a 50 year old male and have been using a low dose (~3-4mg/day) of Anatabloc since April (2012). It has helped reduce my eczema issues considerably but it hasn’t cured anything. I still like it though and have recently increased to the recommended dose (6mg/day) to see if it makes any difference. I’ve noticed no negative side effects, but have noticed an absence of swelling in my hands and feet at the end of the day.
Also noticed that I recover faster from aches and pain associated with activities like gardening etc. Also noticed that my finger joint pain (I have not been diagnosed with arthritis) is much less. I had my blood tested before taking Anatabloc and plan to see if there is any effect on the measurements at my next annual checkup.
I personally believe there is something to this supplement. Perhaps it is the one good thing that tobacco provides its user (I’m a non-smoker and have never smoked). If it wasn’t so expensive, I’d highly recommend it as a supplement.
Glen, thanks for telling about your experiences with Anatabloc! When you get your blood tested, try to get your CRP measured too as this may indicate a reduced inflammation in the body.
Please review Protandim:)
Sharon, it is on my list. I hope to get to it before the end of the year.
Wow. It’s so amazing how just some small indications in mice can create a product that tempts people to actually buy it. I know that joint pain can really be a problem and inhibit movement. I have Psoriatic Arthritis and, when it flares up, it hurts. Thankfully, this form of arthritis pain “jumps around” and doesn’t stay in one place forever. (My elbow is now pain free again.) Thanks for the research here, Joe. And, for all of the helpful links. Your blog is amazing.
Debra, thanks, I appreciate you saying that 🙂