Below is a blog that I wrote over the weekend regarding the supplement Bill proposed by Senators McCain and Dorgan that I am pleased to say that Bill has now been withdrawn.  It should serve as a reminder to all of us that we should never take our freedoms for granted or get complacent about the simple right to enjoy our vitamins.  I am convinced it was public pressure from ordinary citizens that convinced the Senators to withdraw their Bill and we must remain vigilant, since this will not be the last threat to our freedom to take and enjoy vitamin supplements.

Our supplements are once again safe!  Apparently Democracy has its moments! 

I have received dozens and dozens of questions pertaining to the new Supplement Bill proposed by Senators John McCain (R, AZ) and Byron Dorgan (D, ND).  Its terms are still unclear, but its intent is obviously to limit and prevent your access to supplements.  Sadly, it singles out supplements for needless treatment that no other food, drug or consumer item receives.  The Bill’s title states that its goal is safety, but why are supplements singled out when they have been proven safe and when food, OTC drugs and prescription drugs have thousands of times more adverse incidents than supplements?  Sadly, once again supplements are the target of politicians with mysterious motives. 

The most bizarre and outrageous thing is that these good Senators state that the basis for this new law are the issues surrounding drug testing of elite athletes. Each year a handful of elite athletes fail drug tests and they never fail to wrongfully blame it on vitamins.  We are talking about a tiny number of elite athletes and I am not aware of instances where supplements were proven to be at fault in the failed drug tests, but nevertheless, the good Senators have made this their new crusade.   In any event, to see the concerns of a few elite athletes determine the access of 300 million Americans to vitamins is absurd!  This is not a question of the tail wagging the dog, but the flea on the tail of the dog wagging the dog.  There are more than 100 million regular supplement consumers in America and just a handful of elite athletes, yet those few elite athletes may now determine your freedom and access to vitamins.  Supplements already have far fewer adverse instances than OTC drugs, prescription drugs or even food. This law will not change the safety of supplements at all, but will most assuredly increase the cost of vitamins to consumers and more importantly, limit your access to those supplements as well.  Is this an example of McCain doing some Winter Olympics political grandstanding?  And how will our government pay for this?  Will they raise taxes?  As the political and financial events of last year showed us, in the end, it will be the consumer/taxpayer who is left paying for the misdeeds of politicians.  You can rest assured that these Senators are not serving the interests of 300 million Americans with this Bill. 

In short, purportedly to protect the interests of a few elite athletes who love to make supplements the innocent scapegoats for their failed drug tests, now all vitamin consumers will be forced to pay more for their supplements – if they can even get them at all.  Moreover, this is clearly only the first step in the government regulating away our access to vitamins entirely, since the bill appears to seek to repeal certain longstanding rules that provide you guaranteed access to certain ingredients.  It is just the latest attempt by certain interest groups to limit your access to vitamins and limit your ability to make independent health choices.  It is ironic that I have always lobbied in favor of the regulation of supplements, since it improves the quality of all products; however, in this case, these regulations are foolish and meaningless.  It will serve the interests of no consumers and only grow our government by requiring they monitor, manage and maintain meaningless data on supplements in a manner that is not required for any other food, OTC drug, prescription drug, etc.  In the end, our government will now place a barrier between you and the vitamins that have already been proven safe for decades…and all this to supposedly serve the interests of a few elite athletes. 

Fortunately, we still live in a Democracy and if you enjoy your freedom to make your own health decisions, then I strongly recommend you urgently contact your Congresspersons or Senators in some fashion (letters, emails, phone calls, etc.) before this foolishness becomes a depressing reality.  This is our only chance to make our feelings known to those in power in Washington, DC.  The following link to SaveOurSupplements.org will provide more information and help you send an email, letter or note directly to your Senators:  http://www.saveoursupplements.org 

Our supplements are once again safe!  The Bill has been withdrawn.
Apparently Democracy has its moments! 

Best of health.  Andrew

Who would have thought that events that began just a few weeks ago with QVC’s use of my most popular product’s name (Healthy Hair Skin and Nails) would end with them suing me?!  I took no legal action against QVC for their use of my product’s name and when I exercised my constitutionally protected right to free speech, QVC responded with a lawsuit.  It is a disturbing and unfortunate turn of events, but I am grateful for all your words of support and please don’t worry about us.  My company and I are in the hands of extremely experienced lawyers who will capably protect my interests against QVC’s meritless and unwarranted attack.  As you might expect, there is much I could say at this time, but instead, I will let my lawyers’ soon-to-be-filed documents speak for themselves.

Thanks again for your heartwarming words of support.

