Natrol, LLC makes two supplements, Natrol Cognium Memory and Natrol Cognium Memory Extra Strength, that the complaint for this class action alleges are advertised as improving memory. But the complaint alleges that the claimed active ingredient, a protein, does not have that effect and that the products “have less protein than a slice of bread.”
The class for this action is all people who bought Cognium Memory or Cognium Memory Extra Strength, for personal or household use, in California, between the beginning of the applicable statute of limitations through the date the class is certified in this case.
The Cognium products are sold at supermarkets, retail stores, and online, in either the regular formula, containing 100mg of Cognium, or the Extra Strength formula, containing 200mg of Cognium. “Cognium,” the complaint claims is silk protein hydrolysate. It quotes the packaging of the products as saying, “Cognium Memory is powered by natural protein from silkworm cocoons.”
These claims are made on the product’s website and labels, the complaint alleges. For example, the complaint quotes the front label of the product as saying, “Clinically Shown to Improve Memory and Recall.” Page 5 shows images of the two boxes, with the words “Brain Health” and “Memory” prominently displayed, and at the bottom right, a seal with the claim in capital letters that Cognium is the “#1 Most Clinically Studied Ingredient for Memory.”
Also, a side panel, in an image reproduced on page 6, shows the claim that the product provides “Improved Memory and Performance” and a bar chart of a “published study” that purports to show gains made by those who took the product for twenty-one days. It promises “Results in 4 Weeks,” claiming, “Clinical studies showed statistically significant improvement in memory and recall in 4 weeks or less when taken as directed by healthy adults.”
The Natrol website also claims, “Natrol Cognium keeps your mind sharp and your memory strong” and that “multiple clinical studies have shown statistically significant improvements in memory and recall in healthy adults, in as little as four weeks.”
However, the complaint alleges that the silk protein hydrolysate in the product is not able to provide improved memory, recall, and brain health.
Drawing on the opinion of an expert hired by the plaintiff in this case, the complaint says that when a person takes Cognium, it is broken down by stomach acids and digestive enzymes as all proteins are, and that even if some Cognium remains and enters the blood, the blood-brain barrier keeps out any substantial amount. Therefore, the complaint claims, “Cognium cannot impact the brain because it does nto absorb into the blood stream or cross the blood-brain barrier. Only if the active ingredient crossed the blood-brain barrier could it potentially cause any improvement whatsoever to brain performance.”
And what about the supposed studies? The complaint alleges, “All of these studies suffer from serious deficiencies such that they do not support the claim that Cognium is ‘clinically shown to improve memory and recall in healthy adults.’”
Article Type: LawsuitTopic: Consumer
Most Recent Case Event
Natrol Cognium Does Not Improve Memory, Claims Complaint
January 13, 2023
Natrol, LLC makes two supplements, Natrol Cognium Memory and Natrol Cognium Memory Extra Strength, that the complaint for this class action alleges are advertised as improving memory. But the complaint alleges that the claimed active ingredient, a protein, does not have that effect and that the products “have less protein than a slice of bread.”
Natrol Cognium Does Not Improve Memory, Claims ComplaintCase Event History
Natrol Cognium Does Not Improve Memory, Claims Complaint
January 13, 2023
Natrol, LLC makes two supplements, Natrol Cognium Memory and Natrol Cognium Memory Extra Strength, that the complaint for this class action alleges are advertised as improving memory. But the complaint alleges that the claimed active ingredient, a protein, does not have that effect and that the products “have less protein than a slice of bread.”
Natrol Cognium Does Not Improve Memory, Claims Complaint