Advocare: Where's the Science?

One of Advocare’s largest selling points is that their products are “backed by science” and that they maintain a Sci/Med board packed full of “esteemed” professionals. These professionals are used to bolster the claim that Advocare’s products have been scientifically proven!

But where is the science?

Where is this ‘proof’ they have been talking about for 20+ years?

Not that long ago, we went a few rounds with Advocare’s legal representative J Sean Lemoine.

One of the subjects brought up and discussed with their legal counsel was about the existence and validity of clinical trials that support Advoare’s product claims. You can read the entire conversation on this blog here: Advocare: The Truth – Hurts? We can summarize the ‘proof’ these studies provide with one simple sentence – “There isn’t any”.

Most of the studies done were performed only on animals. The best animal studies can provide is evidence that human studies would be a logical next step.

The very few studies that were actually performed on humans were woefully lacking. The human studies suffered from an incredibly small sample size, a very specific demographic (ie; college aged male athletes), and no long term studies.

No body knows how using Advocare products will affect you in the long run.

For Advocare’s products to be ‘backed by science’ then the ‘science’ that created their very first product should be easy to find. But it’s not.

Advocare has been selling their products for years, so logic dictates that the ‘science’ supporting their claims should be readily available. But it’s not. Wouldn’t logic dictate that when challenged about the science on the very products that got their company off the ground, then surely they would have tried to redeem themselves by performing long term, human, clinical trials, but they didn’t.

We’ve combed through Advocare’s web site. We’ve had conversations with all levels of distributors. We’ve searched medical journals. Long term, human, clinical trials, ‘proving’

Advocare’s claims doesn’t appear to exist!

If Advocare has scientific proof of their product claims, we can’t find it. Today we ask if they have it to please share it with the World !

Logic dictates that the lack of real world scientific evidence is proof that either Advocare has never done this type of testing, or that their testing does not shed a favorable light on their products.

Considering all of the testing that takes place on products that become FDA approved – and still become proven unsafe – do you really want to trust your health and life to products with ZERO testing?

During our research we found some interesting background data we’ll share with you.

Who, exactly, formulates Advoare’s products?

If you ask any Advocare supporter they’ll most likely eagerly and proudly answer, “AdvoCare’s prestigious Medical Scientific and Advisory Board who have over 200 years of combined experience!”

But, is that the truth?

Court records state that up until 2003, Richard Scheckenbach, a nutritionist and former AdvoCare consultant, was responsible for formulating products to be sold by the company until he was fired. Why was Scheckenbach fired? Because he created companies to sell the raw materials needed to make AdvoCare’s products and then sold these materials at inflated prices to AdvoCare’s manufacturer, Horizon Laboratories. These actions placed him in breech of contract with Advocare.

You can read about that case here: http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-5th-circuit/1142536.html

In researching the FDA’s enforcement database we found 3 other companies that currently make, or have made AdvoCare products in the past. We found them due to recalls on AdvoCare products.

In an October 14th 2009 Enforcement report we find that Nellson Nutraceutical Inc, out of Irwindale , Ca manufactured their Heart Source Peanut Butter Crunch Nutritional Health Bars.

Here’s the report:

In August of 2009 there was a recall on their Meal Replacement shake. Progressive Laboratories, Inc from Irving Texas manufactured them at that time. Here’s that enforcement report:

The last one we found was in May of 2011. This one was for Spark Energy Drink Cherry. Dymatize Enterprises Inc, which was recently acquired by Post, manufactured this product.

Here’s that report:

An interesting thing about Dymatize, If you look at their product line they sell several products that are very similar in ingredients and intended use as some AdvoCare products. You can purchase them online or at GNC without signing up as a distributor! Here’s one article discussing that topic: https://ninefornine.wordpress.com/2014/01/17/analyzing-advocare/