MANILA, Philippines–Stem cells in a bottle? Too good to be true.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned the public not to be taken in by the claims about Inner Power Stem Cells Booster, a purported stem cell product being sold and promoted online.

In an advisory dated May 29, FDA acting Director General Kenneth Go said the bottled product being marketed on a classified ads website, www.olx.ph, was not registered with the FDA either as a drug or a food supplement or human cells, tissues and cellular and tissue-based product (HCT/P).

Go also said the online ad carried “deceitful health and therapeutic claims” not supported by scientific or clinical studies.

According to the ad, seaweeds are the primary ingredient of the product “combined with root crops, fruits, vegetables, legumes, honey and fructoligosaccharides (food for good bacteria).”

The “prebiotic mixture” had been fermented and “had produced a byproduct in the form of a jam,” the ad said.

The ad further claimed that once taken, the product helped in stem cell production “by the process of mitosis that would aid in platelet, red and white blood cells production.”

Sea turtles

The ad also claimed that the product was formulated by a herbalist, Salvador Duco, who supposedly studied and observed the lifecycle of sea turtles.

From his study, Duco supposedly discovered that sea turtles could live up to 500 years because of the nutrients in the food they ate.

“These substances give them long lives. Mr. Duco concluded that if the same are present in humans (sic) food, we may live a longer life, too,” the ad said.

Internet fraudsters

Don’t believe any of that, the FDA advised the public.

Inner Power Stem Cell Booster, which is taken orally, cannot pass as a product for registration as HCT/P, the FDA said.

“All consumers are advised to be more vigilant and critical about online and digital advertisements so as not to fall prey to the marketing schemes of Internet fraudsters,” Go said.

The FDA has ordered all of its inspectors to confiscate the product from stores.

Go reiterated that the FDA in July last year required all HCT/P-based products to be registered with the agency, otherwise these products will be considered illegal after Aug. 31, 2013.

“Pursuant to DOH (Department of Health) Administrative Order No. 2013-012, stem cells and stem cell products should be preparations of viable cells that have the capability to replicate and differentiate into different types of cells,” Go said.

“HCT/Ps [are] intended for implantation, transplantation, infusion or transfer into a human recipient. Products containing ingredients that are taken orally, or even applied topically, cannot pass as HCT/Ps,” he said.