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Science & Research Magazine 1999 September

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Counterfeit
Supplements
Should the Life Extension Foundation
become a Consumer Protection
Organization?

Scienti!cally reviewed by: Dr. Gary

Gonzalez, MD, in October 2024.
Written by: Life Extension Editorial
Staff.

       

Should The Life Extension

Foundation Become a
Consumer Protection
Organization?
Because of The
Foundation's reputation
for strict quality-control,
the news media have been asking us to
assay commercial dietary supplements to
verify that the products meet label potency.
When we tell the media that we are not an
independent testing laboratory, we are told
that the independent labs do not have the
technical con!dence to assay for unique
ingredients such as SAMe, lycopene and
lutein.
Two months ago, we were asked to
analyze seven different brands of SAMe.
The results showed that two out of the
seven products had no SAMe present
whatsoever. One brand used the wrong
form of SAMe, while two others had less
than 100% potency. Only Life Extension's
(our brand) and Nature's Made's products
had 100% of the proper form of SAMe. The
consumers who trusted some well-known
companies were clearly not getting what
they paid for.
For many years, a mail-order company has
promoted an "old clone" of Life Extension
Mix at a price similar to the members' price
for our new Life Extension Mix formula. We
use the term "old-clone" because the
formula on the label is identical to the
formula we sold !ve years ago. (There
have been many signi!cant improvements
in our formula since then). Foundation
members who have seen the promotion of
this "old-clone" are outraged. They get very
upset when they see a doctor claiming that
he did the research to formulate this
product, when in reality he merely copied
the formula verbatim from an old bottle of
Life Extension Mix. When members called
to ask us if we were private labeling our
formula to this company, we said no, and
warned that the blatant lies about who did
the research for the formula caused us to
question the integrity of the product.
After enough members inquired about the
"old-clone" of Life Extension Mix, we
How do i know if the LE product is
decided to assay it to see if what was on
original as I purchase from a high rating
the label was
shop really
through inonline
the product.
e-commerce For the
most part,application
the regular vitamins were
present in the proper amounts, though weAM
You · 12:35
question whether this company used
Welcome!
expensive One of our team members
pharmaceutical-grade nutrients
will be with you shortly.
from suppliers such as Roche, BASF,
Nutrition 21 and Masquelier. When it came
We apologize but all our chat agents
to the unique, expensive
are currently assistingingredients,
other customers,
however,youwemayfound thattothe
continue hold"old clone"
for the next
available
contained onlychat
2.6% agent or call
of the in toand
lutein speak9.7%
to one of our Customer Service
of the lycopene it was supposed to have.
Representatives at 1 (800) 678-8989.
Consumers were thus being defrauded out
12:37 AM
of their money and their health when
buying this counterfeit product.
How do i call internationally I am from
An equallythailand
disturbing problem exists with
companies that promote productsYou with
· 12:37 AM
grossly exaggerated health claims.
We apologize
Increasing numbers butofallsolicitations
our chat agentsare
are currently assisting other customers,
being made for products whose e"cacy is
you may continue to hold for the next
not substantiated
available chatin the or
agent peer-reviewed
call in to speak
scienti!c literature.
to one One of Service
of our Customer the founders of
The LifeRepresentatives at 1 (800) 678-8989.
Extension Foundation, Saul Kent,
has spent the last 36 years investigating
12:42 AM

scienti!c methods of gain control over

Hello, my name is Isabella. I am a
aging. Saul jokingly comments that all he
member of our Customer Service
now has to do is go
Department andtoI’llhis mailbox
be happy to !nd a
to assist
"new cure
you.for aging." The sad fact is that
there are many promising anti-aging
Youon
therapies canthe
dialhorizon,
001-1-800-544-4440
and too many to
call us from Thailand.
companies are taking advantage of this
research by claiming to already have what
Are you still there?
dedicated scientists are seeking to
discover.
Due to inactivity, I will be closing our
chat. Please
So the question initiate
begs, a newcan
What chatthe
if you
have any further questions. Thank you
consumer do to protect against fraud? The
for choosing Life Extension.
answer is, not much. Anyone who has
12:49 AM
access to the Web can check out Medline
to help verify the
Your accuracy
conversation hasofended
a health
claim a company
Resume is making.
conversation by sending This becomes
a new message
November 19, 2025 12:50 AM
di"cult when deceitful companies come
up with fancy trade names for their
products that do not reveal what the Hey
supposed "breakthrough" ingredient You ·really
12:58 AM
is. Don't even think the government is
capableWelcome! One of our
of deciphering allteam members
of this.
will be with you shortly.
"Regulated" products kill over 125,000
12:58 AM
Americans a year and are often as
worthless (and more dangerous) than the
Hello, my name is Isabella. I am a
products sold with
member of ourfraudulent health
Customer Service
claims.Department and I’ll be happy to assist
you.
We at The Life Extension Foundation don't
claim toWere
be perfect, but we sure have a
you able to call that number?
long track record to substantiate our health
12:59 AM
claims (see chart of The Foundation's 19-
year historical summary). When we !nd a
Yes
defect in any of our products, we don't just
issue a recall. . . we send a free
But it is 50 cent per minute so I m glad
replacement to every single customer who
you reply
purchased the product. Our latest recall
occurred last
i haveyear when this
purchased we product
found thatof lifeour
83% greenextension online.
tea extract Please
only Kindly check
contained 59%
and inform me whether this product is
polyphenols. We shipped replacement
genuine or not ? . It’s my first time
product containing 83%product
purchasing this polyphenols to
on application
call Shopee
every customer withsince here of
a letter is the link to the
apology for
product :
selling them a product that only contained
https://th.shp.ee/7NVpiWM
59% polyphenols.
Please inform me as soon as possible
We like to think that Foundation members
about this product if it is not authentic,
can ascertain the difference
I will have to work on the between
refund before
buying products
its run outfrom a company seeking
only !nancial success and an organization
dedicatedCan I attach thean
to achieving photo via this chat or
inde!nitely
email ? I know you might be dealing
extended life span. We've been battling the
with counterfeit product and I m not
Federal government
sure if I got theforreal
thething
last 15 years to
obtain the scienti!c freedom to accelerate
medical breakthroughs Theinproduct
our lifetime.
is neuroThe
mag
struggle has been slow and arduous, but
You · 1:03 AM
the controversial predictions we made
years ago are increasingly
Unfortunately, going
I am not able to access
attachments
mainstream. or links
Will The Lifethrough chat. I
Extension
apologize.
Foundation become a consumer protection
organization? Other than to warn our
Do you already have the product with
members you?of fraudulent products we
stumble upon, the answer is no! Our
1:05 AM
mission, to gain control over aging and
death by the year 2020, is too importantYes for
us to spend the time to investigate every
You · 1:05 AM
product in the marketplace. We will
continue Dotoyouuse
seeour
the analytical expertise
lot number that appearsto
assure underneath
that our products meet
the expiration the highest
date?
quality1:05
standards,
AM but we are not about to
test every commercial product on the
market. It’s say 01603

