The recent court ruling against Prevagen, a popular memory supplement, has shed light on the importance of scrutinizing marketing claims surrounding dietary supplements. For years, the advertisements for Prevagen have portrayed it as a brain-boosting miracle, suggesting that its jellyfish-derived ingredient, apoaequorin, could significantly improve memory and cognitive function. But as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the New York state attorney general recently discovered, the truth behind these claims is far less impressive.
Prevagen’s commercials, which featured testimonials from everyday people, often promised miraculous memory improvements after taking the supplement. One memorable advertisement asked viewers why they wouldn’t take something to improve the most important part of their body their brain. This catchy line was paired with the notion that apoaequorin, sourced from jellyfish, was the key to a healthier brain. Unfortunately, the science behind these assertions was lacking.
Apoaequorin, the ingredient that Prevagen promotes as a memory enhancer, is not known to play any significant role in human memory. Experts have long debated whether supplements like Prevagen can even make it to the brain after being ingested, with many suggesting that it is likely broken down in the stomach before it ever reaches its intended destination.
The truth about supplements like Prevagen isn’t always easy to discern. The claims made in its ads including a bar graph showing a 5% to 20% improvement in “recall tasks” over 90 days were never fully explained. No details were provided on how many participants were involved, or whether the effects lasted beyond the study period. In fact, a small, company-funded study did show some improvement in memory, but only in a subset of participants. The published version of this study included a disclaimer recommending further research to confirm the findings. To date, no high-quality, independent studies have backed Prevagen’s claims.
In February 2024, the legal battle over Prevagen reached a turning point. A New York jury ruled that many of the supplement’s claims were not backed by reliable evidence, and that some were “materially misleading.” By December 2024, the FTC and the New York attorney general won their lawsuit, resulting in a court order barring the makers of Prevagen from claiming that their supplement can improve brain function or memory.
This ruling serves as a timely reminder for consumers to approach supplement marketing with skepticism. The dietary supplement industry is rife with products that make bold promises about health benefits, yet the evidence supporting these claims is often shaky at best. Glucosamine, for instance, is commonly advertised for joint health, yet studies show only modest effects, if any. Similarly, vitamin E once garnered attention for its potential heart health benefits, but multiple studies have since debunked those claims, suggesting it may even pose risks in some cases.
Probiotics, another commonly marketed supplement, also lack convincing evidence of their benefits for healthy individuals. Despite their widespread promotion for digestive health, no clear studies show that they can prevent digestive diseases in people without preexisting conditions.
When considering supplements, it’s crucial to remember the disclaimer that appears on virtually every bottle: “These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.” This is an important safeguard, signaling that the claims made by supplement manufacturers have not undergone the same rigorous testing as pharmaceutical drugs. And while supplements can be beneficial in certain cases such as calcium for bone health they cannot claim to treat or prevent specific diseases unless supported by solid scientific evidence.
The court ruling against Prevagen serves as a stark reminder that, while supplements may sound promising, they are not a substitute for sound medical advice. Consumers should always be cautious and informed, recognizing that many supplements are marketed based on unproven claims. The case also highlights the vital role of regulatory bodies like the FDA and FTC in ensuring that consumers aren’t misled by false or exaggerated health claims.
