TrimSpa
Encyclopedia
TrimSpa is a dietary supplement
designed for weight loss
, marketed by the company Goen Technologies, headed by Alexander Szynalski, a.k.a. Alex Goen. Celebrity
Anna Nicole Smith
was its spokesperson. Various products marketed by TrimSpa are claimed to help "stave off hunger". TrimSpa formerly contained ephedra
until that ingredient was banned in the U.S.. The new TrimSpa formula X32 contains no ephedra
. Its active ingredient is Hoodia gordonii
, along with the stimulants caffeine
and theobromine
. TrimSpa's parent company, Goen Technologies, filed for bankruptcy protection in May of 2008. Goen Technologies owed unsecured creditors debts up to $33 million, and had only $1.23 million in assets. In September of 2008 it was decided by a judge to turn the case into Chapter 7 liquidation. TrimSpa had a peak existence of $141 million sales, $17 million operating profits, and was spending $10 million in advertising alone. It was decided that in October 2008 all of the remains of the business would go up for auction. Thousands of TrimSpa bottles, two custom motorcycles, two custom vans with Anna Nicole Smith painted, an Indy-style race car, and various office equipment.
In addition to Hoodia gordonii, TrimSpa X32 tablets contain ingredients that may help promote weight loss, including green tea
, glucomannan
, cocoa extract, vanadium
, and glucosamine
. According to the manufacturer's labeling, TrimSpa X32 pills are taken 3 times per day minimum, 6 maximum.
TrimSpa X32 also contains chromium
. Chromium
may be beneficial in glucose
regulation. The stimulant components are hoodia gordonii and components containing caffeine (green tea and cocoa extracts).
TrimSpa expanded its weight-loss aids in 2006 to include a fruit-based bar, FROODIA, containing 400 mg of African Hoodia gordonii.
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 also 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.
products. Under these regulatory rules, TrimSpa products' safety and effectiveness are not reviewed by the FDA. Rather, TrimSpa's parent company, Nutramerica Corp., and its marketer and manufacturer, Goen Technologies Corp., are responsible for ensuring that their products are safe for public consumption.
made TrimSpa famous in commercials with the phrase "TrimSpa, Baby!"
Dietary supplement
A dietary supplement, also known as food supplement or nutritional supplement, is a preparation intended to supplement the diet and provide nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, fiber, fatty acids, or amino acids, that may be missing or may not be consumed in sufficient quantities in a person's diet...
designed for weight loss
Weight loss
Weight loss, in the context of medicine, health or physical fitness, is a reduction of the total body mass, due to a mean loss of fluid, body fat or adipose tissue and/or lean mass, namely bone mineral deposits, muscle, tendon and other connective tissue...
, marketed by the company Goen Technologies, headed by Alexander Szynalski, a.k.a. Alex Goen. Celebrity
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
Anna Nicole Smith
Anna Nicole Smith
In 1992 Smith was chosen by Hugh Hefner to appear on the cover of the March issue of Playboy, where she was listed as Vickie Smith, wearing a low-cut evening gown. The centerfold was photographed by Stephen Wayda. Smith said she planned to be "the next Marilyn Monroe". Becoming one of Playboys...
was its spokesperson. Various products marketed by TrimSpa are claimed to help "stave off hunger". TrimSpa formerly contained ephedra
Ephedra
Ephedra refers to the plant Ephedra sinica. E. sinica, known in Chinese as ma huang , has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for 5,000 years for the treatment of asthma and hay fever, as well as for the common cold...
until that ingredient was banned in the U.S.. The new TrimSpa formula X32 contains no ephedra
Ephedra
Ephedra refers to the plant Ephedra sinica. E. sinica, known in Chinese as ma huang , has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for 5,000 years for the treatment of asthma and hay fever, as well as for the common cold...
. Its active ingredient is Hoodia gordonii
Hoodia gordonii
Hoodia gordonii is a leafless spiny succulent plant with medicinal uses. It grows naturally in South Africa and Namibia. The flowers smell like rotten meat and are pollinated mainly by flies. The indigenous Bushmen call this plant ǁhoba ....
, along with the stimulants caffeine
Caffeine
Caffeine is a bitter, white crystalline xanthine alkaloid that acts as a stimulant drug. Caffeine is found in varying quantities in the seeds, leaves, and fruit of some plants, where it acts as a natural pesticide that paralyzes and kills certain insects feeding on the plants...
and theobromine
Theobromine
Theobromine , also known as xantheose, is a bitter alkaloid of the cacao plant, with the chemical formula C7H8N4O2. It is found in chocolate, as well as in a number of other foods, including the leaves of the tea plant, and the kola nut...
