LifePharm Global's Laminine dietary supplement burst onto my consumer radar in 2011 when I gained a new follower on Twitter whose profile pointed to some kind of happiness pill.
I poked around and eventually found an egg protein pill, and after further research I found what appeared to be ground zero: LifePharm Global.
Laminine is a multi-level marketing (network marketing) product that appears to be sold primarily in the US, Canada, and the Philippines, but has also been briefly sold in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, the UK, and even Australia. Russia and Kazakhstan.
However, interest in the product has dropped to a minimum in recent years, as evidenced by Google Trends reports in the US and the Philippines.
* related articles:Althea Laminine Dealer ExposureTry to "debunk" this article.。
High marketing requirements
According to the official website of LifePharm, Laminine is a compound drugamino acid,vitamin, andmineralIt is said that dietary supplements"The nature of life in a nine-day-old fertilized bird egg"Obviously important because"All life ingredients necessary to create life are of the highest order'ninth day.
LifePharm's website marketing copy claims that Laminine is "The Perfect Super Supplement"This is"no fairy tale.“
The company claims its extraction and freeze-drying technology "Norwegian scientists have rediscovered" yes "patented" Then "Numerous clinical studies and research projects with amazing results.“
Unfortunately, most of them seem to be just crowdsFiery air and huge marketing embellishmentsVery similar to the one sold beforeLipseno。
Product retailers have made multiple attempts at thisdebunk this article, but unfortunately they just copied most of the same hyped sales copy and couldn't provide hard evidence to back up all of their marketing claims.
On October 22, 2013, the Philippine Food and Drug Administration named Laminine asAdvisory opinion on public warningsFraudulent Marketing Tactics Regarding Dietary Supplements on Television.
On December 14, 2014, TruthInAdvertising.org called Laminine a "fabricated health claims.“
Within the Lifepharm organization is theirResearch Scientist Dr Edward Andujarhad his beforeLicense to practice medicine revokedSentenced to two years in prison in 2002 for running an unregistered drug treatment program.
In 2004 he wasConvicted of bankruptcy fraud and 22 counts of failing to file tax returnsFor this, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison (and confirmed on appeal).
raw material
The ingredient list for Laminine is named OPT9 Proprietary Blend (620 mg) which contains the following ingredients:
- Fertilized Bird Egg Extract– Protein from eggs, like the ones you buy at your local supermarket.
- sea protein– No indication of whether it is from marine plant or animal sources. It would be helpful for companies to list details on the specific nutritional content of their products.
- plant protein– Vegetable protein (phyto means plant). The label provides no further information about the plant or its relative nutritional value.
Additional ingredients for product stability and freshness:
- vegetable gelatin– thickener, stabilizer
- silica– Anti-caking agents to prevent ingredients from absorbing water and clumping
- Magnesium stearate– Often used as a lubricant to prevent the contents of dietary supplements from adhering to the machinery that processes them.
Without a specific standardized ingredient list, it can be difficult to know which active ingredients may be associated with a particular health claim.
The Inconvenient Facts LifePharm Doesn't Want to Share with You
I've been involved in consumer health advocacy for over two decades, and based on my observations, I think Laminine is the most overblown marketing hype I've ever seen for a dietary supplement.
Promotional websites are littered with tons of well-woven basic nutritional and physiological factsPseudoscientific Marketing Terminology。
Bottom line: The company avoids making patently false claims, but appears to be leading consumers down a path that suggests it isclinically provenproduct.
It's legal, but is it ethical?
brilliant business plan: Never let this happendisturbing factGet in the way of a good marketing plan.
Therefore, the purpose of this article is to show consumers another side of the story that LifePharm Global has not yet made freely available to the public.
After thoroughly evaluating the entire site, the biggest challenge I faced was dealing with the high volume of misleading and confusing statements.
So I'll try to be as systematic as possible to facilitate understanding and focus on the most obvious claims.
But before that, I need to comment like this:
Recommendations and why you can't trust them
"But Dr. Bill, I tried Laminine and it works for me! Are you calling me a liar?"
Actually no, I don't think you're lying, but you could be wrong.
I really think you believe it works for you. From a scientist's perspective, however, personal testimony is not always trustworthy.
