For years, I’ve criticized firms that promote dietary supplements utilizing cherry-picked science, proprietary blends, influencer testimonials, and imprecise guarantees of “changing 20+ dietary supplements” and “supporting wellness.” And so far as greens and reds powders, I just about put all of them within the “cross” class.
When a follower of mine requested me to evaluate IM8, I figured that it was going to be the identical previous complement rubbish. IM8 was co-founded by David Beckham and endorsed by a bunch of athletes and individuals who is likely to be well-known however I’ve by no means heard of…none of which impresses me in any respect. Let’s face it: superstar merchandise and endorsements are a fully horrible strategy to decide a product’s efficacy. Why do I care if Jay Shetty and a few MMA fighter suppose Beckham’s complement is wonderful?
What’s IM8?
IM8 is a line of two dietary supplements: IM8 Every day Final Necessities Professional ($346 CAD/90 days) and IM8 Every day Final Longevity ($459/90 days). For those who’ve obtained much more cash to burn, the “David Beckham stack” is each merchandise plus a useful shaker cup and hand mixer, all for the low low value of $806 CAD/90 days. Any product buy will get you 90 days of free entry to the IM8 “transformation program,” which I’m fairly positive is supposed for a similar individuals who can afford these merchandise, aka those that want a well being transformation the least out of anybody.
When you get previous the IM8’s fairly packaging and “premium” claims, the reality comes out.
One advantage of IM8 is that the merchandise are NSF licensed for sport. This implies:
- the merchandise comprise what the labels say
- they’ve been examined for contaminants
- they’ve been screened for greater than 280 banned substances
For athletes and non-athletes, that’s worthwhile info, particularly when the complement trade hasn’t at all times been sincere about what’s truly in some merchandise.
That being stated, the NSF certification doesn’t inform us whether or not a complement truly works. It’s not meant to check the claims an organization makes or maintain them as much as current analysis. It’s strictly a top quality management factor.
All through IM8’s web site you’ll see the standard claims:
Clinically Confirmed.
95% extra vitality.
Higher digestion.
Higher sleep.
These claims are so overused and underneath confirmed within the complement realm that actually, they don’t even faze me anymore. And rightly so, as a result of like many different merchandise, the IM8 analysis didn’t assist them.
Sure, IM8 does even have analysis behind its merchandise, however you don’t must dig too deep to see the issues.
IM8 carried out 12-week randomized placebo-controlled trials for each Necessities Professional and Final Longevity. The Necessities trial enrolled solely about 60 individuals, and the Longevity trial, solely 25. Though the research each concluded in 2025, neither has been printed in a peer reviewed journal. There are outcomes for the Necessities trial listed on the IM8 website, which you’ll see within the screenshot beneath.
75% “felt sharper focus”? “Felt extra vitality”? What’s with the phrase “felt”? Proper – as a result of outcomes had been apparently primarily based on participant questionnaires fairly than goal physiological measurements (which had been promised however not delivered, maybe as a result of they weren’t as much as par). That’s an necessary element, as a result of when you’re going to make massive claims, you need to have massive analysis to again them up.
Sadly, one quick, small examine that’s principally qualitative and never even printed isn’t it. The outcomes of the Longevity examine are MIA, by the way in which.
I don’t care about the entire examine parameters, I need to see the precise research. The hyperlink within the “anticipated outcomes” part results in the Clinicaltrials.gov web page, and nothing additional.
And simply as an FYI, the IM8 advisory board comprises physicians who’ve blocked me for calling them out for his or her false and deceptive diet claims. These embody Amy Shah and James DiNicolantino. I’d be embarrassed to be related to these folks in any approach, not to mention having them endorse my product by sitting on the “advisory board.” No thanks.
Extra isn’t at all times higher.
IM8 proudly advertises over 90 substances. This isn’t as spectacular because it sounds, as a result of in diet, and particularly with dietary supplements, extra isn’t at all times higher. Sadly, shoppers have been conditioned to suppose that extra substances equals extra well being and worth.
