Instaflex Advanced

“You know, there’s this thing called age and it sucks,” laughs singer Marie Osmond in this ad for the joint supplement Instaflex Advanced. But luckily, Instaflex advertises that its product can help “turn back the clock” by restoring your joints without just covering up the symptoms.

Instaflex touts that its supplement targets the root cause of joint soreness and stiffness with five key ingredients “backed by five clinical studies.” Testimonials in the ad claim the product will make your knees feel better in a week or less.

Not convinced? The company offers a 14-day complimentary sample so you can test it out for yourself.

But consumers should proceed with caution as TINA.org found that Instaflex may not have the science to support its joint health claims and its complimentary sample may in fact cost you money.

The truth about ingredient studies

Although Instaflex claims that its ingredients are backed by clinical studies, the product itself does not appear to have been studied. And studies examining individual ingredients may not be adequate in terms of substantiation.

For one thing, certain ingredients may not be as effective when mixed with other ingredients than they are on their own. The only way to know how different ingredients may interact with each other is to test the product as a whole, not its individual ingredients.

In lieu of product studies, a “science” page on Instaflex’s website summarizes five supplement company-sponsored studies conducted on two of the advertised “key natural ingredients” in Instaflex Advanced – AprèsFlex Boswellia Serrata and UC-II Collagen.

Of note, one of the UC-II Collagen studies reported a number of mild to moderate side effects among the treatment group, despite Instaflex’s claim that the studies found “[n]o adverse reactions or negative effects … associated with these key ingredients.”

Meanwhile, the science page doesn’t offer any research on the three other “key” ingredients in the product: bioperine, resveratrol and turmeric extract (which is the most predominant ingredient in the supplement).

As for testimonials attesting to the product’s effectiveness, the FTC is clear that “advertisers should not make claims through consumer testimonials … that would be deceptive or couldn’t be substantiated if the advertiser made them directly” and that “[c]onsumer endorsements themselves are not competent and reliable scientific evidence.”

The “complimentary” sample

But considering Instaflex offers a complimentary sample, maybe you’re willing to overlook its questionable scientific backup.

However, despite Instaflex claiming in the ad above that consumers can get this sample “just by texting GOWN,” the company discloses in the fine print that the process may not be so simple:

If you’re having trouble reading the disclaimer – which only appears at the very end of the ad, almost a full minute after the complimentary sample is first mentioned – it states:

Terms of Offer: Receive a 14-day sample of Instaflex Advanced, just pay S&P. No obligation if you cancel within 18 days, after which you will be enrolled in our Monthly Subscription Program.

What this means is that the complimentary sample isn’t free and if you don’t cancel in time, you’ll be automatically enrolled in a monthly subscription.

So how much could this cost you?

Consumers who text the number on screen are directed to claim the sample from Instaflex’s deal page, which is filled with additional health claims and testimonials, doctor recommendations, and the purported origins of its “miracle ingredient,” AprèsFlex. But it’s not until the very bottom of this page that Instaflex clarifies the cost of its monthly subscription: $69.99 plus shipping and processing.

Don’t want to be charged this much? The company discloses at checkout that it requires consumers to call or email the company within 18 days of placing the order to cancel.

There does not appear to be a “click to cancel” option. Given the FTC’s new “click to cancel” rule provision, which is set to go into effect soon and requires companies to make it as easy to cancel subscriptions as it is to sign up, Instaflex may want to consider making this cancellation option available to consumers.

Some additional issues? TINA.org found Instaflex using the FDA’s logo in violation of the agency’s logo policy. And a BBB page connected to Instaflex displays a 1-star rating, more than 130 complaints and an alert regarding refund issues reported by consumers.

Instaflex did not respond to TINA.org’s request for comment.

The bottom line

The science behind Instaflex Advanced doesn’t appear to be rock solid and attempting to obtain the “complimentary” sample could cost you money.

It’s worth remembering that the FDA does not approve supplements. So it’s up to consumers to do their own research into these products before making a purchase.

Find more of our coverage on supplements.