New York, NY – Dec. 4,  2008 – The National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus has determined that Park Labs LLC, has provided reasonable support for certain advertising claims made for the company’s Life Fitness Reparagen + Glucosamine dietary supplement. However, NAD has recommended the company modify or discontinue certain claims, including the claim that the product is “guaranteed to help in 7 days.”

NAD, the advertising industry’s self-regulatory forum, examined advertising for Reparagen pursuant to NAD’s ongoing monitoring of advertising in the dietary supplements marketplace and in conjunction with an initiative with the Council for Responsible Nutrition.

At the outset, NAD requested the advertiser provide substantiation for claims made in print advertising, including:

• “Actually Helps Alleviate Arthritis Symptoms and Rebuild Cartilage!”
• “Accelerates the joint repair process and actually helps rebuild cartilage.”
• “Alleviates arthritis symptoms and increases flexibility and mobility.”
• “Clinically proven effective.”
• “Works faster than Glucosamine and Chondroitin.”
• “Clinically Proven Results – Guaranteed to Help Within 7 Days!”
• “Taking Life Fitness Reparagen + Glucosamine will result in pain relief within 7 days instead of months when taking Glucosamine and Chondroitin alone.  It produces improved flexibility and mobility, and it’s a good antioxidant.”
• “A Revolutionary Solution That Works 12x Faster Than Glucosamine and Chondroitin.”
• “Clinical Studies showed that 92% of subjects who took Reparagen experienced significantly reduced pain and took less acetaminophen – which is great news for your stomach and liver.”
• “Reparagen is a breakthrough, all-natural treatment in joint pain that does what no other products have done before.  It works on a holistic level, treating all aspects of joint health, including muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments.”

NAD also examined claims on packaging, including:

• “Accelerates the joint repair process”
• “Actually helps rebuild cartilage.”
• “Clinically proven effective.”
• “Works 8X faster than Glucosamine and Chondroitin.”
• “Results Within 7 Days!”

Upon receipt of NAD’s opening letter, the advertiser represented that the claims “works 12x faster,” and “works on a holistic level for all aspects of joint health, including muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments,” were permanently discontinued prior to the opening of NAD’s inquiry. 

NAD examined the remaining claims and reviewed the evidence submitted by the advertiser, including the results of an 8-week clinical study and an in vitro study on Reparagen’s mechanism of action.

Following its review of the evidence, NAD determined that the clinical study provided a reasonable basis for certain claims about the efficacy of Reparagen including “Actually Helps Alleviate Arthritis Symptoms,” and “Alleviates arthritis symptoms and increases flexibility and mobility.”

NAD, however, found that there was insufficient evidence to support claims that Reparagen “Accelerates the joint repair process” or that it “actually helps rebuild cartilage” and recommended that both be discontinued.

NAD found that the advertiser could support the “clinically proven effective” claim, but only in the context of advertising that clearly states how it is effective, i.e., less pain, greater flexibility and mobility.

NAD also found that the advertiser provided reasonable support for claims that that “Reparagen is a breakthrough, all-natural treatment in joint pain that does what no other products have done before.” and that Reparagen is a “A Revolutionary Solution.” 

NAD, however, found that comparative performance claims were not supported by the evidence and recommended that they be discontinued, including both the non-quantified claim that Reparagen “Works faster than Glucosamine and Chondroitin,” and the quantified claim that Reparagen “Works 8x Faster Than Glucosamine and Chondroitin.”

Further, NAD found that the advertiser’s “guarantee” claim was not supported by the evidence, and recommended that the advertiser discontinue the claims that “Taking Life Fitness Reparagen + Glucosamine will result in pain relief within 7 days instead of months when taking Glucosamine and Chondroitin alone.” and  “Clinically Proven Results – Guaranteed to Help Within 7 Days!”

NAD noted that the advertiser provided a reasonable basis for certain lesser claims that Reparagen may help relieve osteoarthritis symptoms in as fast as 7 days.

NAD found that the clinical study on Reparagen provided a reasonable basis for certain claims about the efficacy of Reparagen including “Actually Helps Alleviate Arthritis Symptoms,” and “Alleviates arthritis symptoms and increases flexibility and mobility.”

NAD, however, found that there was insufficient evidence to support claims that Reparagen “Accelerates the joint repair process” or that it “actually helps rebuild cartilage” and recommended that both be discontinued.

Regarding the claim that “Clinical Studies showed that 92% of subjects who took Reparagen experienced significantly reduced pain and took less acetaminophen – which is great news for your stomach and liver,” NAD was satisfied that the clinical study supported the first part of the claim, i.e., that “Clinical Studies showed that 92% of subjects who took Reparagen experienced significantly reduced pain,” but recommended that the second part of the claim, the comparative claim that people taking Reparagen  “took less acetaminophen – which is great news for your stomach and liver” be discontinued.

The company, in its advertiser’s statement, said it appreciated NAD’s careful review of its advertising and noted that it would take NAD’s recommendations into account in future advertising.