StarCaps Cause Failed Drug Tests?
October 28, 2008
A diet pill you may not be familiar with but sells like crazy is called “StarCaps ” and it’s billed as the diet supplement for the stars. Owned by Hollywood star Nikki Haskell the supplement can be purchased via the Internet or many of the health-food stores in the U.S., and the capsules are sold in bottles in quantities of 30 for about $100. Last year, I saw the product sold for $200 at one large retail chain!
According to its Web site, StarCaps is “an all natural supplement ,” which has “been prepared in Peru, using an exclusive drying process to help preserve the enzyme, activity of papaya, grown in the Peruvian Amazon, and the dietary integrity of fresh garlic, grown in the rich and fertile mountains of Arequipa, Peru. Papaya and Garlic have been
used in their raw forms since the time of the ancient Greeks, Romans and Incas.”
There is no mention of the diuretic Bumetanide (pictured on right), a drug banned by the NFL which Saints players Deuce McAllister, Will Smith and Charles Grant reportedly tested positive for by taking this supplement. In late 2007, a group of scientists at the University of Utah did a study on StarCaps. In its research, the scientists gave a StarCaps capsule to male and female volunteers. Urine samples were then analyzed and Bumetanide was detected in each person! To read more on why various supplements have been linked to failed drug tests, click HERE.
SOURCE: The Times-Picayune
Why Are Supplements Causing Failed Drug Tests?
October 28, 2008
David Cornwell Theory - Some companies are eager to grab a share of that market and do so by spiking muscle-building products with ingredients that will work exceptionally well. “They put tainted products knowingly on the shelves to get the user to come back to that product, ” said David Cornwell, an attorney who represented Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman in his appeal of a nandrolone positive in 2006.
Howard Jacobs Theory - The raw materials, sometimes coming from China, may be contaminated with steroids or pro-hormones to start. Or cross-contamination occurs from other products. Attorney Howard Jacobs has brought a handful of suits against supplement companies on behalf of athletes. He said he found that “most are pretty reluctant to divulgue where they’re getting their raw materials. But a large percentage … come from China.” Editors Note: A program called “Informed Choice” has been developed which tests supplements to ensure that they are free of hormonal contaminants that may result in a positive drug test. Click HERE to read more on it.
Scott Welch Theory - I agree with Howard and David’s explanations but I think there’s also third situation at play. If you look closely, most of the positive drug tests have been for Nandrolone Metabolites. These metabolites have anabolic properties and are produced by taking the steroids Deca-Durabolin, Durabolin, Equipoise, Dynabolon, or Laurabolin. Unfortunately or fortunately (depends how you look at it) there’s a class of supplements called “nandrolone pro-hormones” which convert into Nandrolone Metabolites once they’re processed by your liver. Not all of these “pro-hormones” themselves are on the NFL, IOC, NHL, NBA, NCAA banned lists and many are sold over the counter as dietary supplements in the U.S. However, it’s very important to know that these supplements can raise nandrolone levels high enough to fail a drug test (because the urine test is ultra sensitive) but not high enough to get the performance-enhancing effects some pro athletes need to compete. So in the event that a steroid using athlete is tested and fails, their coaches or the athletes themselves have a list of legal supplements that are nandrolone “pro hormones” which they bring forward in their defense to help get the athlete off the charges. They claim that they “unknowingly” took a steroid! I’m not saying that this is always the case but it does happen.
SOURCE: SignOnSanDiego.com
FDA Fails To Regulate Nutritional Labels
October 27, 2008
Original Story By: David Accomazzo
Companies put nutritional labels on products to help customers make informed choices about their health. However, according to supplement expert David Accomazzo, a recent report points out a lack of federal oversight that means customers have to take companies’ claims at their word without much assurance from the government.
"The FDA has limited assurance that domestic and imported foods comply with food labeling requirements, such as those prohibiting false or misleading labeling…FDA has reported that limited resources and authorities significantly challenge its efforts to carry out food safety responsibilities—challenges that also impact efforts to administer and enforce labeling requirements," the report said. "While the number of domestic food firms has increased, FDA has not increased the number of its inspections in response to this increase."
The report found that, among other things, that in 2007, the FDA inspected just 96 foreign food companies out of the tens of thousands of companies exporting food to the United States. The FDA also supposedly lacks a proper system to track the number of complaints and violations and is still using an old computer system the agency agreed to eliminate in 2004.
