Mannatech - Anyone Tried it?

[Phatman]

Hi Paul,

 

This whole thread is mindblowing. So much ranting over a supplement many people have not even tried yet?

 

How can you advise someone if you have never tested out the supplement?

 

Let's look at the facts (and no, Wikipedia is not the most factual resource online, try some medical journals maybe?)

 

- The Mannatech endurance supplement is 100% natural, which is a massive improvement on all the other synthetic stuff most people are putting into their bodies, which the body can't even absorb properly anyway! (Albert Szent Gyorgy, Nobel Prize winner, discovered this: https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/szentgyorgyi.html)

 

- Secondly the endurance product has been shown in Scientific Clinical Trials to support VO2 Max and cardio fitness (double-blind, placebo-controlled human study, more studies here).

 

- thirdly many Olympic athletes and professional sportsmen use it, anecdotal for sure, but if it's good enough for them...

 

Personally, I've had great results with the empact endurance product, going longer on training rides and experiencing quicker recovery times.

 

But don't believe me, try it out for yourself and at least then you'll know for sure, the company has a 90-day results guarantee, so if you not satisfied, you can just claim a refund anyway.

 

Or if you prefer, you can join the masses who speak from no experience of actually having used the supplement? Ignorance is bliss until you get dropped on a steep climb!

 

 

All the best either way.

 

Peter

Hi Peter,

I've never used Mannatech, but I've never been dropped on a climb since I've started using the revolutionary new, improved Powerbalance V2.0 band. Let me know if you're interested, it comes with a refund policy (terms and conditions apply).

You'll never know if you don't try it. Get ready to be the BEST that YOU can be!!!

[Vanzyl]

this is how mannatech tests their products

 

 

 

BounceBack™ capsules for reduction of DOMS after eccentric exercise: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover pilot study

·    The fact that it is randomized, double-blind and placebo controlled sounds impressive, but it is unimportant.

·    Study only contained 10 participants.  The confidence intervals (which were not given) would most likely make the P-values meaningless

 

Brain-Specific Effects of Ambrotose® Products: A Preliminary Animal Study to Investigate Cognitive Benefits Found in Humans

·    Looks like a Meta-analysis, but is a collection of studies on healthy people, (each with its own major limitations (small sample sizes, lack of third-party involvement) and, most importantly, the use of healthy subjects precludes any possibility of generalizing to a diseased population.

·    The study itself is done on mice.  No health claims can be made from this.

 

Human Colonic Bacteria Can Utilize Stabilized Aloe Vera Gel Polysaccharides and a Mixed Saccharide-Based Glyconutritional Dietary Supplement, Advanced Ambrotose

·    This study doesn’t show anything.

·    It shows that a bacteria can metabolize a polysaccharide.  Anyone could show the same with a petri dish, their own stool, and some agar gel.

 

Effect of a combination dietary supplement product (BounceBack^TM) on the signs and symptoms of delayed onset

muscle soreness after eccentric exercise: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover pilot study

·    This study is the same one as the first one.

·    Only ten people participated.

·    The results (which would only be applicable to post exercise muscle soreness) are meaningless.

 

Effects of a Glyconutritional Supplement on Brain Potentials Associated with Language Processing

·    This study’s results are reported as “not statistically significant”. 

·    If you were to make generalizations from its findings, (which you shouldn’t), it would only be useful in refuting claims that Ambrotose works at all.

·    The most concerning is that this poster is happily cited as proof in the second article.

 

Immunomodulatory dietary polysaccharides: a systematic review of the literature

·     Nothing to do with Mannatech

·    Literally every English study ever  conducted on polysaccharides and the immune system.

·    Applicability:

o    “Taken as a whole, the oral polysaccharide literature is highly heterogenous and is not sufficient to support broad produce structure/function generalizations.”

 

Chemical characterization of polysaccharide-rich ingredients from Aloe vera, Larix laricina, Larix occidentalis, and Undaria pinnatifid

·    Nothing to do with Mannatech

·          Just a description of polysaccharides in terms of molecular weights and sugar contents.

 

Immunomodulatory activity of polysaccharides isolated from Clerodendrum splendens: Beneficial effects in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

·    This study was conducted on a special type of mutant mice.

·     No generalizations can be made unless you are treating these mutant mice.

 

Intestinal microbiota’s naturally occurring enzymes and their  effects on plant polysaccharide digestion

·     This poster only showed that certain bacteria can digest polysaccharides.

 

A sensitive in vitro method for evaluation of immunostimulatory properties of natural products

·     This poster does not provide any proof for Mannatech at all and merely describes chemical analysis method and the effects of these chemicals when added to petri dishes of cells.

 

The Effect of Dietary Supplements on the Quality of Life of Retired Professional Football Players

·          Sample size was fifteen

·          Many, many different substances were used.

·          Self-reporting was the measurement.

·          No evidence for Mannatech’s efficacy.

 

An open-label dosing study to evaluate the safety and effects of a dietary plant-derived polysaccharide supplement on the N-glycosylation status of serum glycoproteins in healthy subjects

·          Sample size was 18

·          No confidence intervals given.

