Resveratrol draws drug marketing heat

By Shane Starling

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Resveratrol Antioxidant

The Food and Drug Administration has warned a Georgia-based supplements manufacturer to stop making drug claims about one of its resveratrol products.

The FDA told Natural Biology its resveratrol products were being marketed as a cure and therefore violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act which controls such claims.

The product, called Vintage Resveratrol, was being promoted in a number of ways the FDA took issue with. These claims included:

· Anti-cancer, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory claims (by inhibiting cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1))

· Improved insulin signaling for those with diabetes

· Improved fat metabolism

· Controls high blood pressure

· Inhibits blood clots

· Reduces risk of breast cancer

· Causes aptosis (death of cancer cells)

· Reduces the risk of prostate cancer

· Works as anti-depressant

The FDA said the product blatantly marketed itself as a cancer cure on the company website, including a section called ‘Health News and Research’, where reference was made to scientific papers.

One paper said resveratrol worked effectively against cancer during the three phases of the cancer process: initiation, promotion, and progression.

“For example, resveratrol displayedantimutagenic and antioxidant activity, providing greater protection against DNA damage than vitamins C, E, or beta-carotene. Resveratrol restored glutathione levels, considered by some as the most essential of antioxidants,”​ the company wrote of the product on the website.

The FDA took issue with another Natural Biology product called Nano HGH that contained L-arginine and a marine-sourced calcium.

In its letter to the company the FDA wrote: “Your products are not generally recognized as safe and effective for the above-referenced uses and, therefore, the products are ‘new drugs’… Your products ‘Nano HGH’ and ‘Vintage Resveratrol’ are also misbranded within the meaning … of the Act, in that labeling for these drugs fails to bear adequate directions for use.”

The FDA added the list was not comprehensive as it had noticed other potential transgressions on the company’s website.

“The unlawful disease treatment and prevention claims on your website were too numerous to list in this letter,”​ it said.

“It is your responsibility to ensure that products marketed by your firm comply with the Act and its implementing regulations. We advise you to review your website, product labels, and other labeling and promotional materials for your products to ensure that the claims you make for your products do not cause them to violate the Act.”

Resveratrol is a polyphenol typically found in red wine.

Related news

Show more

Related products

show more

MOROSIL:INGREDIENT OF THE YEAR

MOROSIL:INGREDIENT OF THE YEAR

Content provided by BIONAP BIOACTIVE NATURAL PRODUCTS | 07-Mar-2024 | Product Brochure

MOROSIL™ has won as Ingredient of the Year in the category Weight Management at 2023 Nutraingredient USA. MOROSIL ™ is a standardized extract derived from...

Go Beyond the Ordinary: Cognitive Health-BacoMind

Go Beyond the Ordinary: Cognitive Health-BacoMind

Content provided by Natural Remedies Private Limited | 27-Feb-2024 | White Paper

Experience the potency of BacoMind®, the #1 branded bacopa with 9 key bioactives for unparalleled cognitive support.

Nootropics Report 2.0: Brain Health Insights

Nootropics Report 2.0: Brain Health Insights

Content provided by dsm-firmenich | 22-Feb-2024 | Insight Guide

The brain health market is constantly growing and evolving, with more consumers looking for innovative ways to support total mind and body wellness.

Related suppliers

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars