(Updated 7/17/20). Have you heard of the anti-aging supplement Protandim? Maybe you saw a YouTube video of when Protandim was featured on ABC's PrimeTime? Protandim called an “Nrf2 activator” has been said to be the “only supplement clinically proven to reduce oxidative stress in humans by an average of 40 percent in 30 days.” That’s fancy talk for Protandim is a type of antioxidant supplement. Unlike other products, Protandim is said to work by helping the body increase its own natural antioxidant enzymes. Sounds good, but does Protandim work, or is it a scam? These are some of the questions I will address in this review. The good news is there are clinical studies on Protandim. I will use that research in this review and help you understand it. By the end of this review, you'll have a better idea if Protandim is right for you.
Other Anti-Aging Supplement Reviews
What Is Protandim?
Protandim might sound like a drug but it's really a dietary supplement. It's said to combat free radical damage (oxidative stress) by stimulating the production of the body's own natural antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione.
The idea goes like this: instead of taking individual antioxidant supplements (like vitamins C, E, etc.) in the hopes they will battle free radicals and combat aging and disease, Protandim is supposed to augment or ramp up your own naturally occurring free radical defenses.
It's a novel concept to be sure.
The supplement website (LifeVantage.com) says the supplement is “clinically proven to reduce oxidative stress to levels of that of a 20-year-old.” Oxidative stress refers to the stress (cellular damage) caused by free radicals.
What Does The Name Mean?
My guess is the name was chosen because the ingredients are supposed to “pro-actively” work in “tandim” to help defend us against aging and disease.
Who Makes Protandim?
Protandim is a product of a company called LifeVantage Corporation. LifeVantage is actually a publicly traded stock on the NASDAQ. Its stock symbol is LFVN.
The company is located at 9785 S. Monroe Street, Suite 300 Sandy, UT 84070. If you google this address you will see a building with “LifeVantage” at the top. That is good. It tells us the company has a physical location.
Contact LifeVantage
Call the company at 866-460-7241.
The Better Business Bureau gave LifeVantage an A- rating when this review was updated. See the BBB file for updates and more information.
Protandim Ingredients
According to the product's website, there are 5 ingredients in each caplet of Protandim which add up to 625 mg:
| Amount Per Serving (1 caplet) | Percent Daily Value |
|---|---|
| Calcium (as dicalcum phosphate & calcium carbonate) 77 mg | 8% DV |
| Proprietary Blend Consisting of the following | 675 mg |
| Milk thistle extract (Silybum marianum) seed. | |
| Bacopa extract (Bacopa monnieri) whole herb | |
| Ashwagandha extract (Withania somnifera) root | |
| Green tea extract (Camellia sinensis) leaf | |
| Turmeric extract (Curcuma longa) rhizome |
Notice in the table above they tell us the source of each ingredient:
- The milk thistle extract is derived from the seeds of the plant
- The bacopa extract is derived from the whole plant
- The ashwagandha extract is derived from the root of the plant
- The green tea extract comes from the leaves of the plant
- The turmeric extract is derived from the underground stems (rhizome) of the plant
Other Ingredients
The supplement label also tells the supplement has these other ingredients:
- Microcrystalline Cellulose
- Croscarmellose Sodium Silica
- Modified Cellulose
- Stearic Acid
- Magnesium Stearate
- Maltodextrin
- Medium Chain Triglycerides
These other ingredients play no role in the effects or benefits of the product. They make up the caplets and/or help with the delivery of the ingredients into the body.
I want to commend the LifeVantage company for sponsoring much of the research below. It's rare to find a product with so many clinical studies.
Protandim Research
Protandim is different from a lot of supplements because there really is clinical research on this product. Below is a summary of the Protandim research with links to the studies for those who want to see them for themselves.
Because scientific studies can be wordy and complicated for most people, I will summarize the study and put the research in the proper context to make it easier to understand.
2016 Protandim Research
Study
The Effect of Protandim® Supplementation on Athletic Performance and Oxidative Blood Markers in Runners.
Study summary: In this investigation, researchers tested if taking Protandim (675 mg/day) for 90 days would improve 5K running performance and reduce TBARS. The study involved 38 runners who were randomly given either Protandim or a placebo.
Results: After 90 days, those taking Protandim (1x/day) showed no improvement in running performance compared to those taking the placebo. In addition, Protandim did not reduce TBARS or alter levels of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) or glutathione peroxidase (GPX) during resting periods. The researchers report however that in those over age 35, Protandim improved SOD twice as much as those taking the placebo.
See the full review of this study
Study
Longer lifespan in male mice treated with a weakly estrogenic agonist, an antioxidant, an α-glucosidase inhibitor or an Nrf2-inducer.
Study summary: Here, researchers sought to determine what effect various compounds had on extending the life of mice. Protandim was one of the compounds tested. The other compounds tested in the study were fish oil, ursodeoxycholic acid (a bile acid, used to dissolve gall stones), and the diabetes drug, metformin. Different mice received the different compounds for their entire lifespan.
Beginning at 10 months of age, mice received Protandim at a dosage of 600 parts per million (ppm) in their food. This amount was chosen because it was similar to the Protandim dosage used by people. When the mice were 17 months old, the dosage was increased to 1200 ppm because this was thought to be better.
Study results: researchers noted male mice getting Protandim had a 7% increase in average lifespan. The supplement did not lengthen the life span of female mice. The researchers also point out that while the average lifespan was increased, the maximum lifespan did not increase. Regardless, this was a mouse study.
2013 Protandim Research
Study
Study
Upregulation of phase II enzymes through phytochemical activation of Nrf2 protects cardiomyocytes against oxidant stress
Study results: Researchers noted that mouse heart cells treated with Protandim increased the production of an antioxidant/anti-inflammatory enzyme called Heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) as well as Nrf2. This was a test-tube study using isolated mouse heart cells.
This investigation is derived from a Masters's Thesis in 2010. The title of the MS Thesis is “UPREGULATION OF HEME OXYGENASE-1 AND ACTIVATION OF NRF2 BY THE PHYTOCHEMICALS IN PROTANDIM .” It is not unusual for a quality MS thesis or other graduate work to go through the peer-review process and be published.
2012 Protandim Research
Study
Antioxidants for the Treatment of Patients with Severe Angioproliferative Pulmonary Hypertension? Published in the journal, Antioxidants in Redox Signaling.
Summary: This is a rat study. Protandim increased antioxidant enzymes in rats, protecting the hearts from damage.
Study
Phytochemical activation of Nrf2 protects human coronary artery endothelial cells against an oxidative challenge published in the journal, Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity.
Summary: This is a test tube study. Human coronary (heart) artery cells were treated with Protandim (20 micrograms per milliliter) or placebo (ethanol). All cells were then treated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to induce free radical damage. Cells treated with Protandim showed less cell death than those getting the placebo.
