TrimSpa was a
dietary supplement
A dietary supplement is a manufactured product intended to supplement a person's diet by taking a pill (pharmacy), pill, capsule (pharmacy), capsule, tablet (pharmacy), tablet, powder, or liquid. A supplement can provide nutrients eithe ...
designed for
weight loss
Weight loss, in the context of medicine, health, or physical fitness, refers to a reduction of the total body mass, by a mean loss of fluid, body fat (adipose tissue), or lean mass (namely bone mineral deposits, muscle, tendon, and other conn ...
, marketed by the company Goen Technologies and headed by Alexander Szynalski. The
ephedra-based supplement was marketed by TrimSpa to help "stave off hunger", until ephedra was banned from the United States. TrimSpa's parent company, Goen Technologies, filed for bankruptcy protection in May 2008.
Company
TrimSpa started sales in 2001. After hiring spokeswoman Anna Nicole Smith, sales jumped to $43 million by 2004. Sales fell to $19.5 million by 2006.
In September 2008, it was decided by a judge to turn the case into Chapter 7 liquidation. At its peak, TrimSpa brought in $141 million in sales, with $17 million operating profits.
Composition
TrimSpa's key ingredient was
ephedra and
caffeine
Caffeine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant of the methylxanthine chemical classification, class and is the most commonly consumed Psychoactive drug, psychoactive substance globally. It is mainly used for its eugeroic (wakefulness pr ...
. The government expressed health concerns, advising against the use of ephedra in 2003, causing the company to seek a new formula. The company changed its formula, making
hoodia gordonii the prominent ingredient. The formula was rebranded as TrimSpa X32. In 2007, a class-action lawsuit came forward seeking an injunction against the company from advertising its formula as an effective weight loss product.
Federal Trade Commission fine for false claims
On January 4, 2007, the U.S.
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is an independent agency of the United States government whose principal mission is the enforcement of civil (non-criminal) United States antitrust law, antitrust law and the promotion of consumer protection. It ...
announced that the marketers of TrimSpa had agreed to pay a settlement of $1.5 million in response to an FTC complaint of making unsupported claims in advertisements and were prohibited "from making any claims about the health benefits, performance, efficacy, safety, or side effects of TrimSpa, ''Hoodia gordonii'', or any dietary supplement, food, drug, or health-related service or program, unless the claims are true, not misleading, and substantiated by competent and reliable scientific evidence." The FTC also announced similar settlements with the marketers of Xenadrine EFX, CortiSlim, and One-A-Day WeightSmart.
Over-the-counter disclaimer
The original TrimSpa and the new TrimSpa X32 are dietary supplements, regulated by the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA regulates dietary supplements under different rules than those governing prescription medicines and other
over-the-counter products.
[United States Food & Drug Administration]
"Dietary Supplements."
Last updated July 6, 2007. Last accessed July 13, 2007. Under these regulatory rules, TrimSpa products' safety and effectiveness are not reviewed by the FDA. Rather, TrimSpa's original parent company, Nutramerica Corp., and its original marketer and manufacturer, Goen Technologies Corp., were responsible for ensuring that their products were safe for public consumption. These same rules apply to the new owners.
Celebrity endorsements
Anna Nicole Smith
Vickie Lynn Marshall (née Hogan; November 28, 1967 – February 8, 2007), known professionally as Anna Nicole Smith, was an American model, actress, and television personality. Smith started her career as a ''Playboy'' magazine centerfold in M ...
and Melissa D. Gordon were
spokesmodels for the product.{{Citation needed, date=April 2022
TrimSpa was the primary sponsor for
Greg Ray during the
2003 Indianapolis 500. Ray finished eighth, his career best finish in the 500.
See also
*
Anorectic
An anorectic is a drug that reduces appetite, resulting in lower food consumption, leading to weight loss. These substances work by affecting the central nervous system or certain neurotransmitters to create a feeling of fullness or reduce the desi ...
References
External links
TrimSpa Official WebsiteWeight Loss Tablets UK
Dietary supplements