·          Limited information on samples.

·          Not clear how this relates to Mannatech products.

 

Effect of Ambrotose AO^® on resting and exercise-induced antioxidant capacity and oxidative stress in healthy adults

·     Sample size is 25.

·     “No statistically detected difference is observed in resting or exercise-induced oxidative stress biomarkers, in quality of life, or in GXT time to exhaustion.”

·     Study shows no statistically significant change.

 

Best, T. Bryan J, Burns N. An investigation of saccharide effects on memory performance. Abstracts of the 12th Annual Australian Psychiatry Conference, 2005.

·     “There were no statistically significant effects of the treatments on  the performance on any of the outcome measures”

 

The influence of a pre-exercise sports drink (PRX) on factors related to maximal aerobic performance

·     Sample size is 29

·     No confidence intervals given

·     Not generalizable

[Paul Ruinaard]

mannatech is a load of rubbish...knew a few people selling it and living the mannatech dream, he was quite serious into the products....he even believed he had a friend who survived cancer due to mannatech, unfortunately my friend who used his mannatech religiously died of cancer himself....mannatech do not do valid testing. the only way you make money in mannatech is by getting people to buy in...its not about the product...its about the getting people to join.stay away....eat real food. 

I am interested why an 18 month old post is springing to life.

 

BTW after this posting I did some reading. 

 

The general consensus was the same as this string and the flag to me is:

• Dont look on the internet - they are all haters and we have a secret
• Multi level marketing aka pyramid schemes.

As i said the hub has a pretty serious BS detector built in to it which over time has been pretty useful.

 

If its as good as people say then it wouldn't be in question as to whether its any good or not.

 

The internet has many sins but in general the stuff on Wikipedia is peer reviewed so if you have an opinion that is contrary you will likely be a single voice that is contrary to the opinion.

 

Here is the wikipedia post on Mannatech with the bit that really makes me think this is all BS. And especially preying on cancer patients.

 

Independent commentary[edit]

The opinion of independent glycobiologists is that the body cannot digest Ambrotose, as it lacks the enzymes needed.^[7]

Prominent glycobiologist Ronald Schnaar told 20/20 in a June 1, 2007 interview, "All of the sugar building blocks that we need in our body are made from the most common foods we eat."^[8][15] Hudson Freeze, a leading glycobiologist, said this about glyconutrients: "There are authentic, scientific studies that have looked at people drinking these kinds of materials, and it doesn't really do anything except increase flatulence."^[8][16] Freeze is a member of the editorial board of Glycobiology, and Schnaar serves as editor-in-chief.^[17] Schnaar and Freeze published a critique of Mannatech's products in Glycobiology in 2008, describing the lack of published clinical benefits of the "partially purified polydisperse plant polysaccharides" found in "Ambrotose Complex."^[9]

An article in Glycobiology described the potential for the public to be misled about the science of glycobiology by the nebulous "glyconutrient" term.^[10] The author expressed concern that the public could be susceptible to the "scientific-sounding label" of glyconutrient, which may "generate a feeling of security and credibility ... despite the lack of acceptance among many glycobiologists of the term." In November 2007, Science published an article in its "News Focus" section detailing the scientific controversy surrounding Mannatech.^[11]It included criticisms and comments from glycobiologists, including Ajit Varki, Raymond Dwek, Freeze, and Schnaar.

According to the Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center, "Mannatech and its founder have been charged by the Texas Attorney General for deceptive trade practices that exaggerated the products' health benefits."^[18] Ambrotose has been "promoted aggressively to cancer patients" on the basis that it can help cellular health and boost the immune system, but that "strong scientific evidence to support these claims is lacking".^[18]

[Sitting@89]

Hi Myles,

How can you advise someone if you have never tested out the supplement?

Let's look at the facts (and no, Wikipedia is not the most factual resource online, anyone can write onWikipedia, what about trying some medical journals maybe?)

- The Mannatech endurance supplement is 100% natural, which is a massive improvement on all the other synthetic stuff most people are putting into their bodies, which the body can't even absorb properly anyway! (Albert Szent Gyorgy, Nobel Prize winner, discovered this: https://www.acs.org/...tgyorgyi.html)

- Secondly the endurance product has been shown in Scientific Clinical Trials to support VO2 Max and cardio fitness (double-blind, placebo-controlled human study, more studies here).

- thirdly many Olympic athletes and professional sportsmen use it, anecdotal for sure, but if it's good enough for them...

Personally, I've had great results with the empact endurance product, going longer on training rides and experiencing quicker recovery times.

But don't believe me, try it out for yourself and at least then you'll know for sure, the company has a 90-day results guarantee, so if you not satisfied, you can just claim a refund anyway.

Or if you prefer, you can join the masses who speak from no experience of actually having used the supplement? Ignorance is bliss until you get dropped on a steep climb!

 

All the best either way.

Peter

If you want to buy mannatech contact Peter. Then when you bought that speak to me I have some snake oil guaranteed to make you perform better every time, 87,3% of the time! (All claims made in this post are backed by a double blind peer review study**)

 

** two actual blind people confirmed the data and a guy named Peer (who also cleans the toilet) reviewed the results.

[jimmycool]

Snip~

 

As i said the hub has a pretty serious BS detector built in to it which over time has been pretty useful.

