C9-T11: Miracle Supplement or Marketing Ploy?

Have you seen ads for a “breakthrough” supplement called C9-T11? Is there any truth to the hype of this product?

The Ad & Website
We spotted an ad for C9-T11 the other day which promoted “Shocking Muscle Growth” and claimed “Rare plant increases muscle growth 700% – Should it be banned?” and linked to Hconfidential.com. This website was merely a one-page sales pitch which takes you to c9t11.com, where more claims of astonishing muscle gains, testimonials, and of course risk of the product being sold out. The entire website has all of the hallmarks of the standard one-page rambling sales pitch.

C9-T11 = CLA
The primary ingredient in C9-T11 is Conjugated Linoleic Acid, known as CLA. This is a relatively common supplement  that has been sold under various names for many years. Most vendors offer this supplement for a much lower cost than the C9-T11 brand.

It should also be noted that the ad claimed that C9-T11 is related to a “rare plant” when in fact CLA is derived primarily from dairy products, not plants.

So we have already determined that C9-T11 is not some rare, new plant extract, but a common supplement known as CLA, being packaged under a fancy brand name. Now let’s take a look at the price of C9-T11 compared to other CLA products.

Cost Comparison
Their website, as of this writing, offers a “sale” of 4 bottles (buy 3, get one free) of sixty 1000mg capsules for $111, with a retail price of $319.80. That equates to a price of $27.75 per bottle at this “sale” price, or $79.95 retail price each.

At GNC, we found 90 1000mg softgels for $19.99 per bottle, retailing for $25.99 – and no requirement to buy 4. At Amazon, we found many bottles of CLA, ranging from 800-1200mg doses, all for under $20 – again, with no requirement to buy 4 bottles.

The Good and The Bad of CLA
There have been studies that do in fact show some promise of CLA in battling overall fat mass, as well as possibly containing anticancer properties. There are also possible adverse effects, particularly with an increased risk of developing diabetes, particularly for overweight people. It has also been claimed that taking CLA without lifting weights can lead to weight gain.

See our full article on the side effects of CLA here.

Bottom Line
C9-T11 appears to be no more than a fancy repackaging of a common, inexpensive supplement known as CLA.

We want to hear from you. What are your experiences with CLA or C9-T11?