(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
Well, you know exactly what is in Protandim (the ingredients are listed on the label and on the product information pages of the websites), you know exactly what it is supposed to do (lower Oxidative Stress via Nrf2 activation), you know it is based on a solid scientific foundation (over a dozen peer-reviewed, published studies, several of which were NOT performed or financed by the company), and you know that everything about Protandim is done in full compliance with FDA regulations regarding supplements. You just don’t want to believe it.
Greg B said: “Well, you know exactly what is in Protandim (the ingredients are listed on the label and on the product information pages of the websites), you know exactly what it is supposed to do (lower Oxidative Stress via Nrf2 activation), you know it is based on a solid scientific foundation (over a dozen peer-reviewed, published studies, several of which were NOT performed or financed by the company), and you know that everything about Protandim is done in full compliance with FDA regulations regarding supplements. You just don’t want to believe it.”
No, we don’t know exactly what is in the product. The bottle labels simply states that it is a proprietary blend containing 675 mg of a mixture of 5 ingredients, but it does not indicate the amounts of each ingredient, nor is the supplement USP grade. Furthermore, the company had to recall millions of dollars’ worth of product because of contamination with metal fragments. No one knew they were getting metal contaminants in their product right?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protandim#Voluntary_recall
The company claims that the product lowers oxidative stress but they base the claim on an outdated and poorly designed study, the results of which were subsequently refuted in a double blind randomized placebo-controlled trial which showed that it did nothing.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22268125
Furthermore, despite the company’s climes that the product acts via NRF2, they have shown no evidence whatsoever that it has any effect on NRF2 in people who take the product.
The product is most certainly not marketed in compliance with FDA regulations. We have seen evidence of that here time and time again when distributors like you claim that it can alleviate medical conditions. You know all of this already so its laughable when you make these feeble and dishonest protests on the company’s behalf.
Victoria asked: “Quick question…how many ‘off the supermarket shelf’ products do you use everyday without researching the contents?? Ever used Johnson and johnsons??”
Rather than asking an irrelevant “quick question” and beating around the bush, you could just state your point, which seems to be that, for some unfathomable reason, you don’t think that Protandim or the research and claims about it should be scrutinized, which is an intellectually lazy position to say the least.
I don’t ingest anything without knowing and understanding what’s in it. J&J, like the question in general, is irrelevant. I certainly don’t/wouldn’t take any J&J product without understanding exactly what is in it, what it is supposed to do, and trusting that it does what it is marketed as doing, based on a solid scientific foundation and in full compliance with the U.S. regulatory framework.
uh it has been tried with humans with no effect, the other study was flawed
Alfred Demanuele: “If Protandim works on the cells of mice considering the damage of free radicals with the consequences of heart disease, cancer, aging, etc. why not take the chance of one man trial which with a bit of faith it may perform miracles?”
First, “works” is an ill-defined and essentially meaningless way to describe the trivial results of the in vitro and rodent studies on Protandim. Second, the answer to the “why not” question is that there is no plausible reason to believe that Protandim can alleviate any medical condition in humans, let alone “perform miracles”. That’s the kind of BS that gives these snakeoil MLMs such a bad name. Faith has nothing to do with it.
The short answer to your question is that it would be a sucker move that no clear thinking individual would ever contemplate.
Quick question…how many ‘off the supermarket shelf’ products do you use everyday without researching the contents?? Ever used Johnson and johnsons??
If Protandim works on the cells of mice, considering the damage of free radicals with the consequences of heart disease, cancer, aging, etc. why not take the chance of one man trial which with a bit of faith it may perform miracles?
Alfred:
Why would you choose to trust the one, poorly designed study, over the better designed and executed study which showed that the product did not increase antioxidant activity?
Why would you believe that something that worked in a rodent or test tube works in humans, when there is an over 90% failure rate when tests progress from rodents to humans?
Why would you trust a company that lied for years about who invented their product?
Why would you take a product that the very “inventor” of the product no longer takes? (Paul Myhill}
Why would you want to take a product which supposedly increases antioxidants, when there is growing evidence that killing off free radicals may promote the growth of cancer? How long does a person have cancer before it is detected?
http://www.healthline.com/health-news/evidence-antioxidants-fuel-cancer#5
Do you buy every “miracle” product being sold through MLM or on TV infomercials? You might as well.
Lisa you believe the inventor of Protandim is Paul Myhill – YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING. Below is part of his Linkedin page regarding current activities: So he is pushing his own brand of healthy supplements (NO WONDER HE NO LONGER TAKES PROTANDIM) and Paul claims to be the inventor of Protandim with an education of ONLY Business Schools. WHAT ??? This guy does NOT even have a science background. How do you espain that LUCY?
