Many NMN and Urolithin A supplements failing to match label claims: Study

Data published in GeroScience​ indicated that, for 15 different NMN supplements tested, NMN content ranged from 0% to 104.5%. Seven products were within 10% of the stated label claims (only two exceed label claim), while no NMN was detected in three products.

For the four Urolithin A products tested, two products were within ± 4% of the stated label claim, while one exceeded label claim by 29%, and one product was 15.5% under.

"The data suggest that supplements showing lower detected amounts, the active ingredient is degrading, or lower amounts added, while in supplements with higher-than-labeled amounts, larger quantities are intentionally added to counteract a breakdown," wrote researchers from Singapore and the Netherlands. 

"These larger quantities are referred to as overages and are common in supplement industry. The amount of active ingredient of NMN and UA indicated on the label poorly corresponds to the detected amount. Therefore, reinforcement of regulations for geroprotective supplements is needed.”

A global sample​

Andrea Maier, MD, PhD, professor of gerontology at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and co-director of the Centre for Healthy Longevity at the National University of Singapore, told NutraIngredients that the supplements included in the study were “produced and marketed around the globe (most US and European).

“We are retesting in a couple of months to check if there is any improvement in quality and then will publish the brands,” she added.

Echoing earlier findings​

The quality of NMN and Urolithin A supplements has been reported previously, albeit focused on products available online in the U.S.

In 2022, California-based ChromaDex reported that its testing revealed that more than half of NMN supplements being sold on Amazon contained almost none of the bioactive molecule.  ChromaDex markets TruNiagen, which is based on its branded Niagen ingredient, which is a form of nicotinamide riboside (NR).

ChromaDex tested 22 samples of NMN products​, 14 of which claimed to contain 500 mg of NMN.  A further two products claimed 300 mg on the label; five claimed 250 mg, and one product claimed 125 mg. The analysis alleged that only one of the 500 mg products came close to meeting label claim. The other 13 products in the 500 mg group either came in at below reporting limit (BRL, defined as less than 1% of the stated amount) or, in the case of three products, no NMN was detected at all.

Almost all of the rest of the products performed better, having at least 88% of the label claim up to small overages. A lone 250 mg product was identified as BRL.

Commenting on the new findings, Dr. Andrew Shao, Senior Vice President of Global Regulatory & Scientific Affairs at ChromaDex, told us: "The recent findings from scientists in Singapore and the Netherlands underscore a pervasive issue within our industry—the alarming inconsistency in the quality and purity of global NMN products. Our 2022 analysis of the top-selling NMN products on Amazon revealed a similar concern, with nearly 2/3 of the products tested containing less than 1% of the NMN levels claimed on their label claims. The continued presence of substandard NMN products in the market is deeply troubling.​

"At ChromaDex, we believe that every product should deliver exactly what it promises on the label, which is why we are committed to rigorous quality and manufacturing standards which includes our own extensive testing combined with third-party testing and cGMP certification. It is imperative that we collaborate with industry leaders to establish and enforce stricter quality controls to ensure that consumers have access to safe and effective products. Studies like this one are no longer just a wake-up call but a clear mandate for action in raising industry standards.”​

Urolithin A​

Last year, Timeline shared test results​ that alleged that some urolithin A supplements available online did not contain any of the cellular aging ingredient. 

Federico Luna, chief marketing & e-commerce officer at Timeline, told NutraIngredients that the company is aware of the new study and spoke with Dr. Andrea Meier and her team prior to publication.

“It is great to see independent researchers raising these issues and validating the concerns we've raised on fake Urolithin A supplements,” he said. “Safety and efficacy are paramount to us. We rigorously test all of our products by certified third-party labs with analytical tests validated and all of our products meet the label claims for Urolithin A.”

Luna added that the company has continued its own testing program and now has data on a much larger set of "Urolithin A" supplement products (over 20) and also multiple batches per brand.

The new findings reportedly show:

• The majority of Urolithin A supplements being sold today do not contain any Urolithin A (or at least not detectable levels)
• Of the minority that do contain detectable levels of Urolithin A, most do not meet the label claim

“We're working to publish our findings in a top peer-reviewed journal,” Luna said.

He added that, to the best of his knowledge, Mitopure is the only Urolithin A that meets and is compliant with the FDA GRAS notice purity requirements  (GRAS No. 791). It is also the only Urolithin A that is clinically tested (backed by over five placebo controlled clinical studies).

Source: GeroScience​
2024, Volume 46, Pages  5075–5083, doi: 10.1007/s11357-024-01257-2​
“Testing the amount of nicotinamide mononucleotide and urolithin A as compared to the label claim”
Authors: E. Sandalova, et al.