NAD Recommends Dreambrands Discontinue Claims for ‘Add Lib’ Supplement

Product Marketed to Women for Improved Mood, Energy, Desire

New York, NY – May 18,  2012 – The National Advertising Division has recommended Dreambrands, Inc.,  modify or discontinue a wide range of advertising claims for “Add Lib,” a dietary supplement promoted to women for improved mood, energy and sexual desire.

NAD is an investigative unit of the advertising industry’s system of self-regulation and administered by the Council of Better Business Bureaus. As a part of its ongoing monitoring program and in conjunction with NAD’s initiative with the Council for Responsible Nutrition designed to expand review of advertising claims for dietary supplements, NAD requested the advertiser provide substantiation for claims made in print and Internet advertising and on product labeling.

Claims at issue included:

• “Add Lib is an all natural supplement for women to feel better physically, mentally and emotionally – a holistic approach to sustain energy and reduce anxiety – so you can fall in love with life again.”
• “Increase your energy.  Improve your mood.  Regain your glow.”
• “A unique botanical blend that naturally restores energy, a healthy mood, and desire.”
• “Add Lib promotes energy, a healthy mood and sexual desire”
• “Ignite your desire”

Add Lib’s daily dosage, two capsules, delivers 120 mcg of Vitamin B12, along with 1310 mg of a proprietary blend containing Fenugreek seed extract, American Ginseng, Cordyceps sinensis mycelia extract, Maitake mushroom extract, Wulinshen extract, Passionflower herb extract, Maca Extract, and Damiana leaf extract.

The advertiser maintained that its advertising claims were supported by published scientific literature, an independent researcher’s review of that research, and the product formulation itself.

Following its review of the evidence in the record, NAD determined that the advertiser provided a reasonable basis to support claims that the ingredient, American Ginseng, has been shown to enhance and improve mood. However, NAD recommended that the advertiser either discontinue the claim or modify the product or labeled dosage ensure that the product delivers a minimum of 100 mg of American Ginseng per day, the amount consistent with the research shown to improve or enhance mood, promote calmness and decrease anxiety.

NAD further determined that the advertiser’s scientific evidence – including testing done on male subjects – was insufficient to support claims for improved, restored or boosted libido in females and unqualified claims of restoring, sustaining or increasing energy and recommended that these claims be discontinued.

However, NAD determined that the advertiser provided a reasonable basis for certain qualified “energy” claims provided the concept of “mental energy” is clearly explained, and directly connected to the mood benefits indicated by testing on specific ingredients in Add Lib.

The company, in its advertiser’s statement, said it “respectfully disagrees with NAD’s decision on some significant point but has decided to accept NAD’s decision and agrees to modify Add Lib’s future advertising.

“Dreambrands will modify the Add Lib formula to deliver 100mg of American Ginseng per day and will continue to use the ‘improves mood’ claims.  We will discontinue the libido enhancement/desire claims until we can follow up with a second, more comprehensive study to more fully substantiate that Add Lib does indeed boost libido.  We will also work to clearly convey the concept of ‘mental energy’ connected to mood benefits rather than the current unqualified claim,” the company said.