Aint that the truth!

 

~Snip~

 

"There are authentic, scientific studies that have looked at people drinking these kinds of materials, and it doesn't really do anything except increase flatulence."

 

~Snip

So basically the whole thing is just a whole lot of hot, smelly air....!

[seven]

If you want to buy mannatech contact Peter. Then when you bought that speak to me I have some snake oil guaranteed to make you perform better every time, 87,3% of the time! (All claims made in this post are backed by a double blind peer review study**)

 

** two actual blind people confirmed the data and a guy named Peer (who also cleans the toilet) reviewed the results.

I love this!

I just might have to quote you somewhere

[Cippo]

@Iwan Kemp, I thought I had to drink the eggs like Rocky. Could you please do an article on the matter to get clarity.

[Ed-Zulu]

@Iwan Kemp, I thought I had to drink the eggs like Rocky. Could you please do an article on the matter to get clarity.

You don't just drink the eggs, you have to slam the glass on the counter, otherwise no results!

[PhilipV]

Hi Myles,

How can you advise someone if you have never tested out the supplement?

 

Personally, I've had great results with the empact endurance product, going longer on training rides and experiencing quicker recovery times.

 

Or if you prefer, you can join the masses who speak from no experience of actually having used the supplement? Ignorance is bliss until you get dropped on a steep climb!

 

All the best either way.

Peter

Sorry Peter, but you're credibility is zero.

You revive a two year old thread, and both your posts are in this thread and basically a copy-paste of mannatech marketing material.

I think you need to go research the Placebo effect next. And then see if there is a correlation between vested financial interest and perceived effectiveness of said supplements.

 

 

BTW, of my friends who tried to get me to join the mannatech train, I am still friends with one. But he doesn't promote mannatech anymore. I think it is because he has enough minions underneath him who promote it now (he got in relatively early) that he can focus on his real job and the lekker parts of life again.

[Paul Ruinaard]

Peter where are you mate. Welcome to the hub.

 

Opinions can be subject to scrutiny here in this forum. Sometimes quite introspective.

 

Two post wonder .......

[Iwan Kemp]

@Iwan Kemp, I thought I had to drink the eggs like Rocky. Could you please do an article on the matter to get clarity.

 

It has been proven that drinking eggs raw leads to fighting and funny accents. So I say rather scramble them. Safer. 

 

TopGear Top Tip right there!

[LongDonkey]

My mother had a degenerative disease and one one of the suggested ways to give her more energy was a very expensive glyco nutrient (name is mentioned somewhere in ths thread......). We were trying to get her more active so there was a reduction in the atrophy rate of her muscles. There was an improvement in her activity following this supplement, but i was doubtful of its actual effect, but i respected my fathers wishes and comments. However when we went to a proper dietitian for a couple of appointments and get some guidance for her care givers on the preparation and balance for the various food groups, there was a significantly more noticeable improvement in her activity and energy levels. Her responses improved and she was far more able to assist the care givers in getting her around and walking down teh road for her exercise. My belief is that the product is based on a reasonable set of dietary principles, but the rewards that can be gained from dietitian advice far outweigh anything that is spent on this very expensive supplement. Good luck to both sides of this discussion whatever the motivations are. 

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

My mother had a degenerative disease and one one of the suggested ways to give her more energy was a very expensive glyco nutrient (name is mentioned somewhere in ths thread......). We were trying to get her more active so there was a reduction in the atrophy rate of her muscles. There was an improvement in her activity following this supplement, but i was doubtful of its actual effect, but i respected my fathers wishes and comments. However when we went to a proper dietitian for a couple of appointments and get some guidance for her care givers on the preparation and balance for the various food groups, there was a significantly more noticeable improvement in her activity and energy levels. Her responses improved and she was far more able to assist the care givers in getting her around and walking down teh road for her exercise. My belief is that the product is based on a reasonable set of dietary principles, but the rewards that can be gained from dietitian advice far outweigh anything that is spent on this very expensive supplement. Good luck to both sides of this discussion whatever the motivations are. 

And that there is the magic phrase. EVERY supplement's effectiveness is reliant on a reasonable set of dietary principles. And even then, the % component attributed to the supplement vs the reasonable diet is minimal at best. 

[NotSoBigBen]

And that there is the magic phrase. EVERY supplement's effectiveness is reliant on a reasonable set of dietary principles. And even then, the % component attributed to the supplement vs the reasonable diet is minimal at best. 

 

I guess that is always the 'caveat' (mostly hidden in small print) in the, especially weight loss, supplement business 'only effective as part of a controlled diet' or something like that?

[LongDonkey]

Its a very expensive supplement. We found home grown veggies was just as useful, and a hell of a lot cheaper. Nice concept and well packaged/marketed, but definitely not a supplement i would recommend given my experience.

[stefmeister]

I've a friend that also marketed this Scammatech product. His fb postings were always praising god and mannatech, and how blessed these people were who were cured by the magical workings of...well ja...we all choose what we want to believe in.