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Consumerlab.com reaffirms problems with Trimspa X32
Westchester, NY — December 5, 2005 — ConsumerLab.com responded today to a press release issued by TRIMSPA seeking to refute ConsumerLab.com's test results for TRIMSPA X32, a popular weight loss supplement. ConsumerLab.com reaffirmed the findings in its November 15, 2005 report that TRIMSPA X32 contained 42% more chromium than labeled and small amount of a toxic form of chromium.
TRIMSPA reports that it had TRIMSPA X32 tested by an outside laboratory that found it to contain the amount of chromium claimed on its label. There is little public information available about the laboratory used, American Analytical Chemistry Laboratories Corp., other than a Warning Letter posted on the FDA website which cites its past regulatory violations for failing to establish and follow laboratory controls, standards and test procedures. The FDA Warning Letter (posted at http://www.fda.gov/foi/warning_letters/g4023d.htm) notes that the laboratory "… has no standard operating procedures (SOP) that describes how test results are to be calculated and reported."
Chromium testing requires special techniques and highly experienced technicians. Chromium is a micronutrient (i.e., taken in amounts measured in micrograms rather than the thousand-fold greater milligram doses taken for most other nutrients). Extremely sensitive testing is required to detect impurities. According to TRIMSPA, American Analytical Chemistry Laboratories, Inc. reported that the toxic form of chromium -- hexavalent chromium was "Not Detected" by its assay methodology. This, however, does not mean that it was not present, but that the method used may have been inadequately sensitive or incorrectly performed.
Laboratories with expertise in testing for chromium and hexavalent chromium are generally EPA certified. American Analytical Chemistry Laboratories Corp. is not listed an EPA certified laboratory.
ConsumerLab.com's results, published in its report at https://www.consumerlab.com/results/chromium.asp are based on findings confirmed in two separate, EPA certified laboratories. Both laboratories found the product to contain at least 42% more chromium than stated on the label and to be contaminated with hexavalent chromium. To avoid potential bias, the identity of the product was not disclosed to either laboratory per ConsumerLab.com's protocol. Several other chromium-containing supplements were tested at the same time but only the TRIMSPA exceeded its claimed amount of chromium and it was one of only two products found to have significant levels of the contaminant hexavalent chromium.
"We are confident in our findings for TRIMSPA X32. We consider the results presented by the product's distributor to be highly suspect, particularly in light of the credentials of the laboratory used," said William Obermeyer, Ph.D., Vice President for Research for ConsumerLab.com. Dr. Obermeyer is an active member of AOAC International (the Association of Analytical Chemists) and was a scientist at the FDA prior to helping found ConsumerLab.com in 1999.
ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. The company is privately held and based in Westchester, New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products.
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TRIMSPA reports that it had TRIMSPA X32 tested by an outside laboratory that found it to contain the amount of chromium claimed on its label. There is little public information available about the laboratory used, American Analytical Chemistry Laboratories Corp., other than a Warning Letter posted on the FDA website which cites its past regulatory violations for failing to establish and follow laboratory controls, standards and test procedures. The FDA Warning Letter (posted at http://www.fda.gov/foi/warning_letters/g4023d.htm) notes that the laboratory "… has no standard operating procedures (SOP) that describes how test results are to be calculated and reported."
Chromium testing requires special techniques and highly experienced technicians. Chromium is a micronutrient (i.e., taken in amounts measured in micrograms rather than the thousand-fold greater milligram doses taken for most other nutrients). Extremely sensitive testing is required to detect impurities. According to TRIMSPA, American Analytical Chemistry Laboratories, Inc. reported that the toxic form of chromium -- hexavalent chromium was "Not Detected" by its assay methodology. This, however, does not mean that it was not present, but that the method used may have been inadequately sensitive or incorrectly performed.
Laboratories with expertise in testing for chromium and hexavalent chromium are generally EPA certified. American Analytical Chemistry Laboratories Corp. is not listed an EPA certified laboratory.
ConsumerLab.com's results, published in its report at https://www.consumerlab.com/results/chromium.asp are based on findings confirmed in two separate, EPA certified laboratories. Both laboratories found the product to contain at least 42% more chromium than stated on the label and to be contaminated with hexavalent chromium. To avoid potential bias, the identity of the product was not disclosed to either laboratory per ConsumerLab.com's protocol. Several other chromium-containing supplements were tested at the same time but only the TRIMSPA exceeded its claimed amount of chromium and it was one of only two products found to have significant levels of the contaminant hexavalent chromium.
"We are confident in our findings for TRIMSPA X32. We consider the results presented by the product's distributor to be highly suspect, particularly in light of the credentials of the laboratory used," said William Obermeyer, Ph.D., Vice President for Research for ConsumerLab.com. Dr. Obermeyer is an active member of AOAC International (the Association of Analytical Chemists) and was a scientist at the FDA prior to helping found ConsumerLab.com in 1999.
ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. The company is privately held and based in Westchester, New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products.
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