On July 12, 2012, the FDA issued a warning letter to Alfa Vitamins Laboratories, Inc. because claims made on the company's website cause the following products to be marketed as drugs rather than dietary supplements: Alfa's Sugar Control, Aloe Vera, Anamu and Llanten, CoQ10, Diabetifen, Ginkgo Biloba Extract, MAX-EPA 2000 mg, Noni Capsules, Noni Juice, Omega-3, Pulmonary Primacare, Shark Cartilage, Vitamin E, St. John's Wort, and Cat's Claw. These products were also found to be misbranded due to inadequate directions for use.

Alfa's Sugar Control contains magnesium, chromium picolinate, and herbs Gymnema sylvestre and Momordica charantia. It was promoted for the treatment of high blood sugar and low insulin in diabetes. Diabetifen contains a blend of vitamin C, fenugreek seed, chromium picolinate, alfalfa, ginkgo biloba leaves and guar gum and was promoted for the treatment of diabetes.

(See ConsumerLab.com's Reviews of Magnesium Supplements and Chromium Supplements for tests of related products.)

Anamu and Llanten capsules were a blend of two herbs promoted for the treatment of the cold, flu, other respitory diseases and cancer. Anamu is an herb also known as Petiveria alliace, and Llanten is a genus of the verbena family of plants, although the species was not provided on the Alfa label.

The company's CoQ10 product was promoted for the treatment of asthma and allergies, diabetes, hypertension and muscular dystrophy. Their Ginkgo Biloba Extract was promoted for the treatment of asthma, kidney and heart disorders, depression, headaches, and for the relief of symptoms of Alzheimer's and Reynaud's. Alfa's Aloe Vera formula was promoted for the treatment of eczema, stomach ulcers , skin cancer and arthritis.

(See ConsumerLab.com's Reviews of CoQ10 Supplements, Ginkgo Biloba Supplements, and Aloe Supplements for tests of related products.)

MAX-EPA 2000 mg, an omega-3 supplement, was promoted for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, reducing asthma and having anti-cancer properties. A similar product, Omega-3, was promoted for the treatment on blood pressure, cholesterol, arthritis and psoriasis.

(See ConsumerLab.com's Review of Omega-3 Supplements for tests of related products.)

Noni Capsules and Noni Juice, made from the fruit of Morinda citrifolia, were promoted for the treatment of high blood pressure, arthritis, diabetes, cancer, tuberculosis and malaria.

(See ConsumerLab.com's Review of Noni Juice for tests of related products.)

Pulmonary Primacare contains vitamins A and C, selenium, anamu, bee pollen and soybean. It was promoted for the treatment of asthma, bronchitis, flu, polymyositis and other lung diseases. Shark Cartilage was promoted for the treatment of arthritis, psoriasis, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

The company promoted Vitamin E for arthritis, the prevention of diabetes and cataracts, and the delay of arteriosclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. Their St. John's Wort was promoted for depression and viral infections, and Cat's Claw for viral and intestinal infections, diabetes, tumors and cancer.

See ConsumerLab.com's Reviews of Vitamins A, C,E, Selenium and St. John's Wort for tests of related products.

For more details regarding this warning letter, use the link below.