David Beckham launches £65 supplement that claims to give skin and hair ‘glow’ – but experts warn of potential risks

Experts today raised concerns about David Beckham’s new wellness brand and warned the supplements were “pointless nonsense”.

The all-in-one ‘Daily Ultimate Essentials’ powder claims to replace the need for 16 daily supplements with its 92 nutrient-rich ingredients.

Ex-footballer-owned brand IM8 says £65 product also up energy and digestion, in addition to giving shine to hair, skin and nails.

Their ‘Daily Ultimate Longevity’ capsule, which costs £61, is also designed to ‘support healthy ageing’.

But today experts labeled the products “yet another celebrity-endorsed supplement” and said the brand makes “questionable claims” based purely on “limited information from poorly conducted studies.”

Taken in excess, “it is unlikely to be harmful,” they warned.

However, the amounts of ingredients used in both products are not listed, putting some allergy sufferers at risk, they added, and the benefits of some ingredients even counteract each other.

Crafted by a team that includes a former NASA chief scientist, IM8 claims to be “an unparalleled collaboration between academia, medicine and space science.”

Buying the two products together, dubbed ‘The Beckham Stack’, will set you back £100.

Among the 92 ingredients in ‘Daily Ultimate Essentials’ is acai and a powdered berry blend that includes a blend of pre, pro and postbiotics for gut health, as well as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, superfoods, greens and adaptogens, Herbs that are believed to help stress levels.

The second product designed to increase longevity contains a “powerful formula” of ingredients that target “the 11 characteristics of aging” and “improve cellular health’.

This includes copper to help “blood vessel health, immune function and iron absorption” and the popular vitamin B12 supplement to help “energy production and cognitive function.”

But Professor Edzard Ernst, a world-renowned expert in complementary medicine at the University of Exeter, told MailOnline: “These products will sell well, not because they do wonders but because Beckham promotes them.”

‘Supporting your “natural energy” and optimizing “your body’s digestive health” are terms that may be good advertising but, scientifically, they make no sense.’

Professor Penny Ward, Pharmaceutical Medicines Expert at Kings College LondonHe also said: ‘TYours appears to be another celebrity-endorsed nutritional supplement that makes questionable claims.

“These are based on limited information from poorly conducted studies and largely anecdotal statements; unfortunately, this is often the case with these products.”

She told MailOnline: ‘That said, the contents are unlikely to be harmful, although some people may react if they have previous allergies to any of the ingredients.

‘There is a rare disease called Wilson’s disease that causes copper overload and people who suffer from it may need to avoid it, as well as any food or medicine containing copper.

“It is difficult to know precisely how these supplements might affect people, as the actual amounts of each ingredient in each ‘dose’ are not even cited.

While copper has long been considered safe to consume at low levels for many, excessive buildup can lead to poisoning, a serious problem if left untreated.

Symptoms can range from abdominal cramps and vomiting to jaundice, muscle stiffness and even liver failure.

Meanwhile, Professor Gunter Kuhnle, an expert in nutrition and food science at the University of Reading, told MailOnline he was “sceptical” about the products given it is unclear how much of each ingredient is present.

Certain amounts of calcium phosphate, present in both supplements, for example, can render zinc, another ingredient, useless.

Professor Kuhnle added: «It is also not clear whether the body absorbs them or not.

“The claims on the label are hyperbole and I assume they are written with a regulator in mind, so use the most pompous description allowed.”

IM8 stated that a 12-week clinical trial at the San Francisco Research Institute showed promising initial results.

It was sponsored by Prenetics, a US-based health research firm and another co-founder of IM8 along with Beckham.

After 30 days, 93 percent of participants reported higher energy levels, while 73 percent experienced “better endurance during workouts.”

Six in ten also noticed improvements in both digestion and the health of their hair, skin and nails, they said.

But the studylinked on the IM8 website and published at the National Library of Medicine, does not yet show any results online.

Instead, the library states that “the results of the study have not been sent.”

Professor Kuhnle told MailOnline: “It’s interesting to see a big discrepancy between what the website claims about these trials and what the trial register says.”

“The website states that a wide range of parameters will be measured.”

bBut study details available in the library show that its measures include BMI, micronutrient intake, and self-reported energy levels.

“Self-assessment is very questionable because people often do not remember correctly what they ate,” Professor Kuhnle added.

Dr Adam Collins, associate professor of nutrition at the University of Surrey, also told MailOnline: ‘Claims about increased energy levels and optimized digestive health are very subjective, and improvements in these areas are difficult to measure scientifically.

“Changes in the gut microbiome, for example, may be temporary and largely reflect recent dietary intake.

‘The clinical trial for these products is still in its recruitment stage, meaning we lack strong evidence to support their effectiveness.

“Although there are some reputable scientists involved in the development of these supplements, claims about their effects should be approached with caution.”

His team includes Mayo Clinic oncologist Dr. Dawn Mussallem, former NASA chief scientist Dr. James Green, and founding director of the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, Dr. David Katz, based in USA.

“There are clearly some big names, but while this is good for marketing, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the ingredient actually works,” Professor Kuhnle said.

In an Instagram post, Beckham said: “Although I have retired from the game, I want to stay healthy and active.”

‘I was looking for a product that I could trust and that would fit easily into my daily routine.

‘I have tried many vitamins and supplements over the years, but it was difficult to find a product that gave me everything I need.

‘Health and wellbeing have always been a priority for me, both on and off the field.

‘We wanted to create something that would help people feel better every day, and with IM8 we have achieved that.

‘We’ve brought together a world-leading team of scientists to create something unique and effective, and I’m excited to share it with the world.

‘I have personally experienced the positive impact IM8 has had on my health, energy and concentration.

“Together with Prenetics, IM8 is harnessing the best of science and innovation, helping people around the world take charge of their health and well-being.”