Please consider the following (please read carefully):
- CertificateDoes not distinguish between cause and effect or coincidence. Just because two things happen at the same time (simultaneously), it doesn't mean that one of them caused the other. For example, let's say you decide to start taking Laminine because you feel tired and worn out, but at the same time you start eating better and taking walks in the evening. There is good scientific evidence that proper nutrition and exercise can improve your health and give you energy. You might be tempted to think that it's the product that makes you feel better, but if you're not paying enough attention to healthy eating and exercising, you're missing the big picture.
- Whether or not you do other things while taking laminine, there are other external factors that could explain why you feel better. The desire to feel better can be very strong. The intention to feel better can have a powerful effect on the mind and body. When you're tired of being sick and tired, take Laminine to feel better. When I checked the testimonials scattered around the internet, most of them (many of whom sold the product) told similar stories: "I was tired, sick, overweight, had no energy, etc., but then I started taking Laminine, My depression went away in three days." Seriously, I saw a testimonial from a guy who said his depression went away in three days. But the fact that true organic depression isn't going away in such a short period of time obviously makes me very skeptical.
- When we do scientific research on something like a dietary supplement, we need very tight controls to make sure the effects (if any) are due to the product itself and not other variables like healthy diet, exercise, more social contact etc. The evaluation does not take all of these factors into account and is therefore not reliable from a scientific point of view.
- "But Dr. Bill, have you tried Raminen?" Answer: No. "Aha! But how can you write a review if you haven't tried it yet?" Since I'm just a human, like the rest of you, I can't tell if there's any effect (positive or negative) on Laminine, my imagination strength, my expectations, my busy work schedule, my diet, my exercise style, stress levels, etc. Recommendations are just my opinion, your opinion or the next person's opinion. This is not irrefutable evidence.
- In addition to all of the above,The fact remains that there is not enough scientific evidence to support all of LifePharm's marketing claims. If you want to believe in the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny, that's your prerogative, but I personally love seeing onelegal evidencefor the product.
- If you work in sales, you probably know that people love to be misled, and there is a lot of money to be made selling supplements to the tired and ignorant. It doesn't matter if it works or not. There are plenty of sheep who will buy it because you say it works, but then it becomes a question of ethics.
PBS' American Health Magazine Laminine
In July 2012, Laminine was featured on a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) broadcast.American Journal of Health。
This incident was circulated on the Internet by Laminine dealers as evidence that the product worked.
As I watched the half-hour segment, I frowned as I realized the episode played out more like a commercial than an independent science report.
Many, if not all, of the experts they interviewed appeared to be affiliated with the company, which by default created a conflict of interest.
There are tons of testimonials, but they don't provide clear evidence of the product's effectiveness from independent researchers.
Plus, the LifePharm CEO shared on camera how great their product is. But of course. What else would they say?
I also noticed that some respondents had an ad website address listed under their names.
When I visited the site, I saw that it only offered two options: an icon to click and buy the product, and another to enter your details so someone could contact you (the seller, I'm guessing).
In general, I applaud the American Health Journal for its exaggerated and biased "reporting". This episode doesn't prove its effectiveness, but it seems to be a good sales copy.
Physician Desk Reference List (PDR).
Product retailers claim theirListed in PDRProve that supplementation works.
If you're an astute observer with some training in scientific research, you'll see that this list really isn't worth much -- not at all.
The PDR list consists of two main elements:
- A list of references to scientific articles is attached at the end; and
- Text "Research Articles" on Blood Sugar and Cholesterol
First, I discuss the scientific articles that the company lists as "evidence."
If you really take the time (like me) to read these articles, you'll see for yourself that these are legit articles about fibroblast growth factor, but they areInvalidLinks to commercial products sold to consumers.
It adds some crap to the list, but no substance.
Second, the "research articles" in the list are flawed and incomplete on multiple levels, so no conclusions should be drawn from these "research articles".
- Both studies had very small numbers of participants in each arm. In the sugar study, there were 11 subjects in total, 3, 4 and 4 subjects in each group. In the cholesterol study, there were 15 subjects, 5 subjects in each group. Both studies may have been very underpowered, meaning the number of participants was too small and the results may be due to random variation rather than the intervention itself.
