The Resveratrol Phenomenon and how not to be deceived

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The do's and dont's of picking a resveratrol supplement

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biotivia - resveratrol specialists

New York City, N.Y, July 27, 2010 — Recently, there has been a huge increase in demand for natural products that produce beneficial health effects comparable to prescribed pharmacy drugs, but without the often serious adverse effects and high cost. This has created a large natural products industry focusing on functional

supplements such as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, weight loss and other products with medical benefits.

Unfortunately, whenever something becomes popular it attracts a few dubious companies who misrepresent the quality and benefits of their products. This makes it very difficult for buyers to distinguish between genuine, high quality supplements and the lower quality ones being sold by mostly newcomers to the market. These companies have virtually no quality control, no scientific resources and little if any experience.

One product in particular that is really gaining momentum, is a molecule found in grapeskins, nuts, berries and some other plants called Resveratrol.

Resveratrol is a chemical compound called a phytoalexin and is what plants naturally produce as their defense system to combat environmental stresses, viruses, bacteria and fungi.

Resveratrol has been used in hundreds of scientific studies and has shown to have similar beneficial health properties in animals. Recent research by Dr Sinclair of Harvard University on mice found that it increased longevity by 31% and prevented the onset of some of the usual diseases normally associated with aging.

Due to the fantastic results from some of this research, many companies have appeared claiming to have the most potent and bio-available forms of Resveratrol. These companies are making many health claims that have not been certified by the FDA or by any testing government bodies.

A little investigation into some of these companies, and the ingredients that they use, show that many of them sell low quality and sometimes useless products, some containing as little as 2% of the claimed ingredients.

Plus, as these ingredients are not of high quality, or are cheap synthetics, they have little bio-availability making them useless for those who seek the benefits Resveratrol.

To compound the problem, there are many fraudulent companies who are claiming to be endorsed by respected celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Dr Oz, Barbara Walters and Dr Sinclair.

Resveratrol has been a big topic of discussion on these shows thanks to its beneficial qualities and hopes for its potential to cure disease. Neither Dr. Oz nor Oprah Winfrey or her company, Harpo Productions endorse any brand of resveratrol.

In fact, claims by disreputable marketers have led to a wide ranging lawsuit and criminal investigations of more than 50 Resveratrol sellers behind marketing scams and illegal use of copyrighted and trademarked images and other intellectual property.

This lawsuit is being prosecuted by attorneys for Oprah Winfrey and Dr Oz as these “deceptive and fraudulent practices have harmed their clients and thousands of consumers who have been influenced by these false claims.
Another tactic being used by some of these deceptive companies is to offer “Free trial offers”. They make a statement in their marketing offering a free two week trial and claim “if you are not happy with the results then you are not obliged to pay for the product.” The actual reality of it is that you will be asked to submit your payment details, for ‘the shipping costs only’, then when the purchaser receives the supplement they find that is it back dated by over two weeks so they have no “right” to return it. Many instances have shown that when the buyer attempts to contact the company, they discover that there is no valid email address, phone number or other way to contact them to cancel an order or obtain a refund.

Here is one of the many complaints that are circulating at the moment:

http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/rez-v-pure-and-pure-rez-v-pro-c217355.html

So how can a purchaser know what resveratrol company is reputable? There are some common sense things the consumer can do to protect themselves from these frauds.

Deal with reputable well established firms only.

All of the firms charged in the lawsuit but Dr. Oz and Oprah are companies that were formed for the express purpose of taking advantage of the popularity of resveratrol. None of them existed even two years ago. Almost all also had numerous complaints filed against them with the Better Business Bureau. Do a bit of research before making a purchase.

Ethical labeling:

Many resveratrol supplement suppliers do not disclose the exact form of resveratrol or the quantity which is contained in their supplement. You want to pick a supplement whose active ingredient is trans-resveratrol. This should be clearly stated on the label. There are other types of resveratrol, including cis-resveratrol, that are worthless. Consumer Lab, an independent testing organization, rates dietary supplements. Consulting their web site before selecting a supplier is a good way to avoid problems later.

Capsules and packaging:

No animal products should be contained in either the capsule or its contents.
Resveratrol is highly susceptable to deterioration by oxidation and exposure to ultraviolet light. A quality supplement will be protected from oxidation during manufacture through the use of nitrogen gas filled processing lines and an oxygen scavenging sachet in the bottle.
The minimum amount of trans-resveratrol should be 250mg if you are looking to replicate the health benefits shown in recent animal and human trials.
No extraneous ingredients, such as quercetin, should be contained in the product.

Natural versus synthetic Resveratrol

Synthetic resveratrol can be produced using one of two methods, fermentation and chemical engineering. In the case of fermentation a yeast or bacteria is genetically modified to produce resveratrol. Chemically engineered resveratrol is constructed from a broth of compounds using organic chemistry to engineer the molecule. Both processes result in a lower quality compound which more often than not contains impurities.

The credentials of your supplier

The company you select as your supplier should have passed Consumer Lab’s recently updated evaluation of resveratrol brands, and its web site should provide easy methods to contact the company if you have any questions, complaints or a request for a refund. If the company offers a monthly recurring order program a clear and convenient means of canceling your subscription should be offered. If the company’s products are not available in brick and mortar stores such as GNC, The Vitamin Shop and other reputable resellers it should probably be avoided.

Don’t opt in for a free trial

As the old saying goes; “you don’t get something for nothing”. This couldn’t be more true in the case of free trials. Always read the terms and conditions very carefully before opting in for a free trial as you will always find something in the small print that can most likely trip you up in the future.

If you would like to read more about Resveratrol supplements that really do what they say then please visit http://www.biotivia.com/testimonials.html