Andrew

Resveratrol – that gift of Mother Nature from Red Wine – continues to be the most talked about anti-aging ingredient.  And as much as it’s talked about in newspapers, magazines, TV and the Internet, it is more exciting to see the serious science growing even faster.  For those of you who have followed me for years, Resveratrol isn’t new to you at all, since you’ve heard me talk about it over a decade ago. However, until recently, there was no separate ultra-high-potency Resveratrol available and the best we could do was provide small amounts from standardized extracts of Grape Skin, Red Wine and Grape Seed.  In the last few years a new, ultra-high potency Resveratrol source was developed from Japanese Knotweed and this remarkable plant made possible the first ultra-concentrated Resveratrol, like my Resveratrol-100, which delivers 100 mg of Natural Resveratrol powder in a small capsule from a standardized extract of the root of the Japanese Knotweed Plant (scientifically know as Polygonum Cuspidatum).  Japanese Knotweed flourishes all over the world and is known as American Bamboo here in the US.  Until recently, no one knew that this ordinary plant growing wild at the side of the road was the most extraordinary natural source of Resveratrol!  Of course, our Japanese Knotweed is not harvested at the side of the road, but specifically cultivated and extracted for its unique content of Resveratrol, which is many, many times higher than even the best Red Wine, Grape Skin or Grape Seed Extracts.  Most people are surprised that the Resveratrol in the highest potency supplements does not come from Grapes or Red Wine and in fact, without Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum Cuspidatum), the highest potency Resveratrol products would not exist.  In other words, it might look like it comes in a wine bottle, but if a product contains ultra-high levels of Resveratrol, it MUST come from Polygonum Cuspidatum (Japanese Knotweed).  In fact, it is only as a result of the discovery of Japanese Knotweed’s spectacularly high Resveratrol content that an economical, ultra-high potency, natural Resveratrol product is possible.  In response to your questions, I take 100-200 mgs daily of Resveratrol and I do not agree at all with those folks who say you need to consume super-high levels.  I find that 100-200 mgs is economical, healthy, balanced and well-researched.

I trust that my first paragraph answered some of the background questions on Resveratrol and now I will try to answer the abundance of inquiries I have received regarding QVC’s very “colorful” attempt at a Resveratrol Tablet and their very “sweet” attempt at a Resveratrol Drink.  I will try to keep it brief, but these products are very disappointing and apparently misleading.  The Q in QVC has always stood for Quality, but when it comes to their Resveratrol products, the Q might better stand for Questionable.

QVC’s Resveratrex Tablet.  Other than its large size, the first thing you notice about QVC’s Resveratrex tablet is its beautiful color – just like a glass of red wine.  It is very appealing!  Sadly, Nature’s Code does not use Natural Grape Extracts to achieve this color. When the product was introduced six months ago, they chose to use three Artificial Colors!  The product was artificially dyed the color of red wine with FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6 and FD&C Blue #2.  Before I continue, I have good news!  Perhaps my statements actually are having an impact on QVC, since the Artificial Colors that were present in this product have apparently now been removed and it is colored with Caramel and Carmine – the latter is derived from the crushed shells of beetles and it is still not Grapes, but it is far better than Artificial Colors!  Now let’s do a little math to determine its additive content – likely almost two-thirds additives!  There are two groups of active ingredients in this Tablet:  Resveratrol and Healthy Heart Blend.  Starting with the 100 mg of Resveratrol, it likely comes almost entirely from Polygonum Cuspidatum listed in first position on the label.  The formula likely uses a standard 50% Resveratrol, so 100 mg of Resveratrol requires approximately 200 mg of Polygonum Cuspidatum.  The label also prominent states two secondary sources of Resveratrol:  grape extract and Muscadine grape seed extract; however, I doubt if those materials contribute much, since grape-based extracts possess low Resveratrol content.  In all likelihood, most of the Resveratrol comes from Polygonum Cuspidatum, so approximately 200-300 mg of active material delivers the 100 mg of Resveratrol.  The next group of active ingredients is their Healthy Heart Blend, which is an all but meaningless list of seven different botanicals – NONE of which states a standardization of any kind.  You have NO idea how much you get of each of the seven…none at all.  In short, you know nothing about the quantity, quality, standards or nature of any of this Healthy Heart Blend, but let’s get back to the percent additives:  If there is 200-300 mg of Resveratrol material and then 200 mg of Healthy Heart Blend, then there is 400-500 mgs of total active material in a 1,250 mg tablet.  In other words, this large, red artificially-colored tablet with no real meaningful information about its ingredients is about two-thirds Inactive Ingredients and Fillers!

