If you have been paying attention to the media, then you’ve probably heard about Prevagen. It is one of the most popular dietary supplements around. It’s available in most stores and online vendors like Amazon. It’s a bit controversial though, especially the claims that it improves memory and provides cognitive benefits. The makers of the product have come under fire from the FTC and New York’s Attorney General for making these claims.
The main ingredient in the supplement is apoaequorin, a protein found in glow-in-the-dark jellyfish. The makers of the supplement claim that this is a key to improving brain health and preventing Alzheimer’s. They cite several studies on their website to back up their claims. However, many of these are not clinically significant. One of them, in particular, was a poorly conducted study that did not meet the scientific standards of a clinical trial.
In addition to making unsubstantiated claims about the benefits of Prevagen, the makers of the product have also been accused of putting their profits ahead of consumer safety. According to Wired, they have withheld serious reports of adverse events and lied about their product’s safety.
The company’s attorneys have signaled to a federal judge that they are going to fight the lawsuit filed by the FTC and New York’s Attorney general. They’re asking the court to dismiss the complaint based on the fact that their advertising claims are backed up by scientific evidence and that they’re complying with the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994.
