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Ads abound for products that claim to treat or prevent serious health conditions. Unfortunately, these products often are unproven and useless. Sometimes the ads even make false promises for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia – conditions for which science has no cure.

This week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued warning letters to certain companies making unproven claims that their products can treat or cure Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions. Many of these products are sold on websites and social media platforms – and called “dietary supplements” or natural remedies. But that doesn’t mean they are necessarily safe.

Products that claim to do it all often do nothing. So even though you want to believe the promises, be skeptical, and avoid products that claim to cure incurable conditions or are promoted with phrases like “scientific breakthrough,” “ancient remedy,” or “miraculous cure.”

The reality is that phony miracle products can be dangerous, and not just because of interactions with medicines you’re already taking. They also might cause you to delay or stop proven medical treatment ordered by – or available from – your physician. They might also delay you from making important dietary and lifestyle changes to help your condition. And some may contain unlabeled and unapproved drugs, which can cause serious injury or death.

Always talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional before you try any new treatment.

For more information, see Dietary Supplements. To find reliable sources of information about diseases and their treatments, visit MedlinePlus.gov and Healthfinder.gov. To learn more about alternative and complementary medicine, visit nccam.nih.gov.

 

It is your choice whether to submit a comment. If you do, you must create a user name, or we will not post your comment. The Federal Trade Commission Act authorizes this information collection for purposes of managing online comments. Comments and user names are part of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) public records system, and user names also are part of the FTC’s computer user records system. We may routinely use these records as described in the FTC’s Privacy Act system notices. For more information on how the FTC handles information that we collect, please read our privacy policy.

The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
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We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.

Chuck
February 11, 2019
Thank you for your information! Although I suffer from Alzheimer’s, I would never try medicines or drugs not prescribed for me by my doctor. I truly hope all who read your article apply common sense given them by their doctors vice con artists. One can only hope that their will be a breakthrough for this dreaded disease very soon!
ronsells
February 11, 2019
WHY ARE THERE NO REGS. IN PLACE TO PREVENT THIS. HOW ABOUT LIFE @ HARD LABOR?
Hector
February 11, 2019
I am glad to see this action since there are many cases like these in Puerto Rico TV. One of them is the called CMA de PR. The worst cases the we see in PR are cures for cancer, ED, dementia, and all forms of artritis. Some of the advs claim to cure more than a dozen medical conditions. Please take strong measures to end this abuse.
Sylviaip
February 11, 2019
I always check for reviews before I purchase anything new on the internet. I always question these miraculous "potions" that is going to make me all better when there is no known cure.
Adriana
February 11, 2019
Thank you.
TakenInByLies
February 11, 2019
How about forcing FULL refunds to those that have already been taken - Warning have little effect and let them keep monies already collected.....
TakenInByLies
February 11, 2019
How about forcing FULL refunds to those that have already been taken - Warning have little effect and let them keep monies already collected.....
Racer
February 11, 2019
What particular or specific companies are these warnings about?
FTC Staff
February 11, 2019

In reply to by Racer

The FTC press release explains that the FTC joined the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in sending three warning letters to companies based in Florida, South Carolina, and New Mexico.

As detailed in the letters sent to Gold Crown Natural Products, TEK Naturals, and Pure Nootropics, LLC the Commission has reviewed the companies’ advertisements and believes they may violate the FTC Act by making false or unsubstantiated health claims. Specifically, the FTC is warning about advertisements claiming to treat Alzheimer’s and remediate or cure other serious illnesses including Parkinson’s, heart disease, and cancer.

COOKIE
February 11, 2019
How about, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Common sense is needed here. Always check with your doctor or medical professional before taking anything that has not been prescribed for you. You can really endanger your system by taking supplements if you don't know the side effects. Do your homework in this area.
dr demento
February 11, 2019
any comments pro suppliment are being censored!
dr demento
February 11, 2019
"Thanks! Your comment has been submitted for review." i get that and something about "capcha reuse".. all lies. i should file a consumer complaint about this site! censorship is still censorship all be it with another name!
Hurricane
February 11, 2019
I have Tinnitus and have had it for many years. I've seen so many types of cures for this in stores and advertised on all kinds of media. My doctor told me there is no cure for this. I've dabbled with a couple of so-called cures and sure enough they don't cure it.
dananddonna
February 11, 2019
Thank you for being on top of this. And please, it's not just these few; there are SO many advertising on network TV making outragious claims that cannot possibly be true. We The People would love it if you could put a stop to this, as well.
Not Sure Either
February 11, 2019
I'm 82 and subject to promising supplements. My doctor just suggested deleting four of my six brands. I often wondered if this was a hoax. I don't feel any better since taking them. My biggest objection is the practice of requesting a trial sample and of course they need your mailing address and a credit card. Once you try it you suddenly start receiving an additional product at $75 to $110 charges on your card which I found almost impossible to delete. Thank You for this post.
Diamund
February 11, 2019
Thank you for the update and I am glad to be made aware of these scam artist.
xyz
February 11, 2019
FDA is trying to make vitamins prescription. 100 years ago nothing was prescription required.
Cruz
February 14, 2019

In reply to by xyz

100 years ago it was not necessary to control the medicarion market. Today the FDA is essential for public wellfare.
felisareciojdl…
February 11, 2019
Thank you for your information.
mrh
February 11, 2019
Why doesn't the FTC or FDA do something about those Prevagen commercials that cruelly give false hope to Alzheimer and dementia patients?
Johnny Ray
February 11, 2019
I don't want to start a tiresome political debate by citing a particular party, but as long as Congress keeps downsizing & underfunding the Federal agencies whose mission is to protect & assist the American public, we can only expect more intrusion from the darkside of human nature.
kattykat
February 11, 2019
That old proverbial carrot that is dangled before persons looking for genuine natural remedies is just too tempting and alluring & we tend to reach for that carrot, knowing full well that the makers are just looking to further line their pockets and don't give a fig about the harm they may be causing the populace!!
Honor
February 13, 2019
Big Pharma also make the same claims.
Cruz
February 13, 2019
Please investigate “El Centro Medico Adaptogeno de Puerto Rico.” Their TV Commercial sounds like a fraud.
Daddys Girl
February 21, 2019
My deceased father probably spent at least $10,000 or more on these fraudulent cures. We would try to reason with him and beg him to stop, but he was always certain that the next one would be the magic cure . We had boxes and boxes of pills he had purchased to dispose of when he died. My elderly mother, still alive, could have used those funds to help make her life better. I feel like he was robbed, even tho he was a willing victim. Interestingly, whatever was printed in their brochures he accepted as the truth, and when we tried to object, we were told we needed to prove the statements were lies. An impossible situation. One ridiculous example he fell for was an exercise bike that was supposed to pump oxygen into your lungs as you pedaled; the increased oxygen would cure everything. When it arrived there was a cheap exercise bike with a little mask attached. Even he realized he had been duped. But he never got his $500 dollar back. Go after these crooks!!
Sceptical
February 24, 2019
Was this about natural cure's or pharmaceuticals? The descriptions and possible effects sounds so much alike.
Acouze
February 26, 2019
Fred Eicchorn CELLECT product and its half dozen renamed products should be at the top of the FDA AND FTC’s lists!!! TOTAL Scam, with advertising and marketing targeted to desperately sick people, yet Year after year, he continues since the feds gave up years ago.
Amazonscams
February 04, 2021
I applaude the FDA in doing a great job regulating these shady businesses and big tech sellers like Amazon. Who think they are above federal reg put in place to keep Americans safe and healthy. Keep up the good work.