The Watchdog sniffs out a bogus pheromone supplement

Q: I saw a company called VNO Athletic Research selling a product called Androstenone Concentrate Compound? They were making some pretty hefty claims and the product costs a lot. Is it worth it and what the heck are pheromones??

A: Pheromones are chemical substances that, when secreted by an individual into the environment, cause specific reactions in other individuals. Human pheromones have been identified by researchers and seem to be undetectable as odors. Pheromones seem to be detected by a part of the nose called the Vomeronasal Organ (VNO). Research shows the application of pheromones to affect women’s ovulation and menstrual cycles (this research is actually quoted on VNO’s company Web site which is strange since they are promoting their product to give athletes a competitive edge).

Now about this product itself, something definitely smells "fishy". Androstenone Concentrate Compound contains androstenone (5alpha-Androst-16-en-3-one) and the company claims it "is the human pheromone associated with male dominance and aggression." I am unaware of any real peer-reviewed published studies that show the use of androstenone in an external application form to significantly enhance this kind of performance. What’s absolutely shocking is that a bottle (supposedly a one month supply) costs $970! That is some serious coin to pay for a product that may or may not do anything.

This product is supposed to subconsciously increase fear and intimidation in opponents. The only thing it may do is instill shock in opponents when they find out how much you paid for this product. Bottom line, be skeptical of any products that tell a far-out story without published clinical trials on the product itself or the ingredients demonstrating proof-positive advertised benefits.

Life, liberty and the pursuit of good supplements

Q: I heard the government is really cracking down on dietary supplements. What can I do to help protect my freedom as an adult to purchase dietary supplements?

A: There are several proposed bills in Congress that would seriously limit dietary supplement consumer freedom. The regulatory steps in congress are twofold. One is a bill called HR 207 which gives the Attorney General broad powers to turn some dietary supplements (including prohormones) into controlled substances (like anabolic steroids).

The other is a pending bill, S. 722, introduced by Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, which would place unreasonable burdens on supplement manufacturers and would classify prohormones and other supplements as controlled substances based only on advertising claims ("promotes muscle growth"). This is the other issue with some prohormone products—refutable claims made by manufacturers with unproven track records.

Basically DSHEA (The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act) is under attack in congress and prohormones and ephedra seem to be the current targets. You can et a lot more information on the regulatory aspects of dietary supplements by going to www.usfa.biz (the United Supplement Freedom Association). This organization is fighting for the responsible use of dietary supplements by adults. This site can also direct you on the best ways to take action.