This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Real Salt Lake's jersey sponsor, Utah-based supplements company LifeVantage, is in a bit of hot water.
LifeVantage recently was issued a warning letter by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding claims that one of its products is inaccurate in its descriiption that it can play a role in helping cure ailments, including cancer. The product, known as Protandum NRF2, was found by the FDA to not properly list its usages.
The FDA said the drug "fails to bear adequate directors for intended use(s)" in the letter delivered April 17.
"Your product Protandim NRF2 Synergizer is intended for treatment of one or more diseases that are not amenable to self-diagnosis or treatment without the supervision of a licensed practitioner," the description from the FDA read. "Furthermore, your product is intended for prevention of one or more diseases that are not amenable to prevention by consumers without the supervision of a licensed practitioner."
The letter from the FDA goes on to detail claims that the drug can help fight several types of cancers, including skin cancer and breast cancer, among others. It's also said to help treat diabetes prevention and Alzheimer's prevention.
However, the page on the LifeVantage website claims Protandim NRF2 Synergizer is a supplement.
The FDA notified LifeVantage that it had 15 days to correct the violations of the drug description and to "assure that similar violations do not occur in the future."
RSL and LifeVantage entered into a jersey sponsorship deal in 2013. RSL owner Dell Loy Hansen said in an interview with The Tribune last month that LifeVantage has been "an exceptional partner" for the franchise.
"I happen to be one of their larger shareholders now, which I wasn't, but I got to know their business," Hansen said last month. "I got to know their leadership, and I got to invest in their business because I believe in them."
LifeVantage's Darren Jensen, chief executive officer of the company, released a statement to Fox 13 on Tuesday evening.
"At LifeVantage we pride ourselves on our science-based approach to product development. We proactively consult with distinguished FDA experts to ensure our promotional materials and websites adhere to FDA regulations. We will respond to the FDA in a timely fashion and make any changes needed to further ensure compliance."
RSL, through a team spokesman Wednesday, offered no comment on the FDA report.
Twitter: @chriskamrani