But to his credit Paul is also a licensed Baptist Pastor and a FRAT BOY.
Experience
President
Paul Myhill Family LLC
July 2014 – Present (2 years 1 month)
Company formed to advance the new nutraceutical inventions of Paul Myhill, primarily derived from herbal/botanical sources and targeting:
a.) Cellular defense and repair mechanisms (including Nrf2 pathway)
b.) Chromosome protection
c.) Cellular energy
d.) Detoxification systems
e.) Mood (Anxiety & Depression)
f.) Weight management
g.) Cognition and mental alertness
h.) Pain relief
Education
The University of Texas at Austin – The Red McCombs School of Business
The University of Texas at Austin – The Red McCombs School of Business
MBA, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Management, 3.6/4.0
1990 – 1991
Activities and Societies: MOOT COOP Program (Global Venture Labs Investment Competition), Entrepreneur Society, Entrepreneurs Association, Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity, Beta Alpha Phi International Honor Society
The University of Texas at Austin – The Red McCombs School of Business
The University of Texas at Austin – The Red McCombs School of Business
BBA, Business Honors Program, Finance, 3.6/4.0
1985 – 1989
The elite invitation-only Business Honors Program offers a curriculum modeled after case-based MBA programs and challenges students to think outside of the box. Small class sizes of 30 to 40 students allow for increased focus on discussion, presentation, group collaboration and analytic exercises.
Activities and Societies: Business Honors Program, Honors Business Association, Golden Key International National Honour Society, Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity, Beta Alpha Phi International Honor Society, Phi Delta Phi Pre-Law Honor Society
Dallas Theological Seminary
Dallas Theological Seminary
, Intercultural Studies, 3.7/4.0
1998 – 2002
Activities and Societies: People Group Research
Greg B: “Indeed, when studies are sent to the reviewers, the names of the people who conducted the study are redacted, so they don’t even know WHO conducted them.”
False. The identities of the peer reviewers are not revealed to the authors who are submitting for publication, but the identities of the authors are not redacted — the reviewers know exactly who the authors are. Even if the identities weren’t revealed, it would be easy for savvy reviewers to figure out who wrote the paper, since experts in a given research sub-specialty are very well attuned to what their colleagues are studying, and also based on the literature cited (i.e., authors will typically cite their own body of background work that preceded the submitted research).
Greg B: “They check for such things as Were proper scientific methods used during the study…(etc.)…”
What they are incapable of checking for, however, is data rigging which unfortunately occur far too often.
http://www.nature.com/news/publishing-the-peer-review-scam-1.16400
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1512330
http://www.nature.com/news/faked-peer-reviews-prompt-64-retractions-1.18202
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2015/07/08/fraudulent-peer-review-strikes-another-academic-publisher-32-articles-questioned/
Also, it’s critically important to point out that the stringency of peer review is directly related to the quality of the journal in question. Good journals have a very stringent peer review process and very low acceptance rates; mediocre journals have a more lax peer review process and very low rejection rates (i.e., they publish lots of crap studies). Almost every Protandim study to date has been published in the latter type of journal. The most prestigious and stringent journal they have published in so far is American Journal of Physiology, and that study, which was the only randomized, blinded, placebo controlled trial to date, showed that Protandim had no antioxidant effects whatsoever. An epic failure!
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22268125
That study was published 4 years ago. Since then, it looks like research on Protandim has ground to halt, and there do not appear to be any additional clinical trials planned.
Greg B: “the fact that Protandim has so many is a good thing”
Actually, no, it’s an embarrassment. Their body of so-called “research” to date is pretty much emblematic of the way supplement scammers leverage shoddy pseudoscience to market products. Essentially, all they have done is perform a repetitive series of in vitro and animal studies, the results of which were completely predictable on the basis of what was already known from the existing scientific literature regarding the mechanism of action of curcumin, one of the ingredients in Protandim. Prior to the existence of Protandim, curcumin had been shown, based on in vitro studies, to act as an antioxidant, capable of scavenging free radicals directly.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18547552
Additional studies, published prior to the existence of Protandim, showed that curcumin can activate antioxidant genes in vitro via upregulation of NRF2.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12570874
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12514113
However, this effect is not known to have any physiological or medical significance, and Protandim has never been shown to activate NRF2 (or to have any medical benefits) in humans who take the product. The only study to date which has shown an antioxidant effect of Protandim in humans was a small-scale and very poorly designed study (non-blinded, non-randomized, non-controlled) authored by company insider shareholders back in 2006. This results of this study, which did not even mention NRF2, could not be replicated in the clinical trial published in 2012 (linked above), which was well designed and showed that the product did nothing.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16413416
Greg B: “At the very least, Protandim can not be dismissed out-of-hand as useless, as some on this blog foolishly do. They need to produce evidence that all those studies are wrong.”