QVC’s Resveratrex Drink.  This product comes in what looks like a wine bottle, which is an interesting choice, since the primary source of Resveratrol in this product is NOT Red Wine or even Grapes.  As I mentioned above, the only option for an ultra-high potency Resveratrol formula is the Japanese Knotweed Plant (Polygonum Cuspidatum).  It is interesting that both Resveratrex products (Tablets and Drink) are prominently referred to as “FRUITS FROM THE VINE,” but their principal source of Resveratrol is NOT the “vine.”  Instead, like all high potency Resveratrol (including mine), it comes from the amazing Japanese Knotweed Plant (Polygonum Cuspidatum).  I have a tiny picture of a wine glass and bottle on my label, but QVC is much more effective at creating the association with red wine.  QVC is so convincing that you might actually be fooled into thinking their product comes from Red Wine, since it comes in a “wine bottle” and states “FRUITS FROM THE VINE” in big type on the front of its label.  QVC’s drink also delivers 4 grams of sugars per serving from a mystery source, since there is no apparent source of sugar listed on the label.  Those sugars must be hiding somewhere and you’ll never guess where.  If we look back at the Resveratrex Tablet, there is a 200 mg Healthy Heart Blend, but if you look at this Drink, there is a 5,765 mg Healthy Heart Blend!  That’s almost thirty times more per serving!  Interestingly enough, both Healthy Heart Blends contain the exact same seven ingredients with one exception:  “Grape Concentrate” is added in the first place on the Drink.  That Grape Concentrate is apparently not an anti-oxidant rich standardized extract of Grapes for Heart Health, but some kind of sugar-rich concentrate from grapes that sweetens the drink providing its 15 calories per serving.  I can’t believe it, but I actually think they added their sugar-rich grape concentrate sweetener to the Healthy Heart claim.  Well, if nothing else, at least the sugars come from the “FRUITS OF THE VINE.”  The four grams of sugars appears to be calculated as part of the 5,765 mg of Healthy Heart Blend.  I see no other explanation and just like the Resveratrex Tablets, we have no idea of the quality, quantity and standardization of any of the ingredients in the Healthy Heart Blend, but it does appear that Sugar is the dominant ingredient in the Healthy Heart Blend.  I will stop here, since this is already disturbing enough.  It breaks my heart to review products like this and by the way, the QVC price for this beverage is a shocking $1.30 per serving!

The saddest and most disturbing part of all is that for every person who reads this and learns what to avoid, there are likely thousands using these products.

I will see you tonight.

Best of Health…Andrew

I have long received your questions regarding QVC’s vitamins, but I followed my Grandma’s advice. “If you have nothing nice to say, then say nothing.”  So I said nothing; however, that will now change.

Let’s begin our review with a look at QVC’s Hair Skin and Nails Supplement Facts Panel (oddly incomplete on QVC’s website), but a quick look at the label reveals numerous additives, including two Artificial Colors/Dyes (FD&C Yellow #5 and FD&C Yellow #6).  By omitting the complete Supplement Facts Panel from their website, QVC prevents you from knowing what’s in this product until you get it home.  Anyhow, the four active ingredients are Biotin 3 mgs (3,000 mcg); Hyaluronic Acid 1 mg; Silica 10 mg (actually 4.7 mg Silicon); Lutein 0.6 mg (600 mcg).  Adding up their weights, we end up at 14.6 mg (3mg + 1mg + 10mg + 0.6mg).  The weight of this tablet is 1,480 mg, so the four active ingredients (14.6 mg) comprise about 1% of the tablet making it 99% additives!  That’s right…99%!  But why would QVC do this?!  Perhaps a bigger tablet fools you into thinking you’re getting more, but who knows?  Anyhow, this large tablet is just as deceptive and confusing as their use of my product’s name to sell it.

Now let’s go over some sobering facts about their choice of “Active” Ingredients:

1.  Biotin.  3,000 mcgs of Biotin is a great start, but sadly, it is buried in a mass of tableting additives, including two artificial colors and there is nothing else in the formula to support its benefits.  This is basically a very big, yellow Biotin tablet with 99% additives and not much more.

2.  Hyaluronic Acid (HA).  I am very familiar with Hyaluronic Acid.  I have followed the research on HA for over 30 years, but I have never used it, because there is no science that shows it offers any benefit when taken orally and there is a significant body of troubling research that connects it to cancer.  Back in 1979 I first considered using HA, but chose not to, because in my humble opinion, it is totally useless and potentially unsafe.  HA is not well absorbed from the GI tract and as a result, can offer no benefits.  HA does not necessarily “cause” cancer, since it occurs naturally in the body, but credible research points to a relationship and mechanism between HA and cancer, which should preclude its use in vitamins.  Personally, I would never take HA, so of course, I would never put it in my products.  That is why after 30+ years, you have never seen HA in my products.  HA offers no benefits and its research relating to cancer is alarming to me.  HA has been hyped for years by the makers of marginal joint supplements and sadly, it’s now in skin vitamins.  In short, I would never offer HA given my very real concerns about its risks, not to mention its lack of benefits. In closing, oral HA offers no benefits to the hair, skin or nails and at 1 mg, it is all but meaningless.  The only benefit to this ultra-low level is that it likely poses no risk.

