Met-Rx

MET-Rx is an American brand of nutritional supplements that revolutionized the world of bodybuilding and athletics through the introduction of meal replacement powders, commonly known as MRPs. Pioneered by Dr. A Scott Connelly, the brand has faced various controversies but has nonetheless left an indelible mark on the sports nutrition industry.

Company History

MET-Rx, Inc. was founded in California by Dr. A Scott Connelly. Initially, Connelly, an anesthesiologist, designed the original MET-Rx product with the intent of preserving muscle mass in critically ill patients. Recognizing its potential, he partnered with Bill Phillips, and together they introduced the product to the bodybuilding and athletic communities. Their partnership transformed MET-Rx from a niche product into a multi-million dollar brand. In 2000, Connelly sold his stake in the company to Rexall Sundown for a whopping $108 million. Today, MET-Rx is a subsidiary of NBTY.

Products

Original MET-Rx MRP

The initial MET-Rx meal replacement product was a two-part formula. Users mixed two scoops of MET-Rx "base" with one scoop of MET-Rx "plus", either in milk or water. Owing to its popularity, the two canisters were eventually merged into a single formula, excluding the micellar casein component. Thus, the original METAMYOSYN blend was phased out and is no longer found in current MET-Rx offerings.

The MET-Rx products today, especially meal replacements and protein powders, feature their proprietary blend called METAMYOSYN. This blend incorporates ingredients such as whey protein, calcium caseinate, egg albumen, and milk protein isolate. These core components are enriched with maltodextrin, essential vitamins, minerals, and added amino acids.

Controversies

An investigative segment by NBC DateLine on October 6, 1996, titled "Hype in a Bottle", highlighted MET-Rx's failure to produce peer-reviewed studies to back its advertising assertions. The "MET-Rx Substantiation Report" of 1993 raised eyebrows for claiming that several Dallas Cowboys players experienced significant lean body mass gains within a short period using MET-Rx. This led to allegations of misrepresentation involving Cooper Clinic in Dallas, Texas, resulting in a cease and desist order against MET-Rx.

Further scrutiny came in February 1995 when the Penn State Sports Medicine Newsletter published a piece that questioned MET-Rx's claims. The National Council Against Health Fraud also critiqued the brand, emphasizing that their marketing relied heavily on celebrity endorsements rather than scientific evidence.

Marketing and Endorsements

MET-Rx has been a significant presence on television, most notably sponsoring the MET-Rx World's Strongest Man competition. As of 2004, the brand boasts endorsements from over 50 elite athletes. The company also collaborates with numerous athletes, bodybuilders, and celebrities across different disciplines.

Early promotional materials touted Connelly as a 1973 graduate of Harvard Medical School and a faculty member at Stanford Medical School from 1979 to 1986. However, these claims were later clarified. Connelly was a post-grad "special student" at Harvard during the 1973-74 academic year and earned his Doctor of Medicine from Boston University School of Medicine in 1978. His tenure at Stanford was as an unpaid clinical instructor, not as a regular faculty member.

External links

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