Independent comparative analyses of of grape seed extracts and branded French pine bark extract with Flavay

Independent Comparative Analyses Results

Special Report

Independent Comparative Analyses of Grape Seed Extracts, French Pine Bark Extract, and Flavay®

Flavay® is THE ORIGINAL small-cluster of proanthocyanidins complex derived from Vitis vinifera (species of grape seeds) and Pinus maritima (French maritime pine bark). With more than 70 years of scientific research, patents and clinical studies, rigorous manufacturing controls and comprehensive identity-testing to safeguard quality and consistency, Flavay® is the name you can trust for THE ORIGINAL oligomeric proanthocyanidins complex which has been continuously manufactured in France since 1950.

The marketplace is full of imitations,
various "extracts" and derivative forms and blends.

Unfortunately, many have used our impressive history in unauthorized ways to promote a myriad of derivations. In fact, the other leading brand French pine bark extract (product sample #14, below) is an offshoot. Flavay® is THE ORIGINAL in the "OPCs" category and remains unsurpassed when compared to other leading brands.

The following data was extracted from third-party analyses that were conducted for use in litigation against the other leading brand of French pine bark extract. The highest scientific and legal standards were used.

Independent Lab Report
Results and Conclusions

A highly-qualified, independent American Laboratory performed five analytical methods to put in qualitative perspective the differences between Flavay® (extracted from both vitis vinifera grape seeds and French Maritime pine bark), the other leading brand of French pine bark extract (sample #14) and ten grape seed extracts in the market. Below are the results of these studies.

Electro-Chemical Detection
Antioxidant Activity Test

How it works: High performance liquid chromatography with coulometric electrochemical detection (ECA) separates and quantifies compounds which donate electrons to protect the body from free radical attack. During ECA analysis, electrons produce electrical currents recorded as peaks on a 16-channel chromatogram scale. Higher peaks indicate more antioxidant protection, and non-antioxidant compounds are identified by a flat-line of inactivity.

Chromatograms

The following ECA chromatograms compare Flavay® to the other leading brand French pine bark extract. Test conditions and amounts of samples were identical. Results are displayed on the same scale. (Like a fingerprint, both samples exhibit comparable positions in the peaks, confirming that both samples originate from similar source plant materials.)

Flavay French pine bark, sample #6

Flavay® scores the highest both as an antioxidant and as a free radical scavenger.

the other leading French pine bark, sample #14

[Above:] The similar fingerprints indicate the samples originate from a similar source plant materials, but use different extraction protocols. Flavay® scores the highest as an antioxidant—demonstrating its superior free radical scavenging effect.

The other leading brand pine bark extract (sample #14) has significantly lower amounts of antioxidant compounds per unit weight. The rest of the sample is likely to be non-antioxidant inert material.

Comparing Flavay® to 10 Grape Seed Extracts
and the other leading French Pine Bark Extract

The following Electrochemical Antioxidant (ECA) Activity Tests compare Flavay® to 10 grape seed extract products and to the other leading brand French pine bark extract. Test conditions and amounts of samples were identical. Relative values are displayed on the same scale.

Electrochemical Antioxidant Activity Test. Relative values of Flavay compared to 10 grape seed extract samples and another leading French pine bark extract, sample #14.

[Above:] The ECA test compares the antioxidant activity of the 14 test samples. The ECA test does not measure bioavailability, nor does it indicate what type of molecules were tested.

NO OPCs were detected in Grape Seed Extract #13

Pro-oxidant activity was discovered in a commercially-produced "grape seed extract," causing researchers to express caution about its safety and question its benefits. (187)

Bioflavonoids sold in high doses, including "grape seed extracts" are "likely to make you sick."

—Martyn T. Smith, et al., "Beware of plant supplements called flavonoids; they could make you sick, warn UC Berkeley public health experts." Free Radical Bio. & Med.; 2000. (194)

Comparative analyses conducted at the University of British Columbia found commercially-produced proanthocyanidins "differed substantially... shown to be only 7.2% similar... raising questions about its quantification in units of [antioxidant] activity" and confirming there is no standard for proanthocyanidins in the marketplace. (179)

Quality and Purity Tests

How it works: Solubility tests measure quality and purity. Products are dissolved in three different test liquids (methanol, propanol-2 and ethanol), and then the limpidity (clearness, transparency) of the solutions result in a simple and easy-to-measure indicator of quality and purity.

Insolubles are an indicator of low quality and/or production problems.

Solubility Test Results

Percentages of Insolubles
Quantity of sample Flavay® French pine bark
(sample #6)
other brand French pine bark extract
(sample #14)
2% in methanol

0%

0%

1% in propanol-2

0%

32.6% FAIL

1% in ethanol

0%

2.7% FAIL

Flavay® contains no insolubles.

Flavay® remained perfectly soluble and limpid (clear), indicating purity and quality.

The other brand French pine bark fails.

The other brand French pine bark extract (sample #14) was found to contain high amounts of insolubles as it failed to fully dissolve, indicating poor quality and contamination (probably due to its extraction process).