How ironic that you would accuse others of being foolish. Protandim can very easily be dismissed out of hand as useless, because not only is there no evidence that it is useful in humans, there is strong clinical evidence that it is in fact useless. However, the mere suggestion that evidence is required to prove that Protandim is useless indicates that Greg lacks a basic understanding about the burden of proof in science. The default assumption is that an agent does nothing unless compelling clinical evidence is presented to show otherwise.
As for the in vitro mechanistic studies on Protandim, no one is arguing that they are wrong per se, but they are worthless, as they merely replicate what was already known about the effects of curcumin based on in vitro research that was published long before Protandim existed.
Aside from the product being utterly useless (and stupidly expensive) the fact that so many of the people selling the product have done so using illegal and utterly ridiculous claims of miraculous medical benefits is a red flag in itself, as liars and lawbreakers should simply never be trusted. And this is aside from the fact that the company can’t even produce a reliable product, as indicated by the metal shard contamination fiasco of 2012, or the fact that it was initially manufactured by a company run by a CEO who got thrown in jail for selling illegally spiked supplements that killed people, and lying about it to the FDA.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protandim#Voluntary_recall
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemins
With all that evidence going against Protandim, it’s a wonder that anyone would be foolish enough to buy or take the product, and it can be safely assumed that no one would unless they were badly misinformed, astoundingly naïve, and/or actively involved with the product.
Evidence based practice. That’s all I have to say. Protandim has studies, sure, but only two of them are on humans! Arguing or trying to justify that is ridiculous. Mice and rats are very different from humans. Unless there are future studies conducted regarding this product on HUMANS realistically no one should be taking it. Personal opinions and testimonials are the weakest form of evidence for a product and I feel like that’s mostly what protandim’s platform is made up of.
Exactly, Veronica! Only two studies on humans, and the one with a placebo control was a failure for Protandim. The other human study, the one they hang their hat on, was very flawed, as Vogel very convincingly pointed out.
Bundle that information with:
-The history of the company lying about who invented it.
-Their “esteemed” science officer allowing the lie about him to go on for years.
-The fact that it is sold via a MLM scheme.
-The actual “inventor” of Protandim no longer takes the product.
A peer-reviewed study is one that has been examined by scientists who are knowledgeable in the particular field in question, but have no connection with either the product or the scientists who conducted the study. Indeed, when studies are sent to the reviewers, the names of the people who conducted the study are redacted, so they don’t even know WHO conducted them.
They check for such things as Were proper scientific methods used during the study? and Are the conclusions reached supported by the data? and Are there good alternative explanations for the observed results, besides the use of the product being studied? All good medical/scientific journals will not print a study that does not pass the peer-review process (and many submitted studies do not), so the fact that Protandim has so many is a good thing.
At the very least, Protandim can not be dismissed out-of-hand as useless, as some on this blog foolishly do. They need to produce evidence that all those studies are wrong.
I like the article. I do wonder about the studies completed by various universities. The university studies are brought up in the promotional videos. I think those are different than the peer reviews.
Glen Stambaugh: “And yet, the same thing happened when my mother in-law took it. Go figure? Perhaps you don’t possess all there is to know about NRF 2 activation, or oxidative effects on the body? No, couldn’t be that!”
Protandim has never been shown to affect NRF2 in humans who take the product, so it is fair to say that it is you who doesn’t “possess all there is to know about NRF2”. Besides, lots of things activate NRF2 – practically everything — from vitamin C, heavy metals, environmental toxins, etc., and yet none of them mitigate ankylosing spondylitis, lower cholesterol, or relieve pain.
The basic premise underlying your claim is flawed to say the least, aside from the fact that it is a vague unverifiable testimonial from an anonymous source, which makes it worthless for all the reasons explained previously.
And yet, the same thing happened when my mother in-law took it. Go figure? Perhaps you don’t possess all there is to know about NRF 2 activation, or oxidative effects on the body? No, couldn’t be that!
Glen Stambaugh: “My experience with the product was that over 4-6 months aches and pains I’d experienced for about a decade have abated and my cholesterol dropped.”