ORIGINAL STORY SOURCE: The Natural Foods Merchandiser
Emergen-C Contest
October 27, 2008
For more than 35 years, Alacer has been developing dietary supplements. Their flagship product “Emergen-C” is a vitamin fizzy drink mix which sells 400 million packets annually! Well the brilliant marketing team came up with a contest with more than 100 kids where they had the chance to brainstorm great flavor names, draw packaging designs and select which flavours will make it to the shelves! The winner for best name and best artwork for each flavor was rewarded with a prize package, which included $1,000 to be donated to their school’s reading, math or science program. The events were held at Whole Foods Stores across the country.
“We wanted to create the best-tasting, most-loved kids vitamin product on the market and figured the best way to do that was to go straight to the source,” said Meghann Seidner, Emergen-C Brand Manager. “Kids had a footprint in every aspect of the product development from tasting to naming and design. The final packaging will incorporate design elements from each winner and the kids will be featured on our website.”
This idea is ingenious as it:
- Ties the retail store in with the marketing program (something few companies do in our industry).
- It engages the customer with the brand.
- Gets feedback directly from the consumer they’re ultimately trying to appeal to.
- Gets parents onboard with the company which is essential as they’re going to be the ones to buy the product for their kids. What mom wouldn’t support a company that asked for their kids help?
Attention Supplement Company Owners:
Now instead of having a bunch of hot ladeez in your booth wearing next to nothing, why don’t you copy this program? Okay, better yet, bring topless women with just body paint on to work your booth. Then recruit actual bodybuilding fans from the show floor to help you with your next product name, ad, clothing design, website, or packaging design? Do it right inside your company booth at the upcoming Arnold Classic. What bodybuilder wouldn’t love you for asking for their input? Now THAT would be a booth worth going to!
Does HMB Work?
October 27, 2008
I’ve had so many bodybuilders ask me the same question over the years when we’re on the topic of HMB: Does it REALLY work? Well researchers examined the effects of HMB on muscle damage and stress during high-intensity training. Twenty-six football players were randomly assigned to either an HMB group (3,000 mg per day) or a placebo group. Testing occurred before and at the end of 10 days of football camp. The results indicated that short-term HMB supplementation doesn’t improve anaerobic power or reduce muscle damage.
According to the authors, “The results of this study do not support previous research that have reported on the anti-catabolic properties and improved strength performance of HMB supplementation.”
But according to Michael Chernyak of CK Foods (one of the leading suppliers of raw herbs in Canada), there’s new research on HMB coming out that backs up this anticatabolic ingredient. Look for more supplements to start adding this back to their formula if this is true.
STUDY REFERENCE: Hoffman JR et al. Effects of b-hydroxy b-methylbutyrate on power performance and indices of muscle damage and stress during high-intensity training. J Strength Conditioning Res , 2004;18:747-752.
SOURCE: Muscular Development
Muscle Pharm Comes To Canada January 2009
October 27, 2008
A new supplement company that we posted about this summer called “Muscle Pharm” is making it’s debut in Canada starting with GNC this January.
“We are excited about this opportunity for the company,” said Brad Pyatt, President of Muscle Pharm. “It only makes sense to take advantage of GNC’s strong retail presence in Canada. Also, GNC’s experience with the brand will further strengthen the launch efforts in this significant neighboring market.”
Although the terms were not disclosed, GNC Canada (which has 143 stores in Canada) will be the exclusive retailer for Muscle Pharm products in all of its retail locations. I met Brad this summer at a WBFF event and he’s a very positive guy with plenty of drive and determination - all keys to being successful in the supplement industry.
SOURCE: PR Newswire
APPULOSE Claims Challenged
October 21, 2008
In the U.S when a supplement company makes exaggerated claims, usually two things happen:
- Their product sales increase substantially.
- A competitor lodges a complaint with the ESRP (Electronic Retailing Self-Regulation Program).
The ESRP is a non-profit organization that volunteers to do the job of regulating various advertising claims so that the FTC doesn’t have to. This is meant to allow the supplement industry to regulate itself rather than have the government do so. This is a great program for the FTC since they’re way too busy with other “more pressing” issues than to bother with the supplement industry. However, the FTC will get involved right away if a fraud is involved such as was seen in the recent Hi Tech Pharmaceuticals case.
NVE Pharmaceuticals Claims Challenged
Well The ESRP served recently hit NVE Pharmaceuticals, markers of the world famous Stacker 2 fat burner and manufacturers of many of the mini energy shots you see floating around on the market. But it was not Stacker 2 or an energy shot that the ESRP was concerned with it was their Appuloss Herbal Dietary Supplement.