. TrimSpa's parent company, Goen Technologies, filed for bankruptcy protection in May of 2008. Goen Technologies owed unsecured creditors debts up to $33 million, and had only $1.23 million in assets. In September of 2008 it was decided by a judge to turn the case into Chapter 7 liquidation. TrimSpa had a peak existence of $141 million sales, $17 million operating profits, and was spending $10 million in advertising alone. It was decided that in October 2008 all of the remains of the business would go up for auction. Thousands of TrimSpa bottles, two custom motorcycles, two custom vans with Anna Nicole Smith painted, an Indy-style race car, and various office equipment.
Composition
Hoodia is a succulent native to Africa which is currently under investigation for use as an appetite suppressant. However, it has not been conclusively demonstrated that Hoodia works as an appetite suppressant in humans. No published peer-reviewed double-blind clinical trials have been performed on humans to investigate the safety or effectiveness of Hoodia gordonii in pill form as a nutritional supplement.In addition to Hoodia gordonii, TrimSpa X32 tablets contain ingredients that may help promote weight loss, including green tea
Green tea
Green tea is made solely from the leaves of Camellia sinensis that have undergone minimal oxidation during processing. Green tea originates from China and has become associated with many cultures throughout Asia. It has recently become more widespread in the West, where black tea is traditionally...
, glucomannan
Glucomannan
Glucomannan is a water-soluble polysaccharide that is considered a dietary fiber. Glucomannan is a food additive used as an emulsifier and thickener. Products containing glucomannan, marketed under a variety of brand names, are also sold as nutritional supplements for constipation, obesity, high...
, cocoa extract, vanadium
Vanadium
Vanadium is a chemical element with the symbol V and atomic number 23. It is a hard, silvery gray, ductile and malleable transition metal. The formation of an oxide layer stabilizes the metal against oxidation. The element is found only in chemically combined form in nature...
, and glucosamine
Glucosamine
Glucosamine is an amino sugar and a prominent precursor in the biochemical synthesis of glycosylated proteins and lipids. Glucosamine is part of the structure of the polysaccharides chitosan and chitin, which compose the exoskeletons of crustaceans and other arthropods, cell walls in fungi and...
. According to the manufacturer's labeling, TrimSpa X32 pills are taken 3 times per day minimum, 6 maximum.
TrimSpa X32 also contains chromium
Chromium
Chromium is a chemical element which has the symbol Cr and atomic number 24. It is the first element in Group 6. It is a steely-gray, lustrous, hard metal that takes a high polish and has a high melting point. It is also odorless, tasteless, and malleable...
. Chromium
Chromium
Chromium is a chemical element which has the symbol Cr and atomic number 24. It is the first element in Group 6. It is a steely-gray, lustrous, hard metal that takes a high polish and has a high melting point. It is also odorless, tasteless, and malleable...
may be beneficial in glucose
Glucose
Glucose is a simple sugar and an important carbohydrate in biology. Cells use it as the primary source of energy and a metabolic intermediate...
regulation. The stimulant components are hoodia gordonii and components containing caffeine (green tea and cocoa extracts).
TrimSpa expanded its weight-loss aids in 2006 to include a fruit-based bar, FROODIA, containing 400 mg of African Hoodia gordonii.
Federal Trade Commission fine for false claims
On January 4, 2007 the U.S. Federal Trade CommissionFederal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act...
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 also 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
TrimSpa is considered a dietary supplement and, therefore, is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under different rules than those governing prescription medicines and other over-the-counterOver-the-counter drug
Over-the-counter drugs are medicines that may be sold directly to a consumer without a prescription from a healthcare professional, as compared to prescription drugs, which may be sold only to consumers possessing a valid prescription...
products. Under these regulatory rules, TrimSpa products' safety and effectiveness are not reviewed by the FDA. Rather, TrimSpa's parent company, Nutramerica Corp., and its marketer and manufacturer, Goen Technologies Corp., are responsible for ensuring that their products are safe for public consumption.
Celebrity Endorsements
The model Anna Nicole SmithAnna Nicole Smith
In 1992 Smith was chosen by Hugh Hefner to appear on the cover of the March issue of Playboy, where she was listed as Vickie Smith, wearing a low-cut evening gown. The centerfold was photographed by Stephen Wayda. Smith said she planned to be "the next Marilyn Monroe". Becoming one of Playboys...
made TrimSpa famous in commercials with the phrase "TrimSpa, Baby!"