Protandim isn’t a pain reliever and there’s no conceivable reason why (nor evidence that) it would lower cholesterol, much the same as there’s no mechanism by which it would rapidly alleviate the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis (a chronic degenerative condition) or any of the myriad unrelated condition.
You have no way of knowing all the motivation you just loaded him with. A distributor? I don’t know and neither do you. A profiteer, a naive tooth fairy believer or even somebody trying to “prove” anything. All we have is his experience, which he’s entitled to. Is it meaningful? I don’t know and neither do you.
I have 30+ years as a healthcare professional and my experience with the product was that over 4-6 months aches and pains I’d experienced for about a decade have abated and my cholesterol dropped. I don’t know if it’s a miracle or even the tooth fairy, but I plan to keep taking it. If that’s not your experience, fine.
Vog, just because you disagree with something doesn’t mean it has been disproved. Show us the multiple studies that demonstrate Protandim’s non-effectiveness, and your criticisms will have some validity. All you have is one small, incomplete study.
We have a dozen or so studies that indicate that Protandim does, by activating Nrf2, help lower Oxidative Stress and inflammation (which in various ways improves health). Even if the jury is still out, you have no good grounds for rendering a verdict.
Greg B: “Show us the multiple studies that demonstrate Protandim’s non-effectiveness, and your criticisms will have some validity. All you have is one small, incomplete study.”
It is remarkable how you continue to insist that the normal standards for burden of proof don’t apply to Protandim. If someone makes a claim, the onus is on them to back it up with evidence, not for others to disprove it. The default assumption is that Protandim does nothing for anything. To go beyond that default assumption, the onus is on anyone who makes a claim to the contrary to present evidence that it does something — in this case, alleviates diseases — but no evidence has been presented.
Furthermore, the one and only randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of Protandim showed that it did nothing (e.g., no antioxidant effect). Exactly how many studies do you think are needed to validate a null hypothesis?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3330762/
Greg B: “We have a dozen or so studies that indicate that Protandim does, by activating Nrf2, help lower Oxidative Stress and inflammation (which in various ways improves health).”
No you most certainly do not. There isn’t a single stitch of data in any of the Protandim studies indicating that it lowers inflammation. Secondly, there are no studies showing that taking Protandim upregulates NRF2 in humans (not that it would necessarily be a good thing even if it did).
Greg B: “Even if the jury is still out, you have no good grounds for rendering a verdict.”
The jury isn’t out. It was never convened in the first place because there is no evidence to put on trial. Anonymous testimonials (hearsay) aren’t admissible in court because they are considered worthlessly unreliable, as they are in all areas of science.
Greg says: “Vog,just because you disagree with something doesn’t mean it has been disproved. Show us the multiple studies that demonstrate Protandim’s non-effectiveness, and your criticisms will have some validity. All you have is one small, incomplete study.”
Oh, come on. Even you should know that’s not how science works. Lifevantage needs to show that it “works,” they are the ones selling it. The “one, small, incomplete study” that showed it DIDN’T work is the most scientifically valid study to date, since it was conducted on humans and had a control group. The fact that LV hasn’t bothered to try to validate the claim of lowering oxidative stress in humans speaks volumes. They don’t want to risk another failure.
Greg says: “We have a dozen or so studies that indicate that Protandim does, by activating Nrf2, help lower Oxidative Stress and inflammation (which in various ways improves health).
The “dozen or so studies” you mention are useless rodent or test tube studies, so no, it does not indicate that Protandim lowers oxidative stress in humans, or provides any health benefit.
Paul Myhill, the “inventor of Protandim,” no longer takes it.
(I add this to every comment I submit, so the information does not get buried.)
Glen Stambaugh: “While it’s not proof, it is people’s experience…”
It may or may not be someone’s experience. We have no way of knowing if even that much is true. All we know for sure is that someone typed the words. That’s the point and its so obvious that you must be pretending to not get it.
Glen Stambaugh: “You have submitted no proof that they’re lying or even that they’re distributers.”
Again, I don’t need proof. The burden of proof is on them/you. There is no more reason to believe a vague anonymous story about Protandim miraculously curing ankylosing spondylitis than there is to believe in the tooth fairy.
As for whether or not they are distributors, it seems pretty obvious that at least some (if not all) are given the fact that they are here posting these stories in the first place, anonymously, combined with their apparent knowledge of obscure details about the product/company, defensiveness, and tenacity with which they cling to thoroughly discredited and inane misconceptions. Not to mention that there is a clear profit motive involved, and since this site probably comes up high in the Google rankings it can impact public perceptions and sales. Greg is a distributor. You haven’t denied being one.