Study
Protandim does not influence alveolar epithelial permeability or intrapulmonary oxidative stress in human subjects with alcohol use disorders.
Summary: This investigation showed the supplement did not work. To be fair, this was a strange study. Researchers looked at 30 alcoholics . The researchers stuck tubes down the throats of the subjects to take fluid samples from their lungs. They randomly gave the people 1350 mg of Protandim per day or a placebo, for a week. They tested for various things to see if Protandim helped the people. It didn’t.
I don't know how relevant this study is to whether Protandim works or not. I mentioned it because it was a human study. For a much more in-depth review of this study—written by a doctor—see the review posted on ScienceBasedMedicine.org.
2011 Protandim Research
Study
Oxidative stress in health and disease: the therapeutic potential of Nrf2 activation.
Summary: This is a test tube study. Essentially, Protandim altered cellular pathways involved in antioxidant enzyme production and colon cancer, cardiovascular disease (heart disease), and Alzheimer's disease. This is encouraging, but, humans are more complicated than isolated cells. This study doesn’t prove the supplement reduces the risk of any of these diseases.
Study
The role of manganese superoxide dismutase in skin cancer.
Summary: This is a mouse study. Here, researchers reported the supplement reduced tumor growth in mice. For the most part, this appears to be a review of previous research relating free radical damage to the development of skin cancer.
Study
Protandim attenuates intimal hyperplasia in human saphenous veins cultured ex vivo via a catalase-dependent pathway.
Summary. This is a test tube study. Basically, a blood vessel was bathed in Protandim. Researchers noted the supplement reduced the thickening of vein cells.
2010 Protandim Research
Study
The Dietary Supplement Protandim Decreases Plasma Osteopontin and Improves Markers of Oxidative Stress in Muscular Dystrophy Mdx Mice.
Summary. This is a mouse study. Mice were genetically created to have muscular dystrophy. They were given Protandim at a dosage similar to what is recommended for humans. After 6 months, the mice given Protandim showed a 46%reduction in the free radical breakdown of fat (TBARS). TBARS stand for ThiobarBituric Acid Reactive Substances.
The greater the TBAR level, the greater free radical damage. Thus, reducing TBARS is taken to be a good thing. This doesn't prove Protandim helps muscular dystrophy. People with muscular dystrophy should discuss this with their doctor for greater insights.
Study
The chemopreventive effects of Protandim: modulation of p53 mitochondrial translocation and apoptosis during skin carcinogenesis.
Summary: This is a mouse study. Protandim reduced damage to the mitochondria of mouse cells. of this study. The mitochondria, often called the “powerhouse” of the cell, make energy —and makes free radicals in the process. The mitochondria are a major area of anti-aging research.
Study
Chronic pulmonary artery pressure elevation is insufficient to explain right heart failure.
Summary. This is a rat study. Researchers tested if the supplement helped pulmonary blood pressure. After 6 weeks, Protandim did not reduce pulmonary artery blood pressure or the number of lung lesions. These researchers did say “our data point to a cardioprotective effect of Protandim.” But, this is a vague statement.
2009 Protandim Research
Study
Protandim, a fundamentally new antioxidant approach in chemoprevention using mouse two-stage skin carcinogenesis as a model.
Summary: This is a mouse study.
Study
Synergistic induction of heme oxygenase-1 by the components of the antioxidant supplement Protandim.
Summary: This is a test tube study. Cells treated with supplements showed significant increases in glutathione, an antioxidant compound. This is the study LifeVantage lists as “proof” Protandim increases glutathione levels by 300%. It may raise glutathione 300% – in a test tube – but does the same effect occur in people?
2006 Protandim Research
Study
The induction of human superoxide dismutase and catalase in vivo: a fundamentally new approach to antioxidant therapy.
This is a human study. 39 healthy men and women, age 20-78 years were given Protandim (675 mg per day) between 30 and 120 days.
Study Summary:
1. Protandim caused a significant increase in the antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD) in red blood cells.
2. TBARS declined by 40% after 30 days
3. SOD in red blood cells increased by 30% after 120 days
4. Catalase decreased by 40% after 120 days
5. There was a non-significant rise (4.9%) in uric acid.
6. No change in CRP levels was seen.
7. No change in HDL, LDL or triglycerides were seen.
Protandim Research Summary
Here is a quick summary of the research:
| Study Year / Title | Study Type (Human, mouse, etc.) |
| 2016 Research | |
| The Effect of Protandim Supplementation on Athletic Performance and Oxidative Blood Markers in Runners | Humans |
| Longer lifespan in male mice treated with a weakly estrogenic agonist, an antioxidant, an α-glucosidase inhibitor or a Nrf2-inducer | mice |
| 2013 Research | |
| Upregulation of phase II enzymes through phytochemical activation of Nrf2 protects cardiomyocytes against oxidant stress | Mouse heart cells |
| 2012 Research | |
| Antioxidants for the treatment of patients with severe angioproliferative pulmonary hypertension? | Rats |
| Phytochemical Activation of Nrf2 Protects Human Coronary Artery Endothelial Cells against an Oxidative Challenge | Test tube study |
| Protandim does not influence alveolar epithelial permeability or intrapulmonary oxidative stress in human subjects with alcohol use disorders. | Humans |
| 2011 Research | |
| Oxidative stress in health and disease: the therapeutic potential of Nrf2 activation. | Test tube study |
| The Role of Manganese Superoxide Dismutase in Skin Cancer | Mice |
| Protandim attenuates intimal hyperplasia in human saphenous veins cultured ex vivo via a catalase-dependent pathway | Test tube study |
| 2010 Research | |
| The Dietary Supplement Protandim® Decreases Plasma Osteopontin and Improves Markers of Oxidative Stress in Muscular Dystrophy Mdx Mice | Mice |
| The Chemopreventive Effects of Protandim: Modulation of p53 Mitochondrial Translocation and Apoptosis during Skin Carcinogenesis | Mice |
| Chronic Pulmonary Artery Pressure Elevation Is Insufficient to Explain Right Heart Failure | Rats |
| 2009 Research | |
| Protandim, a Fundamentally New Antioxidant Approach in Chemoprevention Using Mouse Two-Stage Skin Carcinogenesis as a Model | Mice |
| Synergistic induction of heme oxygenase-1 by the components of the antioxidant supplement Protandim. | Test tube study |
| 2006 Research | |
| The induction of human superoxide dismutase and catalase in vivo: a fundamentally new approach to antioxidant therapy. | Humans |
To be fair, it's possible I may have missed some research. I'll update this table as I become aware of new research.
My Thoughts On The Research
While Protandim has been the subject of several clinical investigations, only 3 of them involved humans. They are:
- The 2006 study (click to see study)
- The 2012 study (click to see study)
- The 2016 study (click to see the study)
Protandim And Weight Loss
Can Protaindm help you lose weight? There is no good evidence for this. None of the above clinical investigations was about weight loss. To the credit of LifeVangage, they do not market this supplement for weight reduction.
