MuscleMeds Claims Generally OK

NEW YORK--The National Advertising Review Council (NARC), part of the Council of Better Business Bureaus (BBB) National Advertising Division (NAD) recommended Little Falls, NJ-based MuscleMeds Performance Technologies modify or discontinue certain advertising claims for its Methyl Arimatest dietary supplement product.

NAD examined certain claims appearing in print and Internet advertising, and on packaging, for the two-part dietary supplement, including increasing (skyrocket") testosterone levels, clinically tested" claims and a breakthrough" mechanism of action. Packaged in a single box are two formulas with different dosing instructions and ingredients; Formula 1 is a dihydrotase complex and Formula 2 contains methylated flavones.

During the NAD review, MuscleMeds did supply requested substantiation. Regarding the clinical testing and amount of testosterone increase (over 10,000 pg/mL"), the advertiser relied on a 2008 clinical study on Formula 1, sold under the trade name Mytosterone. The ingredient is a proprietary blend of saw palmetto and astaxanthin, sold by Triarco Industries, and the study did find statistically significant increases in testosterone in users. However, cited studies for Formula 2 were conducted in vitro or in animals, which NAD determined could not be used to substantiate the claims made for use in humans. Further, claims regarding synergism between the products were found to be unsubstantiated.

The 2008 clinical study was found to be adequate substantiation for the claim about the product being clinically tested," as long as the claim is limited to the Formula 1 component. Also, the claim on the mechanism of action was correct per the study findings. However, NAD recommended MuscleMeds discontinue its skyrocketing" testosterone claim and greatest breakthrough in testosterone supplementation history" claim.

In an advertisers statement, MuscleMeds said it would take the NAD recommendations into consideration when developing future marketing, adding, MuscleMeds appreciates NADs fair and balanced review process and continues to support the NADs advertising self-regulation program."