Anti aging supplements are everywhere: from Amazon shelves to Instagram ads. They promise energy, youth, even extra years of life. But behind the glossy labels is the reality of the anti aging supplements scam.
Billions are spent every year, and too often what people get is fake ingredients, hidden drugs, or even toxic plants. What’s sold as wellness is, more often than not, empty or dangerous.
A Decade of Scandals
What is the most common problem with anti aging supplements?
The most common problem is that they rarely contain the ingredients listed on the label.
The first big shock came in 2021. ChromaDex tested 22 of the most popular NMN products on Amazon, the molecule promoted as “longevity in a capsule.” The findings? Sixty-four percent had less than 1% of the ingredient on the label. Some had none at all.
😳 People were paying $80 a month for rice powder.
When NR arrived on the market, many thought it would be different. But by 2025, tests showed the same story: only 13% of NR products matched their labels. The rest were underdosed or total fraud.
⚡ What was sold as cutting-edge science turned out to be an expensive placebo.
When “Natural” Becomes Dangerous
Can natural supplements be harmful for aging?
Yes, some natural anti aging supplements have been linked to deadly toxins.
In 2024, VidaSlim branded itself as a natural weight-loss product. But FDA testing revealed it contained yellow oleander, a plant toxin that can cause fatal heart problems.
☠️ Customers thought they were buying a gentle herbal booster. Instead, they were swallowing poison.
The same year, Amazon shoppers bought a supplement called Umary. What they really got was a hidden cocktail of prescription drugs: diclofenac, a strong painkiller, and omeprazole, a stomach acid drug.
💊 The risks ranged from internal bleeding to heart attack. What looked like wellness was actually a prescription mix sold without warning.
Exploiting Fear
Did supplements really claim to cure COVID?
Yes, some companies falsely marketed anti aging supplements as COVID cures.
During the peak of COVID-19 in 2020, Alive By Nature pushed NMN as a cure. There was no evidence at all. The FDA eventually issued a warning, but only after people had already bought in.
🦠 Fear was turned into profit, at a time when people were most vulnerable.
Even Big Retailers Lied
Are supplements from big retailers safe?
Not always, even major chains have sold fake products.
In 2015, Walmart, GNC, Walgreens, and Target were caught in a major investigation. Lab tests revealed that 79% of their herbal supplements didn’t even contain the herbs on the label.
🌱 Instead, they were filled with rice, beans, and random plants. Empty promises sold in glossy bottles.
Why This Keeps Happening
The problem isn’t just bad actors. It’s the system.
Why are anti aging supplements not regulated like drugs?
Because supplements can be sold first and tested later, unlike medicines that need pre-approval.
Unlike pharmaceuticals, supplements don’t need to prove purity or dosage before hitting the shelves. Companies can launch products without evidence. Regulators usually only step in after someone gets hurt.
How to Protect Yourself
After a decade of scandals, one lesson is clear: trust data, not labels.
✅ Only buy from companies that publish third-party lab results for every batch
✅ Avoid “proprietary blends” that hide doses
✅ Look for partnerships with universities or researchers
A few companies have started to raise the standard. DoNotAge, for example, makes independent lab tests public.
Still, even with better supplement companies, lifestyle remains more powerful than pills. Exercise, sleep, nutrition, and stress management do more to slow aging than any capsule ever sold.
Proof, Not Promises
How can you know if anti aging supplements actually work?
By measuring your biological age, not by trusting a label.
Supplements should help energy, resilience, and healthy aging. But the only way to know if they work is through biological age testing. DNA methylation and glycan-based tests can show whether your body is truly aging slower. See our full comparison of the best biological age tests
The Real Lesson
Anti aging supplements promised energy, clarity, and longevity. Too often, they gave us fraud, toxins, and disappointment instead.
💡 After ten years of scandals, the conclusion is simple: don’t trust the label, trust the proof. Your health deserves more than empty capsules.
FAQ
Are most anti aging supplements really scams?
Yes. Independent tests show that many anti aging supplements don’t contain the ingredients listed on their labels, making them ineffective or even dangerous.
What are the risks of fake anti aging supplements?
Risks range from wasting money on useless fillers to serious health problems from hidden drugs or toxic plants. Some products have caused hospitalizations.
How can I tell if an anti aging supplement is real?
Look for brands that publish third-party lab results for every batch, avoid “proprietary blends” that hide doses, and check for partnerships with universities or research labs.
Do natural anti aging supplements work better than synthetic ones?
Not necessarily. Some “natural” products have been found to contain harmful toxins. The effectiveness depends on proper testing, not whether the ingredient is natural or synthetic.
What is the best way to measure if supplements are helping with aging?
The only reliable way is to test your biological age with DNA methylation or glycan-based aging tests. This shows whether your body is truly aging slower, beyond marketing claims.
Sources
- ChromaDex NMN Analysis (2021)
- ChromaDex NR Analysis (2025)
- NutraIngredients Coverage of NMN Testing (2022)
- VidaSlim Recall — FDA Finds Toxic Yellow Oleander (Newsweek, 2024)
- Umary Recall — Hidden Prescription Drugs (Miami Herald, 2024)
- FDA Warning Letter to Alive By Nature (2020)
- NY Attorney General Herbal Supplement Investigation (2015)
Written by the editorial team at Simply Anti-Aging.
Reviewed for accuracy and updated in August 2025.