3.  Silica (from Silicon Dioxide).  We are all familiar with the more common names for Silica:  Sand or Glass.  Silica is the oxide form of the mineral Silicon, but it is not the ideal form, since it is virtually insoluble (think of glass or sand).  We also use Silica in our Healthy Hair Skin & Nails, but because we recognize its solubility limitations, we include our Soluble Organic Silicon.

4.  Lutein.  Lutein is an important carotenoid, best known for its protective benefits to the eye, which result from its ability to absorb harmful radiation.  That same ability may potentially offer similar photo-protection to the skin; however, QVC’s formula only provides 0.6 mg, which is likely far below the levels required for this benefit to the skin.  Lastly, Lutein will NOT improve the growth of your hair, skin and nails.

In closing, QVC’s use of my exact product name to sell their Nature’s Code’s Hair Skin and Nails formula is not just confusing, but as you can tell from the above, downright disparaging to my product.  At 99% additives and only four ingredients, including 1 mg of Hyaluronic Acid, I can’t imagine what they had in mind.

Be well and see you this Friday and Saturday.
Andrew

You have my sincere thanks for all your supportive posts.  It is truly heartwarming and reassuring.  I am very grateful.

As far as QVC’s product name, they clearly chose a harmless, generic name (Hair Skin and Nails) and that would have been generically legal if it ended there; however, it was what QVC did next to sell their product that is so suspect.  First of all, I can personally assure you that QVC is very familiar with the name of my most successful product, but it still shocks me that they would use that exact product name as if it were their own; making it their main TV graphic, their main website graphic/headline and the name they used to talk about their product on TV throughout the day.  This name was not used to “describe” their product, but was taken from me and used to name their product.  They basically appropriated my 10-year old, most successful product’s name to sell and brand their new competitor product.  Any reasonable consumer would have been confused and that was clearly QVC’s intent, since they could have easily chosen a non-confusing, non-deceptive manner to sell their product, unless confusion and deception were their goals.  It is not petty on anyone’s part to recognize the motives behind QVC’s actions and we would be naïve to think that it was a coincidence or that QVC randomly chose my most successful product’s name to sell their own version of that product.  QVC knew exactly what they were doing.  Confusion is something that an ethical retailer avoids in the best interests of their customers, but QVC chose otherwise and in so doing, harmed their viewers, their customers and disparaged my product. 

I believe there may have been a posting that said I was upset that QVC made a Hair Skin and Nail product, but nothing could be further from the truth.  I applaud QVC’s decision to make this product, since they knew from talking directly to me how popular my product has been.  In short, QVC had every right and reason to make a product like this, but in the interest of their customers, their viewers and common decency, their products should not be confusingly and deceptively presented.

As requested, I will post later today a rather surprising review of QVC’s Hair Skin and Nails product.

Thanks again for all the kind words!  See you from ProCaps Labs this weekend.

Be well.
Andrew

We have received all your questions and I have nothing to do with this product from QVC.  I find it shocking that they would use my exact product name to sell this product.  We often hear that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but in this case, it shows a lack of ethics and a desire to deceive folks into buying their inferior vitamins by using my product name.  QVC should be ashamed of themselves!  It is hard to believe that QVC would take my most successful product’s name and use it to try and confuse and deceive consumers.  They create a low quality product for hair, skin and nails and to sell it, they use the name of my extremely successful product:  Healthy Hair Skin and Nails.  The only reason this QVC product exists is the success of my Healthy Hair Skin and Nails formula and for QVC to refer to their new product by the exact same name demonstrates their desperation and desire to deceive their viewers and customers.  It saddens me to see that QVC can stoop this low, but this lack of integrity is totally in keeping with the lack of quality of their vitamins.  I wish I did not have to write this blog, but all the confusion out there has warranted that I do so.  Anyhow, I just wanted to get a posting up quickly to make it clear that I have nothing to do with this QVC Hair Skin and Nail product and like all their products, it is an insult to anyone who might use it.  I will discuss the deficiencies of this product in the next week or so either by a written entry here or by video blog.  I am sorry for the confusion, but I can’t control the actions of QVC.  You cannot imagine how disturbing it is to find your #1 product name used to confusingly and deceptively sell a terrible imitation on another network.

Best of Health,
Andrew

PS  I will see you on the 22nd and 23rd for a live TV tour of my facility on HSN.