Protandim And Multiple Sclerosis
Is this supplement worthwhile if you have Multiple sclerosis (MS)? Some have put forth the idea that disruption of free radical stress – via stabilizing Nrf2 (the stuff this supplement is supposed to improve) – might help MS. So, is there any proof? There was an investigation presented in 2011 at the 5th Joint triennial congress of the European and Americas Committees for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
The title of the presentation was: Nrf2 activators: a novel strategy to promote oligodendrocyte survival in multiple sclerosis? Here, researchers treated rat and human oligodendrocytes with several compounds ― one of which was Protandim ― and then exposed the cells to a chemical to create free radical damage.
These researchers noted Protandim was seen as “the most potent inducer” of Nrf2 antioxidant enzymes defenses. In other words, Protandim helped the most.
This is intriguing, but it's not the same as giving it to people with MS to see if their symptoms improved.
There is also some evidence that stimulating Nrf2 might reduce cellular inflammation via inhibition of NFkb. Inhibition of NFkb is also something another supplement – called Anatabloc – was supposed to do. Currently, though there is little human proof for Protandim improving quality of life in those with MS.
See the Anatabloc review.
Protandim And ABC Primetime
In 2005, this supplement was featured on ABC's Primetime news show. In this segment, ABC correspondent John Quinones met with Dr. Joe McCord, a respected researcher whose name appears on many of the Protandim clinical studies. According to his Wikipedia page, as a grad student, Dr. McCord was involved with the discovery of Superoxide Dismutase, an important free radical savaging enzyme. Here is the ABC Primetime segment :
Basically, John Quinones gets a blood test to measure his TBAR level (an indicator of oxidative stress). He's given Protandim for 2 weeks and then returns to the lab where he has his blood tested again.
Dr. McCord tells John Quinones the supplement caused a “45% reduction” in oxidative stress and goes on to say this is the level seen in a “newborn baby”. The ABC Primetime segment is often used as proof the supplement really works. But, as I see it, one problem is John Quinones doesn't have is blood tested by an independent lab. This is bad science in my opinion.
Of course, the Primetime segment is interesting. But it's been over a decade since this segment aired. You'd think such an impressive result would warrant a follow-up. I wish Primetime and John Quinones would do a follow-up story.
Update. Dr. McCord is now involved with the PB125 supplement.
Protandim And The FDA
In 2017, the FDA reached out to LifeVantage to inform them they considered Protandim to be a drug and not a supplement based on claims made about it as an NRF2 Synergizer. Basically, the FDA was saying the claims being made at the time, made people think the supplement could treat disease. This is something not allowed under US supplement regulation. This may be the reason for the dramatic change in the LifeVantage website and marketing. There are no more claims about the effects of the supplement. Instead, the company now calls itself “a wellness and personal care company” and makes references to “bio-hacking.”
Do Doctors Endorse Protandim?
While the supplement is not endorsed by the American Medical Association (they don't endorse any supplement), I'm sure some physicians believe in it – and others who don't.
Does Protandim Have Caffeine?
According to the product website, each tablet has 1.8mg of caffeine. That's much less than in a cup of coffee and most energy drinks. I don't think this small amount would keep people up at night, but because we are all different it might be wise to not take it close to bedtime.
Is It Kosher?
No. this supplement is not kosher or organic. It is however made in the US. That is good.
Protandim Side Effects
Are there any Protandim dangers out there? I don't think so. I believe this supplement is pretty safe. I am not aware of any side effects. That said, here are a few general things you might want to think about if your not healthy. This list is not complete:
- Start with less than the recommended dosage for the first week to see how you respond
- Speak to your doctor/ pharmacist if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Stop taking the supplement at least 2 weeks before having surgery
- Speak to your doctor /pharmacist if you take any prescription drugs like blood thinners
One study noted the supplement might raise uric acid levels (by 4.9%). Would this be bad for those who suffer from gout? Currently, there is no direct proof gout pain is increased by Protandim. See the review of Tart Cherry Juice for more info.
While allergic reactions are likely uncommon, LifeVantage does mention this possibility in some people. Specific symptoms mentioned on the LifeVantage website include:
- gastrointestinal disturbances (i.e., stomach ache, diarrhea, vomiting)
- sometimes as a headache or rash on the hands or feet
Stop taking the supplement if you experience these symptoms.
The company website warns against using the supplement if you are undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy for cancer. This is likely because of the unknowns of combining antioxidants with some cancer therapies. If you have cancer or are getting treatment for it, ask your doctor. I'm glad the LifeVantage company informs people about this.
LifeVantage also stresses the importance of talking to a doctor if you have any autoimmune disease like arthritis or Type I diabetes. I'm not aware of any problems in anyone but I appreciated the company mentioning this.
How To Measure Your TBARS
Remember TBARS are a measure of free radical damage (oxidative stress) of cells. Protandim is said to reduce TBARS. The TBAR test is also called a Lipid Peroxidase test. Ask your physician about this test. For those who really want to know if Protandim is working, getting this test done first—and a month later— might be a good idea. I'm not sure if insurance covers the test or not. Talk to your doctor for more information on this.
Aged Garlic Extract also has some evidence it might reduce TBARS (click to see review)
TrueScience Brand
True Science is a brand name under which various beauty products made by the company can be identified. Products offered under the True Science brand include:
- Shampoo
- Scalp serum
- Facial cleanser
- Eye serum
What is PhysIQ?
PhysIQ is the brand name associated with various fitness-related products. This brand includes:
- Fat burn supplements
- Prebiotics
- Whey protein
- Appetite suppressants
Protandim For Dogs
Protandim Dogs (formally called Canine Health) is for pets. According to the LifeVantage website, this supplement contains 150 mg of the same ingredients as Protandim – as well as omega 3 fatty acids and collagen. The website goes on to say: “Reducing oxidative stress in dogs may reduce many of the disorders associated with aging in canine.” To support this, the organization states a 3rd party animal health company has found the supplement reduces oxidative stress in dogs.
Protandim vs. PB125
PB125, by Pathways Bioscience, is another supplement whose makers claim can reduce TBARS and activate NrF2. PB125 is the supplement by Dr. Joe McCord and associates. Recall Dr. McCord used to be associated with the LifeVantage company.
While PB125 is said to be the next generation of NrF2 activators, no studies have yet compared these supplements to each other to see which is better. The ingredients in both products are different for the most part.
See the PB125 Review for much more information.
Protandim vs. Tru Niagen
The Tru Niagen supplement boasts research showing it can raise NAD+ levels in humans. Tru Niagen is based on nicotniamide riboside a form of niacin (vitamin B3).
