Promensil Ads Come Under Fire, Feds Urged to Act

WASHINGTONAdvertising claims for Promensil, a red clover dietary supplement marketed by Natrol Inc., have come under heavy scrutiny from the watchdog group Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), which urged the federal government to act swiftly in removing the ads from the media. CSPI called the ads and product labeling deceptive, adding most of the research on the pills shows that its ineffective. 

For its argument, CSPI noted a recent television ad calling Promensil the only supplement proven to reduce menopause symptoms, as well as ads in womens magazines claiming 22 clinical studies cant be wrong in proving Promensil eases hot flashes, night sweats, and other symptoms of menopause. CSPI claims most of the research on Promensil looking at hot flashes and other menopausal symptomsincluding the largest and the longest studiesfound the red clover supplement to be no more effective than a placebo. The group also took issue with Promensil heart health claims; CSPI stated most of the research showed Promensil had no effect on established risk factors for heart disease, such as blood cholesterol levels or blood pressure. 

CSPI painted an ironic picture of Natrol as leader in the new Just Like Me campaign, saying the credibility gap the campaign targets exists for good reason, as exemplified in the Promensil ads.