The other leading brand only partially dissolves, indicating poor quality and contamination.

All the tests confirm the other leading French pine bark extract is in the mediocre category—both for poor antioxidant performance and lack of purity.

Beware of Inferior and Unsafe Imitations and Derivatives

Consumers need to know that the marketplace is full of imitations, offshoots and derivatives of scientifically-proven natural products. As demonstrated above, this is especially important in the "grape seed extract" and "pine bark extract" category.

Without a scientific laboratory, it's practically impossible for retailers and consumers to distinguish inferior so-called "OPCs" products in the marketplace. Specialized tests were needed to discover there were no OPCs in a leading American brand of grape seed extract that's wrongly labeled and aggressively marketed as a branded OPCs product. All of this proves that consumers cannot be assured of the quality, bioavailability and safety of product labeled as "OPCs" or "grape seed extract" or "pine bark extract."

All of this proves that consumers cannot be assured of the quality, bioavailability and safety of product labeled as "OPCs" or "grape seed extract" or "pine bark extract."

The Original and Only True Standard
for Proanthocyanidins Since 1947

Flavay - International and U.S. Patents and Clinically Proven

Patented Manufacturing Processes

Authenticity ∙ Purity ∙ Effectiveness

More than 70 years of solid scientific research, patents and clinical studies, rigorous manufacturing controls and comprehensive identity-testing safeguard quality and consistency of Flavay®.

Flavay® is the name you can trust for the original, patented and perfected, pure and unadulterated, small-cluster oligomeric proanthocyanidins complex manufactured in France where it has been tested as a medicine for safety and validated by the French Ministry of Health and approved for over-the-counter use.

Flavay is terrific. I've had concentration problems, well, for 60 years, all my life. I couldn't have direct eye contact with people when talking with them because I couldn't concentrate. I told jokes but couldn't make people laugh because I couldn't keep my concentration. Now I can look people in the eye. Now I can make people laugh! I don't know how it works but it works and it is terrific. —Mr. Wayne M.*

My 13-year-old son started taking Flavay for ADD. He came home from school saying, ‘Mom! I felt so smart! I answered all of the questions!’ The teacher backed him up, saying he got every answer correct. So I will keep giving him Flavay. —Ms. Tammy A.*

Flavay works well with my son (6 years-old, with Autism). He's doing work at the proper level, anger issues are gone. —Ms. O.F.*

Thank you so much for all your help. Thank you for also improving my son's lifestyle (taking Flavay). —Ms. R.D.*

I've got to have my Flavay. Keeps me going. Keeps me young. 4 Flavay every day. —Mr. C.S.*

My grandson asked to start taking Flavay again. He is 14 years old and has ADD and anxiety and pain going down his arms and so Flavay must have been helping him because he is asking for it. (Follow-up:) Flavay is working! My grandson is doing so much better in school. No more bad text messages from his teacher. I am so grateful. I'm so happy. —Ms. M.P.*

I’ve noticed I’m more mentally alert and more productive since taking Flavay. —Ms. S.V.*

I have found Flavay to be a wonderful product. I buy it for my mum's eyes, but we also notice it improves her cognitive function. —Ms. N.S.*

My joints aren't hurting and my back feels better and I'm even able to work better. I'll tell you, I can feel Flavay! —Ms. C.V.*

I have lupus and taking Flavay enables me to move. I'm not able to do without it. I've been taking it for more than a decade and my skin looks younger, in fact people think I'm my kid's sister. —Ms. L.B.*

After about 6 to 9 weeks it made a profound difference. I’ve lost inches in swelling. I cannot say enough about Flavay! Over the years, I’ve stopped and started again and found for vascular and lymphatic edema, nothing is better than Flavay. —Ms. Marie D.*

I just want to say that I love Flavay. When I stop taking it, the pain comes right back. —Mr. Mark H.*

I feel flexibility, while tying my shoes, wow! The simple things work better. I feel a general sense of wellbeing with Flavay. —Mr. Peter M.*

I love your product called Flavay. I feel it does the job! —Mr. Robert B.*

I've got to have my Flavay. Keeps me going. Keeps me young. 4 Flavay every day. —Mr. C.S.*

I had a terrible accident where I fell 20 feet and injured my back and it was really bad. I went from a wheelchair to a cane and now I'm mowing the lawn. Flavay shrank the protruding disk so I could stand up straight again. I've referred many many people to your products, and it worked for them too. —Mr. Dave T.*

Flavay is a product I cannot stop taking. When I stopped taking it for a couple of weeks, my neuropathy and arthritis pain come raging back. So I started again on Flavay and the pain is almost completely gone. —Ms. Elsa D.*

I started taking Flavay for arthritis pain and I feel so much better! I'm so thrilled! —Ms. Susan S.*

After taking Flavay for just a week, my sister is doing things she couldn’t do before, such as bending over to pick things up off the floor. —Mr. Joe C.*

The puffiness in my legs is so much better. Oh my gosh this Flavay is great! —Ms. Joan G.*

