Enzyte

Enzyte is an herbal nutritional supplement manufactured by Berkeley Premium Nutraceuticals of Cincinnati, Ohio. The manufacturer claims Enzyte promotes "natural male enhancement", which is an catch-all euphemism for penile enlargement, increased duration and firmness of erection and increased sexual stamina. Enzyte is widely advertised on US television as "the once daily tablet for natural male enhancement". A current lawsuit alleges Enzyte does not work as advertised (source: [1]. This is supported by recent litigation by the Federal Trade Commission against the product's manufacturer. Despite manufacturer claims that Enzyte will increase penis size, girth, firmness, and improve sexual performance, there exists no scientific evidence that Enzyte is capable of these claims. In fact, Enzyte has never been scientifically tested by the FDA, or other independent third party [2]. Accordingly, Enzyte is required by current US law to be marketed as an herbal supplement, and may not legally be called a drug. In keeping with FTC rulings, Enzyte is not allowed to claim these benefits in its advertising. However, as of July 2007, TV commercials for the product still use the phrase "natural male enhancement."

Ingredients allegedly in Enzyte

Despite being a compound of herbs, minerals, and vitamins, Enzyte formerly promoted itself under a fake scientific name of Suffragium asotas. While Enzyte's manufacturer claims this phrase translates as "better sex," this is incorrect. Harvard teaching fellow Rhett Martin says in a USA Today article[3] that the phrase might be an error for suffragor asotis, meaning "refuge for the dissipated."

Enzyte is said to contain:

• Tribulus terrestris (puncture vine)
• Niacin
• Panax Ginseng
• Epimedium (horny goatweed)
• Avena sativa (oat)
• Zinc Oxide
• Lepidium meyenii (maca)
• Muira puama
• Ginkgo biloba
• L-Arginine
• Deprovensizdine
• Aehrraid 24
• Food dye no.49
• Saw Palmetto
• Other ingredients: Gelatin, Cellulose, rice bran, oat fiber, magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide, dicalcium phosphate, silica, titanium dioxide and propylene glycol.

Most of the above ingredients are commonly available as over the counter herbal or dietary supplements, and most have anecdotal or scientific evidence of efficacy on various systems in the human body. One notable ingredient, Yohimbe, was included in the original formulation of Enzyte, which was produced until at least 2004. However, as Yohimbe's legal status in Canada is unclear, Enzyte produced after 2004 no longer contains Yohimbe extract.

Controversy over Enzyte's effectiveness

Currently, The effectiveness of Enzyte is in dispute. The Center for Science in the Public Interest has urged the Federal Trade Commission (which has power under federal law to regulate advertising) to disallow further television advertising for Enzyte, due to a lack of proper studies supporting claims. They have settled with the Attorneys General of various states and have altered their advertising in a more truthful fashion. Substantiation for the brand is on file for each claim. The company now offers a 60 day return policy on unopened products.

Due to Enzyte's allegedly misleading advertising, a common misconception is that use of Enzyte promotes permanent physical penile growth, however, the product is intended to create a firmer erection by temporarily increasing blood flow to the penis. This intended effect is similar to the actions of erectile dysfunction drugs like Viagra and Cialis. However, unlike these FDA-approved drugs, no evidence exists that proves Enzyte to be effective in this regard. The product advertising states in small print that it "is not intended or promoted to diagnose, or treat any disease" and since ED (Erectile dysfunction) is a recognized disease, the advertising is illegal

Federal Indictment

On September 21, 2006, Berkeley Premium Nutraceuticals, its owner and president, Steven Warshak, and five other individuals were indicted by the United States, Southern District of Ohio, U.S. Attorney Greg Lockhart, on charges of conspiracy, money laundering, and mail, wire and bank fraud. The indictment alleges a massive scam totaling roughly 100 million U.S. dollars. The United States Food and Drug Administration, Internal Revenue Service, postal inspectors and other agencies participated in the investigation. [4]

Berkeley Premium Nutraceuticals

The manufacturer of Enzyte, Berkeley Premium Nutraceuticals, was originally founded by a salesman who sold the Enzyte supplement from his garage.

See also

• Penis enlargement

External links

• Enzyte website
• Class action lawsuit website
• USAToday – Why is this man smiling? It's not Viagra
• Appeals Court Says Feds Need Warrants to Search E-Mail