Experts today voiced concern over David Beckham‘s new wellness brand, warning the supplements were ‘meaningless nonsense’.
The all-in-one powder ‘Daily Ultimate Essentials’ claims to replace the need for 16 daily supplements with its 92 nutrient-rich ingredients.
The brand IM8, owned by the former footballer, say the £65 product also boosts energy and digestion, as well as giving hair, skin and nails a glow up.
Its ‘Daily Ultimate Longevity’ capsule — setting you back £61 — is also designed to ‘support healthy ageing’.
But experts today labelled the products ‘yet another celebrity endorsed supplement’ and said the brand makes ‘questionable claims’ based purely on ‘limited information from poorly conducted studies’.
Taken in excess, it is ‘unlikely to be harmful’, they cautioned.
However, the quantities of ingredients used in both products are not listed, putting some allergy sufferers at risk, they added, with the benefits of some ingredients even counteracting each other.
Crafted by a team including an ex-NASA chief scientist, IM8 claims it is ‘an unparalleled collaboration between academia, medicine and space science’.
Buying the two products together, dubbed ‘The Beckham Stack’ will cost you a thrifty £100.
Among the 92 ingredients in ‘Daily Ultimate Essentials’ is acai and mixed berry powder which includes a blend of pre, pro, and postbiotics for gut health, as well as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, superfoods, greens, and adaptogens — herbs believed to help stress levels.
The second product designed to boost longevity contains a ‘powerful formula’ of ingredients that target ‘the 11 hallmarks of aging’ and ‘enhance cellular health’.
This includes copper to aid ‘blood vessel health, immune function and iron absorption’ and popular supplement vitamin B12 to help ‘energy production and cognitive function’.
But Professor Edzard Ernst, a world-renowned expert in complementary medicine at the University of Exeter, told MailOnline: ‘These products will sell well — not because they work wonders but because Beckham promotes them.
‘Helping your “natural energy” and optimising your “body’s digestive health” are terms that might be good advertising but, scientifically, are meaningless nonsense.’
Professor Penny Ward, an expert in pharmaceutical medicines at Kings College London, also said: ‘This seems to be yet another celebrity endorsed nutritional supplement making questionable claims.
‘These are based on limited information from poorly conducted studies and largely anecdotal statements — often the case, regrettably, for these products.’
She told MailOnline: ‘All that said, the contents are unlikely to be harmful although some folks might react if they have past allergies to any of the ingredients.
‘There is a rare disease called Wilsons Disease which leads to copper overload and people with that might need to avoid this — as they do any foods or medicines containing copper.
‘It is difficult to know precisely how these supplements could affect people as the actual quantities of each ingredient in each “dose” is not even cited.’
While copper has long been considered safe to consume at low levels for many, a buildup of too much can lead to poisoning — a serious problem if not treated.
Symptoms may range from abdominal cramps and vomiting to jaundice, stiff muscles and even liver failure.
Meanwhile, Professor Gunter Kuhnle, an expert in nutrition and food science at the University of Reading, told MailOnline he was ‘sceptical’ of the products given it is not clear how much of each ingredient is present.
Certain amounts of calcium phosphate for instance, present in both supplements can render zinc — another ingredient — useless, for instance.
Professor Kuhnle added: ‘It’s also not clear whether they are even absorbed by the body or not.
‘The claims on the label are hyperbole and I assume they’re written with a regulator in mind, so uses the most pompous description that is permitted.’
IM8 claimed a 12-week clinical trial at the San Francisco Research Institute showed promising early results.
It was sponsored by Prenetics, a US-based health research firm and IM8’s other co-founder alongside Beckham.
After 30 days, 93 per cent of participants reported increased energy levels, while 73 per cent experienced ‘better endurance during workouts’.
Six in ten also noticed improvements in both digestion and the health of their hair, skin, and nails, they claimed.
But the study, linked on the IM8 website and published in the National Library of Medicine, does not yet display any results online.
Instead the library claims ‘study results have not been submitted’.
Professor Kuhnle told MailOnline: ‘It is interesting so see a big discrepancy between what the website claims regarding these trials and what the trial register says.
‘The website claims a wide range of parameters are going to be measured.’
But study details available in the library show among its measures includes BMI, micronutrient intake and self-reported energy levels.
‘Self-reporting is very questionable because people often don’t remember what they ate correctly’, Professor Kuhnle added.
Dr Adam Collins, an associate professor of nutrition at the University of Surrey, also told MailOnline: ‘Claims regarding increased energy levels and optimised digestive health are highly subjective, and improvements in these areas are challenging to measure scientifically.
‘Gut microbiome changes, for instance, can be temporary and largely reflect recent dietary intake.
‘The clinical trial for these products is still in its recruitment stage, which means we lack robust evidence to support their efficacy.
‘While there are some reputable scientists involved in developing these supplements, the claims made about their effects should be approached with caution.’
Among its team includes Dr Dawn Mussallem, an oncologist at Mayo Clinic, Dr James Green, former NASA chief scientist and Dr David Katz, the founding director of the US-based Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Centre.
‘There are clearly some big names, but while this is good for marketing, it doesn’t necessarily mean that he ingredient really works,’ Professor Kuhnle said.
In an Instagram post, Beckham said: ‘Even though I’ve retired from the game, I want to stay healthy and active.
‘I was looking for a product I could trust and that would fit easily into my daily routine.
‘I’ve tried lots of vitamins and supplements over the years, but it was hard to find a product that gave me everything I need.
‘Health and wellness have always been a priority for me, both on and off the field.
‘We wanted to create something that helps people to feel their best every day — and with IM8, we’ve done that.
‘We’ve brought together a world-leading team of scientists to create something unique and effective, and I’m excited to be able to share it with the world.
‘I have personally experienced the positive impact that IM8 has had on my health, energy and focus.
‘Together with Prenetics, IM8 is harnessing the best of science and innovation, helping people around the world take charge of their health and wellness.’