Your Flavay really helps my husband's chronic pain syndrome and we're almost out! Please ship asap! —Ms. S.W.*

I was taking Flavay for pain and mobility. Now I take Flavay as much for the benefits to my skin as for joint pain. —Mr. H.S.*

Oh, I just love Flavay! I feel so much better! —Ms. Y.L.*

I can’t even tell you how much I appreciated finding your product Flavay and the incredible results and relief I have gotten from taking it... I skeptically ordered two bottles... And low and behold, it works. I read that I could take more than 2 that some people had to take 4 or 5 at a time, so I did, hoping and praying, and my prayers were answered. To say thank-you is an understatement, and I have been able to stop all other pain meds. I honestly was on a one way road to nowhere, now I am free again..a feeling I haven’t had in over 12 years. Thank-you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! —Ms. Beth B.*

I am a nutritionist and I have referred two of my clients to take Flavay. Both of my clients have raved about the product. One of my clients has a problem with circulation and she said Flavay really works for her. —Mr. John H.*

I've got to have my Flavay. Keeps me going. Keeps me young. 4 Flavay every day. —Mr. C.S.*

My neighbor is so pleased with Flavay telling me how much better she feels. She has heart problems and taking 2 Flavay per day she has so much energy again and her color is better too. —Ms. C.V.*

I have tried everything else and your Flavay really helps my eyesight. I was having trouble seeing at night and now I don't have that problem anymore. I love Flavay. I also had a blown knee that they had wanted to do surgery on and now I don't have to. I love the Flavay, I really like it! —Ms. T.K.*

I start feeling pain in my joints after a few days of not taking Flavay. —Mr. Mark H.*

My daughter has rheumatoid arthritis in her knees and years ago Flavay had really helped her, so I want to order some more for her. —Ms. K.M.*

For several years I took Flavay for fibromyalgia and it really worked and I felt so much better. Now I need to start again. —Ms. C.H.*

I love your product called Flavay. I feel it does the job! —Mr. R.H.*

I have had joint pain in my hips for a couple years. I have been taking Flavay for about 30 days and I realized I don't have hip joint pain when laying down or sitting for long periods! I will continue to take it daily. —Ms. M.H.*

Thank you so much. I'm desperate!! 😊 Haven't taken them (Flavay and Flavay Plus) for a few months and can tell the difference! —Ms. S.A.*

Since I started taking Flavay I felt so good and I'm hoping to keep getting better. I started taking Flavay for my knee but since I started taking Flavay I've cut way back on asthma meds. The medication affects my brain badly. I want to control asthma instead of it controlling me. Flavay is a big help, I am so happy! —Ms. J.I.*

I began giving my daughter Flavay Plus for ADD and then I decided to add Flavay for my daughter's allergies. I want to tell you, the Flavay works like a charm for my daughter’s allergies. She is 6 years old, and when we ran out of capsules this week she told me, “You've got to get more Flavay!” —Ms. S.S.*

I just wanted to write and say WOW... I was so skeptical of your product at first and really had a negative attitude when I started taking it. I am a 40 yr old female with anxiety, mild ADHD and a host of arthritis and inflammation issues. It was a struggle for me to get out of bed everyday and focus on what needed to be done. I had no focus, no attention span, no energy, and no desire to do anything. About a week into taking Flavay and Flavay Plus, I started noticing that I could think a little clearer. My rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups weren't so bad, though I still have them. feeling better, and having more energy. I never thought I would feel like my old self again. I don't know exactly how you do it,...but this stuff works! I am telling all of my friends to try it because you've given me my old life back! Thank you! —Ms. L.A.*

I am not one to review products, but i can't deny some of the benefits i've experienced using both your biomor curcumin and flavay products. I've been taking both for a few months now, and the two major benefits i've noticed are 1) joint strength and mobility (for workouts) as i am lifting much heavier weights without injury 2) I am a paroxsymal Afib sufferer, and my episodes have gone from 2-3 per week down to zero (most weeks). This can't just be a coincidence. I think there is definitely something in your formulas that stop inflammation and get your body in balance and healing itself. —Mr. B.V.W.*

I damaged both knees in a motor cycle accident, (mostly pain and swelling ). I don't even think about my knees anymore , its been that long since they have caused me any pain. I have been taking Flavay for 3 Years, I had my right wrist diogonsed with carpal tunnel syndrome, ( hand and arm going to sleep) after having surgery on the left arm years ago, did not have the time for surgery( 3 week recovery) but since Flavay no more pain , the pin and needles are gone so I don't wake up in the middle of the night with my arms and hands bothering me. The amazing thing about this product it can take care of problems you just forgot you had, (or just learned to live with) . Now forget about them because the pain is gone. —Mr. B. Hall*

I really notice a difference when taking Flavay Plus, both in inflammation and in my stress levels. —Ms. W.L.*

I'm real happy about Flavay. It seems to have a positive effect on my lymph system. —Ms. R.M.*

I just love Flavay. If you ever need do a commercial, I’ll be happy to do it! —Ms. Linda M.*