CleanseRx®: Flush Out The Waste And Lose Weight Through Superior Digestion?

Wow. Just wow. I almost don't even know where to start. CleanseRx® is a textbook example of how to sell a product using pseudo-scientific mumbo-jumbo and vague, inaccurate and completely unsubstantiated claims. And talk about alarmist! For example, on the right hand side of the web site, under an MSN NBC logo, are the frightening words...

"You Are Putting Yourself at Risk If You Don’t Cleanse! Colon cancer is currently the second leading cancer killer in the United States, with 60,000 Americans expected to die from the disease this year. An estimated 150,000 people in America will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year, and while progress is being made to prevent and treat the disease, tragically more than 57,000 will die from it."

Scary, huh? Problem is, there's ZERO proof that "cleansing" will reduce your risk of colon cancer. Zip, nada, none.

Yes, cleansing products like CleanseRx® supply fiber, and diets rich in high fiber foods are associated with reduced risk of colon cancer in some studies. More recent research, however, indicates there's more to it than just the fiber. As noted by the American Cancer Society...

"Studies clearly show that a diet high in fruits and vegetables can lower colorectal cancer risk, as well as the risk of several other diseases. Conflicting results from studies of dietary fiber and colorectal cancer risk have caused some confusion among the general public and even some health professionals. Recent studies have found that fiber may not be the ingredient in fruits and vegetables that lowers cancer risk. The studies confirm the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables but suggest that other substances in these foods may be responsible for their protective effect."

In other words, it's the phytochemicals in high fiber foods—NOT the fiber itself—that's important!

Now, consuming additional fiber is still a good idea... after all, there's more to good health than just preventing colon cancer. According to a summary by the Harvard School of Public Health, high fiber diets are linked to lower risks of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, diverticular disease and constipation. They can help with weight loss, too.

The important thing to note, however, is that we're talking about DIET. The science supports consuming fiber from foods like vegetables, fruits and whole grains—which also contain other nutrients important for good health and disease prevention. On the other hand, there's no evidence that any of the above health issues can be solved by taking CleanseRx®—or any other laxative/fiber "cleansing" supplements.

The same holds true for environmental toxins and parasites that cleansing product ads claim are making us sick. Sorry to disappoint, but "cleansing" won't reduce your body burden of environmental pollutants (i.e., dioxins, PCBs). And, as Scientific Advisor Elissa recently wrote:

"Sure, people can get parasites: and if you think you have this problem, then you should schedule an appointment with your doc: intestinal parasites are easily found under the microscope.  Parasitic infections can be serious: do-it-yourself cures are no way to go about getting rid of them."

In the end (no pun intended), all "cleansing" is good for, is relieving constipation. And—while constipation may be a symptom of a disease or disorder (i.e., irritable bowel syndrome, hypothyroidism), there's little proof it causes any serious health problems. As one recent review, "Myths and Misconceptions About Chronic Constipation" put it:

"There is no evidence to support the theory that diseases may arise via "autointoxication," whereby poisonous substances from stools within the colon are absorbed."

Another's (see J Clin Gastroenterol. 1989 Aug;11(4):434-41) conclusion can be summed up thus...

"The idea that putrefaction of the stools causes disease, i.e., intestinal autointoxication, originated with physicians in ancient Egypt. They believed that a putrefactive principle associated with feces was absorbed in to the general circulation, where it acted to produce fever and pus. By the 1920s, the medical doctrine fell into disrepute as scientific advances failed to give support."

So much for cleansing. Constipation IS uncomfortable, but it's hardly life-threatening. And relieving it may help you feel better, but there's no evidence that it can "speed up metabolism," "prevent weight gain and enhance weight loss" or "enhance liver function" as the CleanseRx® site states.

The list of ingredients confirms this. CleanseRx® has two components: "Phase I" and "Phase II"—both of which are quite ordinary.

Phase I contains...

Psyillium, the common fiber supplement found in Metamucil, and cereals like Kellogg's All Bran BranBuds.

It also contains senna, magnesium oxide and magnesium carbonate (all well known laxatives).

Magnesium oxide "may be used as a laxative for short-term, rapid emptying of the bowel." Also present are two antioxidants (vitamin C and lemon bioflavonoids).