The idea of slowing aging by raising NAD+ is different than Protandim. So far no clinical studies have compared these supplements to each other. While the original Protandim does not contain nicotinamide riboside, the Life Vantage company does offer another version called the “NAD Synergizer” which contains niacin.
Protandim vs. Elysium Basis
Basis by Elysium is a popular anti-aging supplement that contains very different ingredients than Protandim. Like Tru Niagen, Elysium Basis also is an NAD+ booster supplement. So, which is better? Unfortunately, there are no head-to-head studies yet.
See the Elysuim Basis Review for more insights.
Protandim vs. SeroVital
You've probably seen TV ads for SeroVital. How does Protandim compare to SeroVital? Both supplements contain different ingredients and are touted to work differently.
While Protandim is said to help boost our bodies antioxidant enzymes, SeroVital is marketed to raise human growth hormone (HGH).
If we just look at the research, Protandim wins hands down. The makers of Serovital only have one study.
Where To Buy Protandim
This supplement is not sold in stores like Walmart, Target, Cosco, CVS, Walgreens, Kmart, or BJs. It's also not sold at GNC or Vitamin Shoppe. Rather, it's mostly purchased from LifeVantage independent distributors.
It is also available online as well although when using a distributor, you may get the individualized attention you might not get by buying it yourself.
Protandim Price
According to the LifeVantage website, a one-month supply (30 capsules) costs $59.99 retail. If you order it through a LifeVantage distributor, it costs $49.99 – and that is on a monthly basis. In other words, that means auto-shipments. If you want to purchase one month only to test drive it first, speak to your LifeVantgage independent distributor.
Protandim Yearly Cost
Let's round the price up to $50 a month. In one year, the supplement would cost you $600. Shipping and tax may be extra. If you only want to order 1 bottle to try yourself, you can get it on Amazon too.
My Suggestions
If you can afford it, go ahead and give it a try for a month or so and see if you feel any better. If you really want to know for sure, get your TBARS measured first.
Remember, exercise will also reduce TBARS too.
Protandim Pro & Con
Here's a quick summary of what I liked and didn't like. These are my opinions. Yours may be different.
| Pro | Con |
|---|---|
| There are clinical studies on Protandim | Not all the studies are on humans |
| Company has been around a long time | Not available in stores |
| Company sponsors research on Protandim | Expensive |
| Lots of hype about benefits |
Does Protandim Work?
While I'm intrigued at the prospect of slowing down aging, I'm can't say for sure if Protandim works or not. The research is intriguing but in my opinion three's not enough human research yet to draw conclusions. So, does Protandim really work? Let's just say I'm looking forward to more human clinical studies.
Here is it is on Amazon If you want to check it out/see what others are saying
Joe
I can see in several aspects how you are trying to be fair but you are borrowing from websites that make a living off of Adsense. Actually I wasn’t even referring to your website but you get paid more if more people click on your website and not just on Google ads. If you could raise the hits on your site from 100 to 10000 a week Google will pay you more for each hit on their ads listed on your site. Of course, the likelihood that they would click on Google ads would be significantly higher.
You complain that LifeVantage hasn’t done more human testing but you complain about the human testing they have done and they are trying to get away from LifeVantage testing because of the very appearance of bias. You can’t have it both ways and you don’t even know about the Biogen (10-21-11) funded study regarding NRF2 activators which included Protandim and their own BG-12 NRF2 Activator but concluded, “…Protandim showing the most potent induction.”
In spite of this Biogen submitted a few months later their own BG-12 NRF2 Activator to the FDA for approval. There is a lot going on right now in this entire arena and most that has been written by you and others is ancient history.
Like I said before I am so thankful that I didn’t read all this stuff on the web before I started taking Protandim because I wouldn’t have seen the results in my life that I have experienced. Do you know what it is like when you wake up every morning for 8 years with poor sleep in pain and you have to ask your wife if she can try and get the knots out of your back?
For me, and the results I have experienced from Protandim have been life-changing where I wake up refreshed…it’s a new day every day and I appreciate life and a second chance. That’s what Protandim has given me — a second chance after 8 years of misery.
Simone, thanks for writing again and once more I’m really glad that you have relief from your pain and you are right I cant imagine 8 years of being in pain. I’m sure that would be quite a physical and psychological drain on anyone.
Simone could you please tell me the titles of the Protandim studies that you say I missed? You mentioned a Biogen study from 2011. I’m very open to adding more studies if I missed them. If you give me the names of the studies -and if they’re published- I’ll gladly update my review with that new information. Hows that sound?
I’m really not trying to have it both ways in terms of human studies. When I look at the research, I see a 2012 study on alcoholics and a 2006 human study. Other than that I’ve only been able to locate animal research. Again, if I am wrong in my conclusions, please do tell me. I want to have the most complete review possible.
As for adsense, the most common website I link to -about 99% of the time – is pubmed (national library of medicine) and they don’t have ads. Other than Wikipedia occasionally I don’t really link to other websites. I looked at my Protandim review and in this case I linked to some youtube videos on protandim and an investor site but I had to in this case because it was related to the material. I try to link to things so people know I’m not making stuff up. I’m just trying to be as open as possible.
I’m certainly glad I started using Protandim before I read this stuff. I think just like micromanaging you can over analyze material. It’s interesting that you use material from websites that profit using Adsense for every hit they can obtain.
For me, 8 years of agony and poor sleep from scar tissue due to a 2004 surgery left me trying everything–pain management, physical therapy, acupuncture, massage, various supplements and medication with no sustained relief. I started taking Protandim based on a recommendation of my friend whose Internist recommended that he take it but he only noticed improved sleep.
I started taking it but after a couple months I didn’t notice any changes and I was going to tell my friend thanks but no thanks. However, after another couple weeks I began to notice that I was waking up with better sleep and no pain in my back. That has continued for several months. Best “medicine” I have ever encountered. I have spoken with many others who are obtaining positive results from taking Protandim.
I wish I knew what to say. According to your article it shouldn’t work — actually you don’t know if it works or not — . I do agree that Paul Myhill especially has made some conflicting statements over the years and I certainly don’t give much credence to paid spokespersons.
However, I think you have gone over the top on your criticism of Dr. McCord. He did discover superoxide dismutase in 1969 at Duke University and he has been studying and looking for a solution to free radicals since his discovery. I don’t care how many articles he has written since then. The primary reason that these types of articles are being written is because it is now a network marketing company since it was sold in GNC from 2005-2009. I am just concerned about your bias.
Simone, first let me say I’m happy if you say that Protandim has helped you. I do feel though that you are miss judging me and my motives. My goal was not to write hit piece or be biased in any way, but rather to take a good look at the research on Protandim and see what could be learned from it.