- Following on from point 1 above, the authors of the PDR list even point out their limitations in the discussion of cholesterol research:A study of this size estimates an error rate of about 30%. Therefore, although the results of this study are encouraging, additional testing with a larger sample size is needed to validate the results.“
- There is no mention of how subjects will be assigned to each group (called randomization in research lingo).
- The analyzes and tests used, the coefficient of variation, and everything else that is expected in a research report are not mentioned.
- They did not appear to control for other covariates such as diet and exercise. Without fully controlling for all other factors that could affect blood sugar and cholesterol, how would they know that the results were caused by laminin and not other variables, especially for studies that were underpowered and had few participants in each group?
- In the cholesterol study, they used subjective questions in which subjects "were asked to rate improvements in their joints, memory, skin, libido, muscle tone and strength, stress levels, sleep and emotional health."
All in all, I think the PDR list is empty talk without substance.
If you are a distributor, please take the PDR to a science professor at a local university and ask for their honest opinion on the scientific integrity of the Laminine listing.
I can tell you with certainty that you will agree with my assessment.
Classified Review of Marketing Claims
claim
"Laminamine provides the key proteins and amino acids our bodies need, as well as the proper transport mechanisms to direct these nutrients to where our bodies need them most."
analyze
This statement is misleading.
I'm not aware of any objective evidence that nutrients can be "directed" to specific locations in the body by normal digestion.
I hope LifePharm can independently support this claim.
My searches of biomedical journal databases did not turn up any results regarding laminin and/or its ability to "guide" nutrients in the body.
Laminin is made up of "essential proteins and amino acids", the same ingredients found in regular meat, fish or poultry at your local supermarket.
The "proper transport mechanisms" that direct these food components to "where our bodies need them most" are already inherently built into our physiology.
Simply put, if you consume protein sources, your body willDigest it into amino acid components(protein building blocks), absorb them into the gut, and then transport them normally through the bloodstream to where they are needed.
No special bioengineering is required.
claim
"Kombutunin is a natural, synergistic superfood...Kombutunin is nature's most perfect food, a perfect combination of life-giving nutrients from land, sea and plants."
analyze
This is a classic case of "if you can't convince them, confuse them with meaningless pseudoscientific terms." The following marketing terms are misleading and have no real qualitative or quantitative value:
1) „nature"– The term has been used repeatedly (with great success) over the years to refer to dietary supplements. The assumption is that if "natureThen it must be safe and effective.
Unfortunately many "nature"Some substances can be very harmful (such as rattlesnake venom, hemlock, arsenic, and even water, if you drink enough of it!).
Also, "natural" doesn't necessarily mean effective.
2）"Synergistic Superfoods"— it's just vague marketing terms with no real meaning.
What exactly does "synergy" mean?
and howyesAre superfoods quantified? At this time, I have no independent "super food" Taxonomy.
What's more, a single food or supplement is only a small part of our total diet, which is only one piece of a larger lifestyle puzzle.
You can eat anything”super food’ You would, but if you smoke, drink too much and do no physical activity at all (such as desk work), then the so-called “good food’ will most likely be outweighed by the sum of all bad habits.
3）"Nature's most perfect food...a perfect combination of life-giving nutrients"– This is more of a marketing topic. what exactly is ityesOr even a perfect meal? How is this defined and quantified?
Dietary supplement companies are notorious for using ambiguous terms to back up their marketing campaigns that are difficult to quantify or verify.
While this might cause the product to rise in the minds of consumers, from a scientific standpoint, it's actually moot.
claim
"Laminin...contains most of the known vitamins, important trace elements and all eight essential amino acids."
analyze
This proposition celebrates everyday life and the mundane.
A varied diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grain products and lean protein sources (meat, fish, poultry) also provides you with exactly the same vitamins, trace elements and amino acids and valuable health-promoting phytochemicals .
Therefore, a well-balanced diet also qualifies as a "natural synergistic superfood"—with the same results, and without the added cost of expensive supplements.
claim
„Eight clinical tests conducted have shown that Laminine has a positive effect on the body, mind, emotional strength and overall health. "
analyze
I think this claim is more of a marketing hoax because "Clinical Trials"In advertising terms, it's not a well-defined or canonical phrase, so it can be interpreted to mean something to everyone.
A search of article databases of scientific journals (PubMed, etc.) did not reveal any published studies on laminine.