But regardless, motives are not the primary issue at stake here. It’s all about evidence, logic, and commonsense, all of which are missing from the sketchy testimonials you cling to so desperately.
Glen Stambaugh: “What really begs the question, is why you would get so worked up as to post such a critical response to someone’s experience with a product? They did nothing to deserve being demeaned by you. Get a life and let this poor Protandim user enjoy their enhanced one.”
My response was dispassionate and not the least bit demeaning. The problem here is a failure on your part to admit that skepticism over anonymous unsubstantiated miracle-cure claims is entirely justified, aside from the fact that distributors who promote the product in this manner are breaking the law.
The burden of proof is simple. Make a claim, provide evidence. The more outlandish and counter-intuitive the claim is (like a chronic degenerative disease rapidly abating after taking an expensive MLM curry pill), the greater the burden of evidence (i.e. it must be all the more stringent and compelling).
The concept is elementary and easy to understand, but MLM hustlers pretend as though such a basic expectation is an outrage and an insult; and that’s laughable to witness — a very intellectually dishonest, unrealistic, and ineffective strategy for defending the product.
While it’s not proof, it is people’s experience, and they are entitled to it. You have submitted no proof that they’re lying or even that they’re distributers, and yes, sometimes the world does work that way. Other’s should be skeptical… I am, but you have no basis to call them lyars.
John Maurer: “My Lab went from not walking or able to support himself while having a bowel movement, (yes, I had to help hold him up during), to walking, swimming and being close to his old-self. Within two weeks of taking Protandim he could perform all bodily functions on his own, and now after 6 full months, he’s able to run short distances seemingly w/out pain. There’s no other explanation other than this product works for him, (and dogs don’t understand the word ‘placebo’).”
From an outsider’s perspective there are several other explanations:
1. The story you told is complete fiction.
2. The story you told contains kernels of truth (e.g. the dog exists and had the medical conditions described) but omits key details like concurrent medical therapies prescribed by a vet which would account for any improvement that may have occurred.
3. The condition you described is a self-limiting one that regressed independently of Protandim.
In fact, the least likely explanation is that Protandim produced the effects described, especially since not a stitch of evidence was provided to back up this implausible miracle cure claim. I’ll repeat again that it is surprising that people (presumably Protandim distributors) post these far-fetched stories and expect others to believe them unquestioningly. To do so would be just plain dumb. The real world doesn’t work that way and never has. So rather than getting testy about people displaying well-founded skepticism, either provide evidence or stop making such dubious claims.
What really begs the question, is why you would get so worked up as to post such a critical response to someone’s experience with a product? They did nothing to deserve being demeaned by you. Get a life and let this poor Protandim user enjoy their enhanced one.
“Aren’t you the pot calling the kettle black, complaining about someone posting anonymously?”
No, obviously, because I am not making any fantastic claims (e.g., miracle cure fairy tales) that require the reader’s blind trust. Surely you must realize that this important distinction exists, unless you’re a complete idiot.
“Are you accusing Spondy of making this up?”
Well who is “Spondy”? Are you seriously suggesting that the logical path is to blindly trust implausible claims from anonymous individuals on the internet? If I claimed that that Protandim killed 100 people a day would you blindly believe it or would you ask for evidence?
“Where do you get off making such a charge?”
I clearly said that the individual that posted this claim was either drawing a false conclusion about causality OR was lying outright. Since it’s unlikely that anyone would believe that AS could be essentially cured in 4 months of taking placebo pill, which possibility seems more likely?
“Where are all the peer-reviewed, published studies saying Protandim does not work?”
There isn’t a scintilla of evidence to suggest that Protandim would substantially relieve the symptoms of AS described in the testimonial. The burden of evidence is on those who make claims of efficacy in treating diseases, not those who rightly cast doubt upon them.
“Do you have any evidence that Protandim did not help him?”
No, nor is any required since the burden of proof is on “Spondy”, not me.
“What explanation do you have for his improved health?”
As I said before, we don’t even know that this person ever had AS to begin with, let alone that Protandim cured it.
“Why don’t you get a life, and stop tearing down something about which you obviously know nothing!”
I have a mighty fine life.
My Lab went from not walking or able to support himself while having a bowel movement, (yes, I had to help hold him up during), to walking, swimming and being close to his old-self. Within two weeks of taking Protandim he could perform all bodily functions on his own, and now after 6 full months, he’s able to run short distances seemingly w/out pain. There’s no other explanation other than this product works for him, (and dogs don’t understand the word ‘placebo’)