As for Dr McCord, I’m not criticizing him at all, in fact in my review I called him “a respected researcher” which he is. Hes also employed by lifevantage and hes involved in most of the Protandim research. None of these statements are incorrect. All I did was present facts and I don’t feel any of this is “over the top.” If you are referring to the Primetime segment where John Quinones has his TBARS tested by Dr Mccord’s lab, I am criticizing Primetime for this! I even mention this in my review. If they did what I suggested and had another lab measure TBARS it would have only strengthened the proposed benefits of Protaidm.
Dr McCord is only a small part of my review. I was mostly concerned with the research, and looking at that, I believe my criticisms are valid. They only have 2 published human studies – and the last human study was published in 2006. Why? LiveVantage has well respected researchers in their organization. why are they not publishing human research now? Simone, just so we are clear, This IS a criticism. This is a company that uses research in their marketing – they list PubMed on their website, in effect encouraging people to look at the research for themselves. That is exactly what I did. I took a look at the research – and told people what I discovered.
I’ve said many times on my website that I have no problem with network marketing as long as long as its not unfair to distributors. I would have reviewed Protandim even if it was not associated with Network marketing. Fact: Most products I review have no connection to network marketing.
As for my use of Adsense, this is the most ethical way to help maintain this website. I do not sell supplements (and never will). I do however have to pay for hosting and other things related to keeping this site going. Adsense helps me do that. But I make zero unless somebody clicks on an ad that looks interesting to them. I think that’s fair.
Simonne, I’m not disbelieving or judging your motives by sharing your personal story about how Protanim helped you. Please I hope you will give me the same consideration by not judging me or my motives.
Lifevantage is a real company with real science plain and simple. Joe McCord is the father of free radical biology and there also was a double blind clinical trial on 80 dogs for the pet product. 80% retention ratio on product users. There is also proof that the 5 ingredients are 18 times stronger then the sum of its parts.
Any time you pioneer a new trend with NRF2 activation which we are doing read the study from OCT 2011 and it’s comparison to other NRF2 drugs. I have over 2000 people on the product and everyone has gotten results. I have surgeons enrolling, cardiologists, and MD’s.
Mike, Joe McCord is a respected researcher and is very knowledgeable in the area of free radicals. that is a fact and here is his Wikipedia page
That said, while he is a major player, I don’t know if I would call him the “Father of free radical biology” since Denham Harman was postulating the role of free radicals in the aging process in the 1950s, when Joe McCord was a boy. Here is the Denham Harman Wikipedia page.
Mike please share the citation of where I can locate the proatandim dog study. Is it published? If you share that citation, I will add it to my review.
I tried this and while I can’t say it doesn’t work, I can say that it didn’t do anything for me.
Do you have any physical impairments or problems?
Thank you so much for all of this research, and everyone’s comments. I have been on PT for 5 months. Am being courted to be a distributor and was told all of these ” amazing stories!” The first month I felt great! I believe it was because I was fooled by the ABC video, and it was all in my head that I was going to feel amazing!
However, present day: I still have joint pain. I still have trouble sleeping. In fact, to be honest- I feel nothing different. Now maybe if I would have done a “before and during” blood test I would Have a different testimonial.
Last week I asked my M.D about it, and she just shrugged her shoulders and said ” probably can’t hurt ya…” That wasn’t a glowing endorsement from a Doc I truly respect. So all in all, Live and Learn. 🙂
You don’t feel cancer growing in your body or cholesterol forming, I think I believe Dr Joe McCord over any bloggers. Plus 80% of the people feel something 20% don’t , I would take it even if I didn’t. My mom didn’t feel anything till after 10 months
Mike, believe what you want. I just want to know the facts and share them with others so they can decide for themselves.
Protandim has NEVER been shown to stop cancer from growing.
Joe
Protandim will never be shown to stop cancer from growing but LifeVantage has never said it did. It reduces oxidative stress and if you check the studies we know that oxidative stress is responsible for a couple hundred diseases including cancer. It is not difficult to connect the dots. Those are the facts.
You have absolutely the most reasonable site on the web regarding Protandim and I wouldn’t have a problem recommending your site to a friend. Here’s what I am having a problem getting my hands around… The proof/disproof that Protandim reduces oxidative stress. When I look at those studies what I look for is the proof that Protandim is reducing oxidative stress whether or not it is dealing with cancer cells in a mouse or a heart cell from a pig.
One of the most convincing arguments comes from Dr. McCord when he describes his discovery of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD). He and his students found that Superoxide Dismutase is present in all organic life that uses oxygen whether it is a vegetable or ameoba. Life forms that don’t use oxygen such as some forms of e coli do not have SOD but if you add a human cell to this life form it will start using oxygen and SOD will be present as well as free radicals.
Dr. McCord found that SOD scavenges free radicals and all life that uses oxygen give off free radicals just as burning wood gives off ashes and soot. Dr. McCord spent most of his adult life studying this phenomenon and tried to put together synthetic drugs to stimulate the bodies own ability to increase SOD. It never worked and it wasn’t until MyHill came along with the idea of using natural herbs that McCord realized he was looking in the wrong places for the answer. The rest is history.
Simone, I know LifeVantage has never said that also. If I gave that impression, I didn’t mean to. I may have been extrapolating at some point that if oxidative stress is reduced then – theoretically – cancer might be reduced. But, currently there is no proof of this.
This is the key and if you have read my “testimony” Protandim reduced my back pain significantly and improved my sleep dramatically among other improvements. I didn’t watch any video and really had no expectations since my friend who introduced it to me just said that he slept better but that was it. Since it is dealing with the reduction of oxidative stress and not any specific disease every person is going to be affected differently and it may take longer in you than me—I noticed the changes after about 75 days.
Physicians are primarily taught to address diseases and are less involved in preventive medicine which is a different discipline altogether. Heart doctors deal with heart disease and Oncologists deal with cancer. Occasionally you will find a doctor who will also be involved in preventive medicine but that is more the exception rather than the rule.
I am currently reading a book by Ben Goldacre called “Bad Pharma: How Drug Companies Mislead Doctors and Harm Patients”. It is quite revealing. Let’s not take for granted that all these double-blind studies conducted by Drug Companies are all in our best interest. Profit is an important ingredient.
I went to a presentation about this product last night. My girlfriend is considering becoming a distributor. They want $630 to get the starter kit which includes 12 bottles of Protandim. Then i guess she can sell the bottles for $40 each. When the presenter left they left info about the company and the distributor network but not one bit of literature about the product.
Like another person said it was all about the money that could be made by a distributor. They also talked a lot about the peer reviewed studies and the pubmed.gov website. I personally wasn’t sold.
Linda wow $630 up front to be a Protandim distributor! That’s a LOT of money!
Interesting what you said about how they mentioned Pubmed in the presentation. The Protandim site also references Pubmed (the national library of medicine, which is what I use when I research products also). What I always find interesting is that they want YOU to do the work of digging up the research studies for yourself. Why don’t they just list the studies? Even on the Protandim website they don’t list the studies, but instead ,refer you to Pubmed. I always found this odd.
