Urgent Health Alert Warning: A Resveratrol Supplement by revgenetics containing a compound called Tween is a possible health hazard.
Another day, another resveratrol scam. This latest one is not only irresponsible but may be hazardous to your health as well. A Florida based resveratrol reseller has begun adding the industrial chemical Polysorbate 80 to their product, which they call Nitro250. The company claims that this chemical, also known by the trade name Tween and Tween 80, increases bioavailability of the resveratrol contained in the company’s supplement. There is absolutely no evidence to support this claim. Tween is not intended to be used for this purpose and can be toxic at high doses easily consumed in such supplements. It is commonly used in industrial detergents, shampoos and degreasers and for the remediation of toxic wastes. There is no evidence that Tween in any way enhances resveratrol bio activity or any other beneficial property. Given its chemical properties there is no reason to believe that it would enhance resveratrol. It is an emulsifier whose function is to break down fats and grease. Resveratol is not a fat, although it is soluble in oil. Consequently Tween use in a supplement merely for marketing purposes is an outrageous and irresponsible violation of product safety and common sense. However the bigger issue is that Tween has been associated with severe side effects in humans.
Severe allergic reactions which have been associated with Polysorbate 80 (Tween) include: Rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue, blurred vision or vision changes; chest pain; confusion; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, sore throat) one-sided weakness; pale skin color; seizures; redness, tenderness, or swelling of the calf; severe diarrhea, dizziness, headache, stomach pain, or vomiting; severe or persistent tiredness or weakness; slurred speech; sudden pain or numbness of an arm or leg; sudden shortness of breath; sudden trouble walking or loss of balance; swelling of the arms or legs; vision or speech problems; weight gain.
Other less severe adverse effects include: Constipation; cough; diarrhea; dizziness; headache; muscle, joint, back, or stomach pain; nausea or vomiting; pain, swelling, irritation, redness, or bruising at the injection site; unusual tiredness or weakness.
Studies have shown disturbing and potentially serious health effects related to Tween 80. The anti HPV vaccine Gardasil contains Polysorbate 80, which is linked to infertility in mice,” noted Dee Nicholson, National Communications Director for Freedom in Canadian Health Care. [Nov 2007] Sleight of Handling: More Merck Magic Tricks With HPV Vaccine By Christopher C. Barr
A study published in December, 2005 discovered that Tween 80 can cause anaphylaxis, a sometimes fatal reaction characterized by a sharp drop in blood pressure, hives, and breathing difficulties. Researchers concluded that the severe reaction was not a typical allergic response characterized by the combination of IgE antibodies and the release of histamines; it was caused by a serious disruption that had occurred within the immune system.
In another study neonatal female rats were injected ip (0.1 ml/rat) with Tween 80 in 1, 5 or 10 percent aqueous solution on days 4-7 after birth. Treatment with Tween 80 accelerated maturation, prolonged the oestrus cycle, and induced persistent vaginal oestrus. The relative weight of the uterus and ovaries was decreased relative to the untreated controls. Squamous cell metaplasia of the epithelial lining of the uterus and cytological changes in the uterus were indicative of chronic oestrogenic stimulation. Ovaries were without corpora lutea, and had degenerative follicles.” ~ PMID: 8473002. Female lab rats injected with Tween 80 developed impaired sexual organs as well as premature development of their sexual organs. Institute of Preventive and Clinical Medicine, Limbová, Bratislava.
Previous studies by Gajdova et al. have shown that polysorbate 80 (also known as Tween 80) administered by intraperitoneal injection to neonatal female rats on days 4-7 after birth produced estrogenic effects including earlier vaginal opening, prolongation of the estrus cycle and persistent vaginal estrus. Some of these effects were evident many weeks after cessation of administration of polysorbate 80.” [Gajdova et al - “Delayed effects of neonatal exposure to Tween 80 on female reproductive organs in rats.” Food Chem Toxicol 31(3):183-90 (1993) Institute of Preventive and Clinical Medicine.
Tween is actually a synthetic chemical compound consisting of Polysorbate 80, also known as polyoxyethylene sorbitan, and various other chemical species. In the Sigma Aldrich chemicals catalog buyers are warned that Tween is “For laboratory use only. Not for drug, household or other uses.” The World Health Organisation also suggests that the compound is not safe for human consumption beyond “acceptable daily intake limits of 0-25 mg of polyoxyethylene sorbitan esters per kg body weight.”
Tween is a major component of industrial and household cleaners and degreasers.
The Clorox-made cleaning solution used by the iRobot Scooba floor-washing robot lists Tween 20 as one of its major ingredients on its MSDS. Tween variants are known as Tween 20,60, and 80 and are produced by several chemical companies, primarily in China.
Tween is commonly used in laboratory studies for the following purposes:
* to stabilize purified protein derivative (PPD) solution used in skin testing for tuberculosis exposure
* as a blocking agent in immunoassays, such as Western blots and ELISAs.
* as a solubilizing agent of membrane proteins.
The fact that a chemical has been used in food does not insure that it is safe and non toxic.
The chemicals bisphenol, aspartame, monosodium glutamate (MSG), potasium bromate, BHA and BHT and the artificial colourings brilliant blue and quinoline yellow, as well as many other chemical additives have been shown to have serious toxic or carcinogenic and mutagenic effects to humans but are still being used legally in foods in the US even though many other countries have banned their use in consumables. Even melanine is permitted in foods in small amounts. Tween 80 is used in some ice creams in the US however it is neither natural nor organic.
No Biotivia product contains any variant of Tween, Polysorbate or any other synthetic filler, additive, or chemical modifier. It is more costly and requires more sophisticated processing to produce supplements without chemical additives such as glidants, preservatives and fillers however Biotivia believes in producing a premium product that you can reply upon, not simply the cheapest one available. We do not take chances with your health. Chemical additives, particularily those with evidence of health hazards, are totally incompatible with supplements intended to enhance health and well being.
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One must be very careful in selecting a resveratrol supplier. Since this compound has hit the mainstream press a flood of totally inexperienced and somewhat dodgy companies have sprung up selling this product, or what they claim is resveratrol. None of these companies, most of which have some form of resveratrol or longevity in their names, have a lab, quality control, scientists or pharmacists on board, or any history manufacturing health products of any type, let alone a complex product such as resveratrol.
The ConsumerLab did an evaluation of resveratrol brands recently which was open to all companies. In their independent lab tests they found that many products were basically worthless. For example Life Extension’s product had only 26% of the claimed resveratrol in their actual product. Revgenetics refused to provide a sample of their product to test at all.
The products which both passed the Consumer Lab tests and have doses of resveratrol recommended by the Harvard study published in the Journal Nature were Biotivia’s Bioforte and Transmax. Bioforte was also the lowest cost per mg of all products tested. The moral here is look before you leap.
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Comment by Biotivia (Who am I?) — January 10, 2009 @ 4:01 am
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