Phase I is, in effect, a simple fiber / laxative supplement. There's nothing here that you can't obtain for much less money at your local drug store. And there's nothing miraculous about its effects, either. If you're constipated, or your fiber consumption is low, there's no doubt it will make you "go" more often. Metamucil or All Bran BranBuds will accomplish exactly the same thing.

CleanseRx® also features a Phase II product for use after Phase I. It's a "carefully formulated group of amino acids, vitamins, minerals, digestive enzymes and other various ingredients that give your colon and digestive system the nutrients they need to be healthier, stronger and work more efficiently to process the foods you eat."

Again, the benefits are frustratingly vague. A "healthier" colon? By what measure, exactly? It's not like there's any way to verify this for yourself. The retailers claim Phase II will prevent the waste eliminated with the use of Phase I of the product from accumulating again. Of course, since the claim of waste build up is baseless, this claim has exactly the same credibility.

So what's in Phase II?

A complete amino acid profile (this is obviously a protein supplement—looks like soy protein by the amino acid profile), an average vitamin and mineral and blend, a sprinkling of digestive enzymes and probiotics, more physillium, and a dash of a few other ingredients (present in doses much too low to elicit any effect).

Nothing earth-shattering here either, unfortunately. And while no one is going argue that the occasional supplementation with either digestive enzymes or probiotics may be useful (witness all the yogurt commercials on TV these day!), they are not going to help you lose weight or make dramatic effects on your overall quality of life. Most evidence, for instance, shows that probiotics are most helpful for the treatment of diarrhea and possibly Crohn's disease and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).

So let's sum this product up.

None of the claims for CleanseRx® have any basis in reality or credible science. That does not mean this product is valueless, however. It does provide fiber and laxatives, probiotics, digestive enzymes, and a bit of protein. However, this doesn't necessarily mean you actually need most of these things.

For instance, if your diet is already high in fibrous fruit, vegetables, legumes, and cereal grains, you don't need a fiber supplement. If you do need fiber, it's unlikely you also need a laxative; most people will experience dramatic increases in "regularity" without one. If you eat yogurt semi-regularly and haven't recently undergone a cycle of antibiotics, you probably don't need a probiotic either. And the benefits of enzyme supplementation? Unless you are suffering from a condition resulting from an enzyme deficiency of some sort, clinical evidence validating the benefits of regular supplementation is in short supply.

This sort of "cost-benefit" analysis is important...especially when you consider the cost involved! Let's determine the true value of this product, by comparing it to similar, readily-available products.

The CleanseRx® system (a month's supply each of Phase I & II) costs $79.99.

• 1 48 oz bottle of Metamucil costs about $13. One serving provides twice the amount of physillium as delivered by CleanseRx®, and at a single dose per day, a single bottle will last you just over 2 months. (Metamucil is also available in capsule form, if you'd prefer that!)
• 1 box (100 tabs) of senna costs about $11. Two tabs per day will approximate CleanseRx's dosage, and this will last you just under two months.
• Probiotics vary in cost but you can buy a decent product for under $10 (150 caps). Each cap contains 10 X the amount of probiotics found in CleanseRx®, and a single bottle will last you 75 days.
• A month's worth of a high quality digestive enzyme blend can be had for under $6.

Are you with me so far? We've far exceeded the potency of CleanseRx®, plus we've got enough product to last for twice as long (keep in mind that laxatives should not be used over the long term, so in reality two month's worth of product is, in fact, much more than that).

If you wanted to approximate the amino acid profile also present in this product (unnecessary since its effects on "colon health" have not been demonstrated) you could throw in a 1 lbs. jug of soy protein for $8 and take half a serving per day (30 days worth).

Total investment for all this stuff so far? $48!

At the end of the day, what's the "take home" lesson here?

CleanseRx® is in essence, an extremely overpriced and under-dosed fiber, laxative, probiotic, protein and digestive enzyme supplement. As you can see, you can buy much more potent doses of all the ingredients for much less money. And while some of these ingredients certainly offer some degree of benefit, none of the claims made by the retailer have any scientific credibility.

Is this a product you really want to spend your hard earned money on?

Have you been the victim of a product that makes exaggerated claims? Launch a complaint!

US visitors should submit a complaint to the US Federal Trade Commission!

Canadians, submit a complaint at the Canadian Competition Bureau!