It’s interesting how this little tidbit about just mentioning pubmed -and making people do the work themselves – has trickled down to the distributors too.
Since Protandim is a supplement, the only claims that can legally be made are “structure/function” claims. A distributor cannot use claims that go beyond structure/function when promoting the product. The information in those studies go beyond structure/function claims so distributors are only aloud to refer people to pubmed where they can view the study in its entirety.
The company has strict guidelines on how they can advertise. It is my opinion that this is mostly why there are not direct links to the studies from the LifeVantage Corporate websites.
AS, what you say about structure function claims is true. There are limitations on what can be said – and not said – about supplements in the US. I cover this in my FAQ Page. That said, I don’t believe the US DSHEA law prevents the Protandim website from listing the studies on their site. Other websites do it and that’s why its perplexing to me.
In fact, I’d think LifeVantage would have a huge advantage over other companies, because when I see other companies doing it, they usually just list the studies on the ingredients in the product. For example, when I reviewed Trivia Nopolea juice, they listed a lot of studies on their site. Not a single one of of those studies used the Trivita Nopolea product. The studies on Protandim however are on Protandim.
Joe – $630 is not a lot of money up front to start your own business. Especially since $550 of it is product you can sell and get the majority of your money back. So your investment is only $80, which you get in training materials along with it……Just fyi
Corey, I really hope it’s working for you but I would NEVER get involved with an MLM company that makes you buy the product up front. What happens if you cant sell it? Your stuck with it! LV gets their money immediately but it might take the seller months or more to recoup their “investment.” There are far easier ways to start an MLM business than this.
I and my husband have been taking protandim for almost a month and I can say that it has positive effects on our bodies. The internet has many rubbish opinions on anything and everything. So I think those people criticizing it should at least take it first before speaking with convictions that it is a scam..it doesn’t work etc. I don’t know the agenda or the ulterior motive of some people. I don’t care what they say. What I know is that, it works for us and because it does work, I am going to promote it to people I care about.
A few things to consider:
As of 2012, there have been 12 studies published and 11 of them were funded in whole or in part by Life Vantage.
THIS IS NOT FDA APPROVED
THE INVENTOR HAS NO MEDICAL BACKGROUND
THIS IS A SCAM AND A RIP OFF
What a Joke lol only 2 of the studies were funded by Lifevantage. My professors at OSU funded there own study. I met with a doctoral student studying oxidative stress on Sunday and he said the studies were validated by a regulatory board before being published. Dr McCord did all the research on Paul’s findings. So if I found the cure for cancer I would have to be a doctor. That is comical , when it’s getting people of 1000’s of meds why would it be FDA approved
Mike, let me be clear. I have no problem with a company funding their own research. Others might have a problem but I actually like it when they do, esp. when the research is well done and gets published.
As for FDA, they don’t approve ANY supplement. That is because of the DSHEA law.
There is no joke here Mike, only science.
As a supplement, Protandim CANNOT be FDA approved, correct?
dizzypru, the FDA doesnt “approve” supplements because of a 1992 law called the dietary supplement health and education act. Basically supplements are regulated like foods and not drugs. There is some regulation but ingredients that have been around for a long time – like 50 years – can be put into supplements without prior FDA approval. Its my understanding that anything that is “new” – never seen before -would have to get FDA clearance before its in a supplement.
There were two grants were listed for Keith Gooch (AHA 0555538U and AHA 0655323B). Both of these grants were received by Gooch to fund research unrelated to Protandim. He merely chose of his own accord to divert those funds for the Protandim study.
The evidence is in this 2010 paper , “Arterial pO2 stimulates intimal hyperplasia and serum stimulates inward eutrophic remodeling in porcine saphenous veins cultured ex vivo.” Gooch listed the identical grant numbers for research that was completely unrelated to Protandim.
ABC has since continued to update their website on the subject of Protandim. they have included links to several peer-reviewed published studies. abcliveit.com/site/Peer-Reviewed_Research.html (not sure if you already covered these…)
Christina, I really have to thank you for sharing this with me! I went to the site you listed and I can tell you this IS NOT a site affiliated with ABC in any way. Its a Protandim website masquerading as ABC! I know this because ABC will always tell you at the bottom of the page how to contact them, their location, their different programing etc. This site doesn’t.
Instead all you see are links to pro-Protandim propaganda, how to be a distributor etc. ABC would never show people how to be a protandim distributor.
I have updated my review with this new information so I am VERY grateful for you for sharing this!
Im going to update my review and include this information. Sorry you were duped but Im VERY glad you brought it to my attention!
Unfortunately Christina’s misconception of abcliveit.com has prompted you to write a bad review of the site. When I found this website, in no way did I think it was affiliated with ABC or LifeVantange. Nor did I think the maker of the site intended me to think so.
To me, it was obvious that this was an informational site put together by a distributor. For you to call it a “scam” website is harsh. I saw it to be a compilation of information and resources. While geared toward the positive, it is no more a “scam” than your blog…which is geared a little more toward the negative.
And for some of the comments from your readers… unfortunately there are distributors who do not follow the rules and this leads people to form bad opinions. When you are looking for information on the internet, you will find what you are looking for…if you look for the negative, you’ll find it…if you look for the positive, you’ll find it.
In my opinion, the word “scam” is used to freely for people to express their negative “opinion.” The abcliveit website is a source of information, the same as your blog.
AS, you make an interesting point about my use of the word “scam.” Because of your words I have removed that word from my review to reflect a more balanced approach. Sometimes in my desire to help, I shoot my mouth off, a trait I probably get from my Scottish roots.
That said, while I am glad you saw the ABCLiveIT site for what it was – likely a Protandim distributor website – I’m not sure if others would see it for this. The obvious choice of the words “ABC” and “Prime” along with a video of the ABC Primetime Live Protandim segment I feel would confuse people. The ABC Primetime Live video segment seems to feature very predominately in Protandim distributor online marketing. I know because I see LOTs of distributors using it.
Regardless, thanks for pointing out my hasty language 🙂
Joe, you said you would remove “scam” in your review. However, it is still in your description of the abcliveit.com site in the section of your review “Does ABC endorse Protandim?” I also read in your response to Simone that your goal is “not to be biased.” If that’s the case, would you consider changing your wording in that section and writing a more non-bias review of that site and state the facts instead?
Such as, it is a distributor created site. It is not associated with ABC or LifeVantage, etc… And remove your words “fake” and “scam” so your review will appear more informative as opposed to bashing. It also my understanding that ABC is aware that the distributors are using that Primetime Report in the marketing of Protandim and that LifeVantange have an agreement with ABC to do so.