There are a number of scientific issues with “kitchen sink” dietary supplements, the primary being proprietary blends. And IM8 has a number of of these in each merchandise.
I at all times converse out in opposition to proprietary blends in dietary dietary supplements, as a result of I feel they’re a shady approach of hiding the precise quantities of every ingredient that you simply’re getting. Are they over the secure restrict? Underneath the efficient dose? Sufficient to trigger unintended effects? No person ever is aware of till somebody discovers that the complement is both ineffective, or when it finally ends up doing hurt.
So, transparency issues, and we don’t know whether or not the IM8 “cell rejuvenation expertise 8™” comprises significant doses or pixie mud.
With multi-ingredient merchandise, there’s additionally the potential challenge of interplay between substances. When you mix dozens upon dozens of nutritional vitamins, botanicals, probiotics, antioxidants, adaptogens, enzymes, amino acids, and phytonutrients, predicting how they’ll work together turns into terribly tough.
Typically substances could complement each other, however typically they compete for absorption. Most frequently, taking that many substances collectively makes it unattainable to know what’s truly doing something.
Most individuals don’t want all – or any – of this.
That is maybe my largest criticism of multi-ingredient dietary supplements like IM8. Dietary supplements ought to fill dietary gaps, not try to interchange a complete eating regimen or indicate by way of advertising and marketing that they’re essential for well being.
NOBODY wants this a lot vitamin C, most of which is simply excreted within the urine. Or, 8000% of the DRI for vitamin B12, or this massive of a dose of the entire different B nutritional vitamins, that are available in meals. Most of us don’t have any use for supplemental digestive enzymes, probiotics, or important amino acids. That is all smoke and mirrors to make clients suppose that they’re getting all these things they aren’t consuming of their eating regimen. It’s unreal.
Taking vitamins that you simply don’t want typically doesn’t present additional profit, and taking every little thing “simply in case” isn’t evidence-based diet. Most substances in IM8 are comparatively benign (aka ineffective) until you’re truly low or poor in these vitamins. IM8 says its substances are “clinically dosed,” which suggests nothing if, as soon as once more, you’re not low or poor in them. Wholesome folks consuming a different eating regimen typically don’t want supplementation on this many issues.
I typically advocate focused supplementation fairly than combining dozens of substances into one product, particularly when such complicated formulations don’t normally present optimum doses of something.
Discover I’m not saying something in regards to the IM8 longevity complement. That’s as a result of I’m massively sick and uninterested in the longevity development that’s actually supported by nothing. IM8 Final Longevity comprises NAD, which hasn’t been confirmed to do a factor for longevity in people. Nada. It additionally comprises a number of proprietary blends, which we’ve already mentioned. I don’t imply to sound excessive, nevertheless it’s all rubbish.
The superstar impact
I’ve to say this, and let’s be sincere: David Beckham isn’t related to this product as a result of he’s an knowledgeable in diet. He’s there as a result of belief sells dietary supplements, and shoppers naturally assume that if somebody as match and profitable as Beckham creates and makes use of a product, there have to be one thing particular about it. Eh, there isn’t. This can be a Advertising and marketing 101 tactic, so contemplate your self warned.
For many wholesome adults, I’d a lot fairly see cash spent not on dietary supplements, however on:
- vegatables and fruits
- ample protein
- power coaching
- sleep
- preventive healthcare
- seeing a registered dietitian if wanted
These interventions have dramatically stronger proof than any complement.
My verdict
Regardless of what number of substances are in a product, and irrespective of how match and well-known the founder is, there may be nonetheless no proof that changing a nutritious diet and way of life with an costly powder is the shortcut to higher well being.
IM8 is intelligent advertising and marketing wrapped round science that’s nonetheless far weaker than shoppers are being led to imagine.