The company claims to have "8 clinical tests", but we have no evidence that these tests were performed by independent scientists, reviewed for methodological accuracy (i.e. to minimize bias), or even published in scientific journals for the public review.
I request that LifePharm provide information from its clinical trials for independent verification.
claim
"So do you need a change in your life? Can you use more physical energy? How about a very positive attitude towards life? A new feeling that wants to impact every area of your life...you have to try Laminine today."
analyze
LifePharm is more difficult to quantify. Of course, we can all use "change".
Of course, we could all use a little more "stamina". We'd all be happy with a "positive attitude to life."
But keep in mind that these terms have many different meanings to many different people.
Again, this product contains the same essential nutrients as a regular diet without additional supplementation.
claim
"...partially hatched fertilized eggs contain a special combination of amino acid, peptide and protein components that, when consumed by humans, may confer an incredible array of health benefits."
analyze
It's true -- eating eggs can provide nutrition.
Yet such claims seem to celebrate and glorify the mundane.
Note the loose wording: "...protein fragments can help provide an incredible array of health benefits..."
Translation: It may or may not provide some unspecified "health benefit".
It's just more ambiguous. What specific health benefits is the company referring to?
claim
"Theoretically, these partially hatched fertilized eggs - especially those that are nine days old - contain all the nutrients needed to start a new life. These include vitamins, minerals and proteins, as well as important defense factors, growth factors, Hormones and other biologically active ingredients.”
analyze
Again, it's more about celebrating the low key and the mundane (i.e. just eating eggs).
More specifically, I'm not aware of any peer-reviewed scientific evidence to support the statement that "the most nutritious eggs are 9-day-old eggs."
Why not 7, 8 or 10 days? I urge LifePharm to provide independent evidence to support this claim.
LifePharm mentions that Laminine contains defense factors, growth factors, hormones and other bioactive ingredients.
While these substances may be useful for the chicken's own development during egg incubation, if ingested by humans, they are broken down by stomach acids like any other protein source and may not have the physiological effects of their original constituents.
claim
"A patented process extracts the vital nutrient fluid from egg whites at what we call the proembryo stageProembryo Stadium Extract (PESE). The extract not only provides a mechanism for the rapid transport of very important nutrients, but also contains substancesbasic fibroblast growth factor, which is likely responsible for the proper use of amino acids and peptides by "instructing" the body to use them properly.
analyze
A search of the medical article database for primitive embryonic stage extract (PESE) found no search results for these terms.
Google Scholar only gets two results, and it's just a US patent application.
Unfortunately, the patent application does not provide scientific verification to justify the marketing claims.
If the company can provide independent evidence that PESE has specific effects and benefits within this group, I will be happy to review it and post it here.
The company's claims to control nutrient use in the body do not appear to have been independently verified at the time of writing, so it seems speculation and conjecture.
However, keep in mind what I mentioned above that the body is very efficient at digesting the nutrients we absorb and transporting them where they are needed.
claim
Can laminin boost mood and reduce depression?
"Depression is caused by many external factors, including stress. In the brain, the uptake and release mechanisms of serotonin are affected. Laminin contains the amino acid lysine; derived from PESE and vegetable proteins. A combination of these two components In OPT9 provides higher levels of lysine than either ingredient alone. Lysine is known to regulate serotonin levels in the brain."
analyze
These are misleading causal relationships.
For example, here is the Laminine marketing script:
- Depression is linked to serotonin levels.
- Laminin contains the amino acid lysine; 3) Lysine is known to regulate serotonin levels in the brain.
It's all technical"real,"But it gave me the wrong impression that taking this product can relieve depression.
As far as I know, I have not found any independent evidence to support the effect of this product on depression.
LifePharm continued: "Clinical studies show that laminin may help improve libido in people taking antidepressants"But my searches of clinical trial databases didn't turn up anything related to this.
The company later explained: "Many people who take Laminine report a significant improvement in their mood and ability to cope with daily stress. "
This is a more emotional retail copy. It is based on anecdotal evidence and is not part of any strictly controlled scientific experiment.
Interesting, but no independent proof of validity.
claim
Does laminin increase cardiovascular and libido?