AS, you have to hit refresh on your browser to see the changes
About the ABC site, I actually did mention that I felt it was a distributor site and not affiliated with lifevantage so I was fair. That said, I ended up removing the entire part about the ABC site because after I thought about it, I felt that it detracted from what I wanted the main focus to be – the science of Protandim.
CB:
You are intentionally trying to mislead people into believing that the Michael J. Fox Foundation has done a study on Protandim. They have not studied Protandim. They studied pioglitazone, which is a drug used for diabetes. Yes, pioglitazone activates Nrf2, but so do many other substances. The conclusion of the pioglitazone study was:
“The goal of this project was to examine whether pioglitazone, a selective PPARgamma antagonist that can cross the blood brain barrier, would be neuroprotective in a model of PD and whether it modulates the antioxidant response element (ARE). After overcoming formulation and dosing issues, the investigators successfully tested several doses of these compounds in MPTP models. Preliminary data suggested that the compounds were neuroprotective but did not modulate the antioxidant response element.”
Yes, Nrf2 activation is being studied as an area of interest for various diseases. Here is an interesting article on the two drugs CB is likely referring to….note that testing was halted on one because of an increased risk of mortality:
http://www.tcpinnovations.com/drugbaron/?p=291
Here is an interesting excerpt:
“Two drugs, sharing a molecular target, both with anti-inflammatory effects reached Phase 3. One, apparently, has a clean safety profile, but the other is associated with a significant increase in severe adverse events and even mortality.
There are exceptions, but as a general rule compounds that react to form covalent bonds with their target(s) are very high risk to develop
The simplest explanation for the difference attributes the adverse events with bardoxolone methyl to idiosyncratic toxicity (that is, molecule-specific effects). After all, BG-12 and bardoxolone share little structural similarity even though they both modulate nrf2 activity.
But its not so easy to dismiss the bardoxolone data without understanding the nature of the adverse events that have been seen. Abbott and Reata have been coy about disclosing the nature of the adverse events, but the focus has become the risk of malignancy. Nrf2 has a complex role in oncogenesis, with components acting as tumour suppressor genes that are frequently mutated in human cancers, while nrf2 itself controls expression of myriad cytoprotective pathways.
On the other hand, interactions between nrf2 components and bcl2, as well as stimulation of autophagy, suggest that nrf2 activators may lead to immortalization and hence promote transformation.
While these pathways are well studied in vitro, it is difficult to know what the balance between pro- and anti-cancer effects of the nrf2 pathway will be in vivo. More importantly, the multi-component nature of the nrf2 complex means that different activators could plausibly affect the pro- and anti-cancer pathways differently.
Until the full details of the adverse events in the trials with bardoxolone are made public, there will always be a suspicion that the nrf2 activation turned out to exacerbate oncogenesis.”
Exacerbating oncogenesis……in other words, it could promote cancer.
Now, of course, distributors like CB will completely ignore the complexity of proving that something “works” and ignore possible side effects. They try to convince people that because there is interest in Nrf2 activation, that this “validates the Protandim story.” As you can see above, just because Nrf2 is activated, it does NOT necessarily follow that there is a benefit.
LifeVantage would likely point out that their curry pill is all natural and would not have adverse side effects like a drug….but keep in mind that arsenic is natural too. Unless studies are done, there is no way of knowing what risks or benefits Protandim will produce if it really is a powerful Nrf2 activator.
As for the 27 studies underway….LV has been claiming that for YEARS. Where are these studies? Surely some of them should have been published by now. Are they listed on http://www.clinicaltrials.gov ?? Nope.
Even if there are studies underway, what does that prove until the results are in? It’s all meaningless speculation.
I wonder if it would help or be dangerous for someone on HIV meds ?
Ray, I am not aware of any protandim research involving people taking HIV medications. I think the best advice I can give you is to show the ingredients list to your immunologist and see if he/she is aware of any interaction. I think your pharmacist would also be a good source to consult also. If you find out anything, do let me know. I’m curious.
I have just bought my first bottle of protandim. Should have done research first, by the way it looks. The only good reviews I see come from their own website or a distributor. I am overall in good health and take a GNC joint vitapack.
Joe, you obviously are not as informed as you think. You may actually want to attend a Doctor’s panel on the product. There are many in your area.
(There are now 15 peer reviewed studies and 27 more under way. The most recent by The Michael J. Fox Foundation)
In addition, the Nrf2 activation is a huge new field in medicine. (which absolutely validates the Protandim story) in fact two large Pharma Co.’s are looking to make a synthetic version. Which I am sure you will validate!
Also, here are two animal videos that you may want to look at. As I always say. Horses and Dogs don’t lie!!!
CB, Actually I believe I wrote one of the most complete Protandium reviews on the web today. As for horses and dogs not lying, this is true, but the videos made by people sometimes do.
What are the “two large pharma Co’s” looking to make a synthetic version of Protandim? I’m not aware of it, but please do tell me their names with links to articles that prove it.
I removed the videos you listed because they show a link to a lifevantage distributors website, which is against my policy.
You have certainly covered a lot of ground in your review. However, I don’t think that you have made the statement that even though Protandim has been on the market for at least 7 years since it started selling it at GNC’s 4500 stores ( http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2005/07/18/daily25.html ) there is absolutely no substantial evidence to show that it DOESN’T work. Nor has it been shown that there is no substantial evidence to show that it is harmful. However, there is a considerable amount of anecdotal evidence indicating that it has been beneficial to people and there are 14 studies on pubmed.gov etc.
No one has come out and completed a study showing that it doesn’t reduce oxidative stress by 40% or that it doesn’t increase Glutathione by 300% which are basically the only claims that Lifevantage makes. Dr. McCord does say on the abcliveit.com video that Protandim does turn on its own body’s enzymes to eliminate free radicals per second every second and no one has done a study to disprove that statement.
As I indicated Protandim has been on the market for over 7 years and all various reviewers can do is try to analyze the various studies. Unfortunately some distributors have made wild eyed claims which LifeVantage has shut down and there were previous missteps by Myhill as I have mentioned before. These are all facts as well.
Simone, I don’t think Protandim is going to hurt anybody. You are right nobody has said it doesn’t work – but that doesnt mean it does work either. Technically the study I included in my review – on alcoholics – noted that protandim didn’t work but, that was a bad study in my opinion because it was not in line with the marketing of Protandim – reducing oxidative stress. So I will give them a pass on that and toss it out.
That said, I’ll return to my original question, which is WHY isn’t LifeVantage doing better research? In all of the 14 protandim studies I reviewed (I included them all) I only saw 2 studies that used humans. How come?
Simione, you cannot invoke the name of the mighty god “science” without coming to the startling conclusion that 85% (12/14 =85%) of the Protandim published studies do NOT use humans. Rather, they involve mouse and test tube studies.