Foundation members are an elite group ofAM

You · 1:06

pioneers who are willing to take

That's the item number.
extraordinary steps to stave off aging and
death.1:07
When
AM members buy products from

us, they have assurance that the quality of

the product is backed And at
bythe bottom
the is L01603E
organization's
commitment to achieving an inde!nitely You · 1:07 AM

extended life span, free of the ravages of

Do you see the expiration date near the
disease.
QR code?

1:07 AM
William Faloon
Vice President Yes 07/2028
Life Extension Foundation
You · 1:07 AM

The lot number should appear right

underneath the expiration date.

1:08 AM

Another thing just to the left of the

HEALTH
expiration TH-L16039 with a barcode

QUIZZES You · 1:08 AM

Discover
Younutrients you need
are not seeing for optimal
anything right
healthunderneath the expiration date?

1:11 AM
Take a Quiz 

GENERAL HEALTH &

WELLNESS
Healthy Starts Here

Read More 

MAGAZINE
SUBSCRIPTION

Stay informed with for

Except Lifethe
Extension Magazine®
number 01603 there
is nothing there
Subscribe Now 
You · 1:12 AM

Allow me one moment to reach out to

my support team.

LAB
ThankTESTS
you for patiently waiting.

From Unfortunately,
basic health panels
we aretonot
genetic
able totesting
confirm that the product is genuine
Learnwithout
Morethe lot number. I believe it's
safe to say that the product may be a
counterfeit. I apologize.

1:17 AM

WELLNESS
SoSPECIALISTS
I should check for the lot number
next time before purchase?
1-800-226-2370 - This service is FREE
You · 1:18 AM
7:30 AM - 12 AM (ET) Mon-Fri | 9 AM - 12 AM
(ET) Sat-Sun
Our website shows authorized
resellers/distributors for international
More 
Learncountries.
1:21 AM

If I remember correctly Life Exetion just

ADVERTISE
left thailand this year in April and the
store
IN was
THE a genuine
MAGAZINEproduct back then
the question is how come they have the
product stock in this manner is it just a
Spread the word to Life Extension®
lot that’s send internationally or intend
customers
to sell a counterfeit product

Learn More  You · 1:21 AM

Did you ship to Thailand?

Orders with shipping addresses to

Sign Up for Free
Thailand Health
are fulfilled by: News
https://www.levitaminsasia.com/.
Enter email
1:22 AM address Submit

Ok to get the real one I should where to

More Infoget my magnesium from , but since the
price are so similar and shipment to
Thailand is time taking is there other
option like in Singapore or Malaysia?
Company 
You · 1:25 AM

Yes, please click on the following link to

Resources
check which countries have 
distributors:
https://www.lifeextension.com/vitamins
 Your Privacy Choices
-supplements/shipping/shipping-
information.

1:26 AM

Thank you so much is there anything

else I should keep an eye on if I grab
one of these product from the
pharmacy?
Life Extension does not provide medical advice,
diagnosis, or treatment. All Contents Copyright ©2025
Life Extension. All rights reserved.
Lots number is one method
†
Ratings based on results of the 2025 ConsumerLab.com
Survey of Supplement Users. MultivitaminYourating
· 1:28based on
AM · Sent
results of the 2024 ConsumerLab.com Survey of
Supplement Users. For more information, visit
You're most welcome. .
www.consumerlab.com/survey

These1:28 AM
statements have not been evaluated by the
Food and Drug Administration.
These products are not intended to diagnose, treat,
cure, a
Send ormessage...
prevent any disease.