What Is Behind the Bloom Supplement Controversy?

Bloom supplements seem to be all over the internet, with haters and fans sharing their opinions on social networks. Let's examine whether these products are worth the hype — or the controversy.

Bloom Nutrition, the supplement company founded in 2019 by fitness influencer Mari Llewellyn, has gained considerable traction in recent years due to influencer marketing.

Llewellyn, who rose to fame while documenting her journey of losing 90 pounds, has 1.5 million followers on Instagram, and her products are widely promoted by other social media personalities.

Critics say such endorsements may lack transparency because some influencers display Bloom products in their videos without clearly disclosing that they are paid advertisements.

Instead, they add the hashtag #bloompartner at the end of captions. The criticism can go as far as shaming influencers promoting Bloom products, calling them 'sell-outs.'

Some experts point to the potentially unsubstantiated claims made by the brand.

However, the problems with a lack of transparency and unfounded claims are not new in the wellness world. A 2023 study in sports supplements found that as many as 89% of products did not accurately declare the ingredients.

Can the Bloom supplement improve digestion?

The supplement, which comes in eight flavors, is marketed to relieve bloat, support digestion, and promote energy.

To determine if this is the case for Bloom Nutrition, Gabija Dimšaitė, BSc, a pharmacologist and former health content researcher at WellnessPulse, reviewed one of its popular supplements, Greens & Superfoods.

While fiber can help with bloating in cases like constipation, it can also worsen bloating depending on the situation and type of fiber consumed, Dimšaitė says. However, 2 grams of fiber, as found in the product, is extremely low; therefore, incorporating it into the diet is unlikely to cause bloating.

According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, adults need between 22 to 34 grams of fiber daily, which is primarily found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

The supplement also contains digestive enzymes, proteins the body makes to break down food, and probiotics, live bacteria that can improve the gut microbiome. When combined with increased fiber intake, they have the potential to support digestion.

Dimšaitė calls the claim that the supplement promotes energy somewhat exaggerated, as it does not entail any specifics, the trend observed with many other supplements.

Gabija Dimšaitė, BSc

Pharmacologist and health content researcher

In theory, if someone has a poor and unbalanced diet, taking a supplement like this, which provides a broader range of antioxidants and powdered "fruits and veggies" might help them feel slightly better and more energetic.

The supplements' iron and sodium amounts can contribute to the recommended daily values of these nutrients, but only by very small percentages.

The problem with proprietary blends

The supplement contains seven proprietary blends, which are collections of ingredients unique to a particular product. The label of a proprietary blend provides the total quantity of the blend per serving but not the amounts of each ingredient.

The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 allowed such blends in dietary supplements to protect their confidential formulas. However, critics say that this prevents buyers from knowing whether the product contains therapeutic levels of ingredients.

Dr. Mahtab Jafari, a professor of pharmaceutical sciences at UC Irvine and the author of the book about dietary supplement safety, believes the label should include the exact amount of each ingredient because the lay public may not know their pharmacological properties.

For instance, proprietary blends can include stimulants, such as caffeine, Yohimbe, and phenethylamines, as well illegal ingredients like DMAA, an amphetamine derivative, and a carcinogen DMBA.

Some supplements are adulterated with these illegal ingredients to have efficacy. So I always recommend that consumers look for third-party certifications on all the labels of supplements, especially the ones with proprietary blends.

Mahtab Jafari, PhD

Greens & Superfoods supplement is third-party tested and made in certified Good Manufacturing Practices facilities, ruling out the risk of contamination with illegal substances.

However, independent testing doesn't solve all problems with proprietary blends. The combination of ingredients in them may not have been studied together, making it unclear whether they are safe or effective for specific health goals, Dimšaitė says.

Additionally, herbal or nutrient combinations can interact with medications or one another, potentially impacting the safety and efficacy of bioactive compounds. For example, ashwagandha, an evergreen shrub that reduces anxiety, was found in the product and can interact with diabetes and high blood pressure medications, among others.

Meanwhile, overlapping nutrient intake can also lead to excessive consumption, particularly if other supplements or fortified foods are taken simultaneously.

Digestive enzymes may mask health issues

One proprietary blend in the supplement is made of five digestive enzymes. Some health conditions, medical treatments, and lifestyle choices can lead to digestive enzyme insufficiency, which is treated with prescription drugs.

Jafari says people without insufficiency don't benefit from digestive enzyme supplements unless they are used occasionally, for instance, in the case of indigestion or bloating after a large complex meal.

When used in excess, such supplements can even mask illnesses like irritable bowel syndrome, food intolerance, and gut dysbiosis, which is the imbalance of the gut bacteria.

"Perhaps the most serious issue is when digestive enzymes are used in excess, and in that case, they can downregulate the body's production of digestive enzymes," Jafari says, adding that studies on this issue in healthy people are limited.

Federal government calls for more transparency

The proliferation of influencer marketing has made it easier to make misleading claims about dietary supplements. For example, a 2019 study that looked at the credibility of U.K. social media influencers with weight management blogs found that most of them provided inaccurate health information or presented opinions as fact.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires social media influencers to disclose when they have any financial relationship with a brand, including even those cases when the brand doesn't ask to mention its product.

According to the FTC guidelines, disclosure should appear in a place that is hard to miss. For example, when an endorsement is made in a video, the disclosure should also be in the video and not just in the description uploaded with it.

Bloom's Greens & Superfoods is unlikely to pose health risks, but it may not necessarily be a miracle cure for bloating and other digestive issues. If you have medical conditions and take any medications, discuss the use of the supplement with your healthcare provider.