NAD Recommends Tru Derma Discontinue Claims, Testimonials for Mangodrin Supplement Following CRN Challenge

New York, NY – July 18, 2018 – The National Advertising Division has recommended that Tru Derma, LLC, discontinue advertising claims challenged by the Council for Responsible Nutrition, for the company’s Mangodrin XTREME Formula and Mangodrin Stimulant Free dietary supplements.

NAD is an investigative unit of the advertising industry’s self-regulatory system. It is administered by the Council of Better Business Bureaus.

Claims at issue included:

• “Lose Up To 28 lbs. In just 10 Weeks”
• “Increase Energy & Mental Focus”
• “See Results In 14 Days”
• “Control Appetite & Fight Cravings”
• “Raise Metabolism & Burn Excess Belly Fat”
• “Improve & Balance Mood”
• “The active ingredient in MANGODRIN helps correct your body’s leptin resistance and increase fat loss!”
• “The original MANGODRIN or ‘EXTREME’ formula has the belly fat battling IGOB 131® African Mango Extract…”
• “The STIMULANT FREE formula…has the addition of Cissus Quadrangularis and PEA which increases the effectiveness of the African Mango, while also curbing your appetite and improving your mood while dieting.”
• “This formula is safe for all, and can even be taken before bed to help fight late night cravings.”
• “Lose up to 28 pounds and 6 inches from your waist in just 10 weeks.”
• “Safe …”
• “… Effective…”
• “… Clinically Proven.”

NAD also examined claims made in testimonials.

• Nicole F.

JANUARY 9, 2015 AT 10:40 AM

I’ve been on Mangodrin for about 10 days, I just wanted to lose the last 10lbs of baby weight.  I am down 5 pounds with 5 more to go. I feel amazing on this product, I’m getting so much done around the house. I’ve suggested this to all my friends.

• Erich S.

JANUARY 9, 2015 AT 10:40 AM

-Feel great, no jitters.

-Quick results.

-I’m pretty careful with my diet, but this didn’t require any changes.

I lost about 5 lbs in the 1st week.

The advertiser explained that the main ingredient in Mangodrin is IGOB131, an extract of Irvingia Gabonensis, which is commonly known as African Mango. As support for its claims, the advertiser provided two clinical studies on IGOB131 and Cissus Quadrangularis – ingredients found in the products – as well as a product overview of CQR-300, a proprietary, patented dietary supplement extract from Cissus quadrangularis, and a document summarizing the substantiation for claims related to Cissus.

The advertiser did not submit clinical testing on either Mangodrin product and NAD determined that Tru Derma’s evidence was insufficient to support claims that promoted the benefits of either product as a whole.

Turning to advertiser’s evidence on the products’ ingredients, NAD determined that Tru Derma could not support qualified claims related to the weight-loss benefits of individual ingredients.

Following its review, NAD recommended the advertiser NAD concluded that the advertiser’s evidence was insufficiently reliable to substantiate the strong health-related advertising claims and recommended the advertiser discontinue the challenged claims and testimonials. However, NAD determined that the advertiser provided a reasonable basis for qualified, narrowly tailored claims about the safety and efficacy of the specific cissus quadrangularis and irvingia gabonensis ingredients used in its product.

Tru Derma, in its advertiser’s statement, said that although the company disagrees with NAD’s conclusions, “we will comply in the spirit of self-regulation.”

Note: A recommendation by NAD to modify or discontinue a claim is not a finding of wrongdoing and an advertiser’s voluntary discontinuance or modification of claims should not be construed as an admission of impropriety. It is the policy of NAD not to endorse any company, product, or service. Decisions finding that advertising claims have been substantiated should not be construed as endorsements.