To be frank, I’m disappointed that nobody in the scientific community seems to want to do the kind of human research I’d be interested in reading. If I was in grad school right now, I could easily add to the body of knowledge on protandim. This is just a few of the studies I’d do:
1. lets see if Protandim alters CRP in healthy humans – and people with high CRP
2. lets see if protandim reduces human thyroid antibodies in Hashimoto’s disorder
3. let’s see if Protandim reduces TBARS in humans
4. Let’s see if Protandim increases glutathione levels in humans
Most – if not all of these studies – could be done by ANY grad student at a university with laboratory facilities. This research wont cost much and wouldn’t cost LifeVantage anything more than the cost of Protandim, which I assume they can give out pretty cheaply.
As for that ABCLive site, you know my feelings on that site.
Joe
You’re on the right track and I hope people follow you because I think you are as fair as anyone looking at this. It is highly likely that we will see more studies this year and maybe they will cover areas that you have expressed concern. Considering that this is a herbal supplement I am not sure that anyone has put the effort in to document the impact of their supplement as LV. Time is going to tell but LV is marching on big time… not sure what countries are next…
Simone, time will tell. I know the University of Colorado is doing Protandim research if that helps.
Patti
As a LV distributor, surely you are aware that making such health claims is in direct violation of LV policies, and may violate state and federal laws:
“Product Claims Section 8.10 of the Policies and Procedures addresses “Unauthorized Claims and Actions” of Independent Distributors. Specifically, Section 8.10.2 outlines what “Product Claims” an Independent Distributor cannot make.
It states: “No claims, which include personal testimonials, as to therapeutic, curative or beneficial properties of any products offered by LifeVantage may be made except those contained in official LifeVantage materials. In particular, no Independent Distributor may make any claim that LifeVantage products are useful in the cure, treatment, diagnosis, mitigation or prevention of any diseases or signs or symptoms of disease.
Not only are such claims violations of LifeVantage policies, but they potentially violate federal and state laws and regulations, including the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and Federal Trade Commission Act. Within these guidelines, the following are examples of what an Independent Distributor can not say about the product Protandim: (REMEMBER, ALTHOUGH PROTANDIM HAS BEEN CLINICALLY PROVEN TO REDUCE OXIDATIVE STRESS AND THAT OXIDATIVE STRESS HAS BEEN TIED TO ANTI-AGING AND TO NEARLY 200 DISEASES, THAT OXIDATIVE STRESS HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED TO BE THE “CAUSATIVE” LINK IN SUCH DISEASES.
THIS IS ONE OF THE IMPORTANT REASONS WHY LIFEVANTAGE INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTORS CANNOT SAY, “PROTANDIM REDUCES OXIDATIVE STRESS AND OXIDATIVE STRESS IS TIED TO THIS DISEASE AND SO PROTANDIM MUST CURE OR PREVENT THAT DISEASE.”) + “Protandim has reduced my blood pressure.” + “Ever since I started taking Protandim, the soreness in my feet and other symptoms of diabetes has gone away.” + “If Protandim reduces levels in oxidative stress, then it certainly can reduce the risk of cancer!””
The above is directly from LifeVantage Policies and Procedures.
Illegal health claims by distributors are the only way to sell this curry tablet since there is no credible scientific proof of any health benefit. Even the claim of reduced oxidative stress as a health benefit is becoming more and more questionable.
LV distributors love tell people to go to PubMed and look at the “research,” but they DON’T tell you to check out: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=protandim&Search=Search
My husband has MS. After using Protandim less than one month all his pain went away. He has no MS symptoms. He has had MS for 16 yrs. It is secondary progressive. He does not even take a tylenol!
I take Protandim. My hot flashes are almost nonexistent. Only when I eat lots of sugar, I will have a mild hot flash or two. My skin has stopped having little blisters that would rise up randomly.
My daughter takes it and she has less anxiety. Her PMS has been greatly alleviated.
I am seeing Protandim do amazing things for others around me as well.
So people like you can disprove it all you want but Protandim proves itself. If you are healthy you won’t feel any different but let an unhealthy person take it awhile and see what they have to say. I became a distributor because I believe in Protandim.
Patti, how long has your husbands MS symptoms been gone? Sometimes MS symptoms go away and then return. Just wondering. have you told your doctor about any of this and its possible relation to protandimm use? what did he/she say?
Patti, Im really not trying to disprove anything. I’m just pointing out things that others don’t so you can make a more informed decision.
Patti, please answer Joe`s questions regarding your husband. I am looking for some answers for a friend with MS. How long have the symptoms been in remission? I do know people who have ups and downs as Joe points out. However, I am meeting with an author of a cookbook tomorrow who has successfully controlled her MS through diet. I am interested to know more details about your husband’s experience. Thanks. Aeriol
i liked your review. i’m interested in knowing if anyone is having any side effects i.e. mental confusion, not knowing where they are, hallucinations and or anxiety.
My husband and I have been approached by some friends about the benefits of Protandim. The first 20 minutes of the presentation was on the benefits of Protandim that sounded very interesting. But the next hour was on how much money could be made. We were a little turned off on this approach.
Also I have been getting calls which I don’t mind from my friend and I have questions about Protandim, because I have been doing my own research and found many of the same things that you stated in your research and I had many of the same questions, but my friend brought in the distributor a few levels above her. This (director type person) was very aggressive and making statements that it is 100% effective 100% of the time for everyone.
She also said she would get me on the phone with a well known doctore in the Protandim world and he would help explain answers to my questions. I seem to be more knowledgeable about the product then they do. She also stated that I should just be a distributor and don’t worry about all of the info about Protandim, they would be there to answer questions. I stated I would not distribute anything that I don’t understand and that I am not using myself and believe in.
Thank you for your research. It really helped me know I was on the same path as someone else just trying to get the facts. I don’t know if Protandim is good or bad, but I really don’t like the aggressive style the higher distribution person (director) that called me and her statements and claims.
Protandim is coming out with an animal supplement and both of these ladies were very excited about the possibilities of the animal line.
Thanks again for all of your non biased information.
Markel, thanks Im glad I was able to help. Yes Ive heard of the animal version of protandim. Looks like they are marketing it to dog and cat owners predominaly but I could be wrong. either way, I would ask protandim distributors for published research on dogs, cats etc, that shows protandim reduces TBARS, slows aging or reduces disease risk. I’m not aware of any dog or cat protandim research. I will keep my eyes open for it though.
thanks for the research
Glad to help Ken!
thanks Joe for your study on ptoT. My question to you is which supplement do you suggest base on independent study that works or that can help me reduce effects of scar on my skin after chemotherapy. i will not consider to order proT until i hear from you.
Hi Dan, I have only people who have told me this, but vitamin E oil. some people swear by it. Is it the vitamin E oil or the physical rubbing on the skin that breaks up scar tissue? Im not sure.