"PESE and plant protein provide a very powerful dose of arginine. Arginine is a precursor to nitric oxide that plays an important role in a variety of biological processes. Nitric oxide is used by the lining of blood vessels to signal relaxation to surrounding smooth muscle, This results in increased blood flow. Effects include regulating the hair cycle and increasing libido. Nitric oxide is also known for forming growth hormone, which boosts the body's defenses against the effects of aging."
analyze
This statement is misleading because it is not a statement at all.
Rather, it is a statement of two facts that can lead consumers to draw false conclusions in their own heads:
- PESE and vegetable proteins may indeed contain arginine; and
- It is involved in nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation (widening of blood vessel diameter). It is hypothesized here that because the product contains arginine, it leads to an increase in libido and cardiovascular function.
To the best of my knowledge, I am not aware of any published independent scientific studies showing that laminine increases libido, improves cardiovascular function, or protects organs from the effects of aging.
claim
Can laminin detoxify?
"PESE contains cysteine, which is a precursor to glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that has received a lot of attention in recent years for making skin look healthier. Antioxidants fight free radicals and harmful compounds in the body that can damage cell membranes and DNA. Free radicals are produced naturally in the body, but environmental toxins, including ultraviolet light, radiation, cigarette smoke, and air pollution, can increase the number of these harmful particles. Free radicals are thought to play a role in aging and play an important role in the development of a range of health problems, including heart disease and cancer."
analyze
Technically, PESE may indeed contain cysteine, and this amino acid is a precursor to the antioxidant glutathione.
Like nearly all other laminine claims, this is another misleading combination of words that leads consumers to make false predictions about efficacy.
As far as I know, I have not seen any published independent scientific studies showing that laminin can prevent heart disease and cancer caused by free radicals.
it works?
There are many tearful testimonials online that Laminine has worked wonders, changed their lives and helped their dogs sleep better. But it should be treated with caution as this is a multi-level marketing product promoted by LifePharm distributors.
An anecdotal recommendation may seem genuine and sincere, and many users may actually believe it helps them, but the mere intent to improve may be enough to give the impression that it "works."
Over the last 20 years, I've seen dozens of network marketing companies like LifePharm pop up, create an army of resellers all claiming their products are the best ever, As the life cycle progresses, the downtrend starts, they pack up their stores, and move on to the next big thing. For example
Side Effects: Is It Safe?
I am not aware of any consumer reports of significant side effects from taking laminine.
As a pure amino acid, vitamin/mineral supplement, I can't imagine how much pharmacological effect it would have on a well-nourished human body.
A woman on RipOffReport.com claims it gave her somethinghot flashesBut in all fairness, this is also a review, and it is impossible to judge whether it is a product problem or something else.
Customer complaints
Much of the information on the internet and social media appears to be provided by its independent distributors, who seem to keep complaints out of search rankings.
However, the few consumer complaints andComplaints Commission.comThe latter pointed out that terminating their membership before the 30-day trial period may have been insufficient.
Many other comments, both good and bad, appear inbulletin board forum。
how much does it cost?
I did some internet research to find out how much Laminine costs and where consumers can buy it.
I noticed a big price difference, probably because this is an MLM product and its distributors may be able to retail it at whatever price they want.
One site offers the Laminine 3-pack for $108 plus $8.95 shipping; the Family Pack Plus for $320 plus $21 shipping and handling; and finally the Quick Start package, also intended as a business builder package (Become a reseller) for $1035 plus $36 shipping and handling.
If you become a reseller, the direct wholesale cost is $33 a pack, and the retail price is $43, according to promotional materials on LifePharm's website.
I wouldn't say that Laminine is an MLM scam, but I think you should do your homework before investing in an MLM "opportunity".
More information on joiningmulti-level marketing companyFor you, please visit:https://www.mlmwatch.org
How to get a refund
Consumer Refund Reports shows that in order to receive a refund, you must ship the empty container back to the company at your own expense, which costs $3.31.
There have also been reports of call centers being used to resolve customer service issues, meaning they can only follow given protocols (and may not offer much else when it comes to health issues).
diploma
Overall, I think laminin is nothing more than a simple supplement of amino acids, vitamins and minerals, all of which can be obtained in a standard diet.
The combination of carefully crafted jargon and scientific fact avoids patently false claims, but can lead consumers to make erroneous inferences about efficacy that are not supported by independent scientific evidence.
In conclusion, I do not encourage consumers to purchase Laminine or recommend it to others.