Claims being challenged included:
- “Appuloss immediate release granules help burn fat on bellies, hips, thighs, and butts while busting energy.”
“When combined with caffeine these two powerhouse ingredients (Epichasine™ and EGGG) have been reported to enhance fat oxidation, stimulate thermogenisis, influence body weight and body composition via changes in EE(24-hour energy expenditure)” - “Appuloss Diet is a unique proprietary complex of the most pivotal thermogenic agents internationally studied.”
At the outset of the ERSP’s inquiry, a representative of NVE was granted a short extension to allow for written response to the claims at issue but none was received. The ERSP has now referred its inquiry to the FTC.
SOURCE: Natural Products Marketplace
Canadian Store Clerk Busted For Selling Illegal Supplements
October 21, 2008
Police have arrested an employee of ‘Your Vitamin Store’ in Victoria, British Columbia (Canada) for selling supplements that were actual steroids! The bust involved an employee selling an illegal supplement called "Methyl 1-Testosterone" (a.k.a. M1T). The employee was charged with 6 counts of trafficking in a controlled substance (anabolic steroids) and one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking (anabolic steroids).
Legal Gear Introduced M1T
In the United States, the supplement company Legal Gear introduced M1T to the market in 2003. M1T was marketed as a “prohormone ” and legally sold in thousands of sports nutrition stores around the country as an over-the-counter “dietary supplement.” M1T and a variety of other prohormone products were banned in the U.S. in 2004 as the governemtn finally figured out that this and a host of other prohormones were actually steroids.
Steroid Law In Canada
In Canada, anabolic steroids and their derivatives are Schedule IV controlled substances under the Controlled Drug and Substances Act of Canada. Health Canada has issued warnings regarding the sale and purchase of M1T and other “unauthorized products containing anabolic steroids.” Health Canada blamed M1T for one reported adverse report of liver toxicity. Canadians are advised to contact the Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate at 1-800-267-9675 if they find Anabolic Xtreme Superdrol, Methyl-1-P, 
Ergomax LMG, Prostanozol, FiniGenX Magnum Liquid, M1T (methyl-1-testosterone) Andro Technologies or any other products containing anabolic steroids on the Canadian market.
SOURCE: Mesomorphosis.com
FLASH NEWS UPDATED: Click HERE to see a new bust on this same supplement ingredient (and yes it’s in Vancouver again).
Does Supplement Use Lead To Steroid Use?
October 21, 2008
Supplements such as whey protein, Creatine and EFAs as harmless but are they? Research by Skidmore College psychologist Tonya Dodge suggests supplements may serve as a gateway to steroids. Now Dodge has won a $385,000 National Institute of Health grant to investigate that relationship in young men. She will survey 4,500 students from Penn State University and ask them what they use, how risky they perceive the substances to be and how easy they are to get. They will attempt to show a link that people that use supplements are more likely to graduate to using steroids and other performance enhancing drugs. Personally, I’ve never met a steroid user that didn’t use supplements before getting on juice. However, I’ve also met plenty of supplement users that wouldn’t touch steroids.
SOURCE: TimesUnion
Jellyfish Protein Powder!
October 21, 2008
A dietary supplement called "Prevagen" contains jellyfish protein (ya sounds fucking disgusting I know) but has displayed an incredible ability to improve memory! I know it sounds like total bullshit and I’m not 100 percent convinced myself but check this out. Jellyfish protein contains a protein called "Apoaequorin" that is responsible for the remarkable effects. In a recent study, 56 participants took just 10 mg/day and experienced noticeable improvements in cognitive function. A biotech company called "Quincy Bioscience" has been researching the jellyfish protein for the past 12 years and their product “Prevagen” has been in the marketplace for just over one year.
Jellyfish Protein Research Highlights:
- 57% of the participants experienced overall memory improvement in 30 days.
- 66% of participants reported better word recall in conversation within 30 days and many participants showed memory improvement in as few as 8 days.
How Does Prevagen Improve Memory?
" Too much calcium within a brain cell impairs its function and Prevagen works to regulate it," says Mark Underwood, co-founder of Quincy Bioscience. "Unfortunately, we lose our ability to regulate brain cell calcium as we age. At about forty, our brains produce fewer calcium-binding proteins. This causes calcium levels to rise throughout the nervous system. Neurons are flooded with dangerous levels of calcium and our brains slow down … Apoaequorin, with its ability to bind to and lower calcium levels, can be used as a replacement for our own missing calcium-binding proteins and thereby slow age-related loss of cognitive function, memory, and alertness. Additional clinical trials are planned."