Metabolife

Metabolife International was an American dietary-supplement company headquartered in San Diego, California. It became one of the most prominent sellers of ephedra-based weight-loss products in the United States through Metabolife 356, a supplement containing ephedra alkaloids and marketed through a multilevel-sales structure. The brand's commercial rise was closely tied to the rapid growth of the late-1990s diet-supplement market, when products containing ephedra were promoted for weight reduction, energy, and appetite control. The company was founded by Michael J. Ellis and Michael Blevins. Before entering the supplement business, both men had been arrested in connection with the manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine and later cooperated with federal authorities. Metabolife initially promoted Metabolife 356 as a bodybuilding product, but repositioned it in 1995 as a dieting aid. The product's distribution model encouraged customers and independent sellers to promote and resell it, helping the brand achieve broad visibility and very large annual sales during its peak. Metabolife's growth was accompanied by escalating regulatory and reputational risk. Federal authorities and congressional investigators examined reports of serious adverse events associated with ephedra products, including cardiovascular events, psychosis, and deaths. A clinical study reported increased blood pressure and mild cardiac arrhythmias among users of Metabolife 356, reinforcing concerns about the product's safety. The company also organized and funded lobbying efforts intended to resist tighter controls on ephedra and contributed to political campaigns and lobbying operations. The business subsequently faced several overlapping legal crises. Congressional investigators concluded that Metabolife had received thousands of reports of serious adverse events and had concealed or failed to adequately disclose them. Michael Ellis later pleaded guilty to making a false statement to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration concerning adverse effects associated with the product and received a prison sentence and fine. Separately, Metabolife and individuals connected with it were prosecuted for tax violations. The company pleaded guilty to filing fraudulent tax returns and received a criminal fine, while owner William Bradley pleaded guilty to tax evasion. The FDA ultimately prohibited the sale of dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids in 2004. The prohibition removed Metabolife 356's principal market advantage and sharply weakened the company's business. Facing more than $1 billion in personal-injury claims, Metabolife filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2005. Company property and furnishings were liquidated in 2006, and its remaining non-ephedra assets were acquired by Ideasphere in 2007. Metabolife therefore survives primarily as a historical example of the commercial expansion, regulatory controversy, and litigation risks surrounding stimulant-based dietary supplements rather than as an active consumer brand.

Metabolife emerged from the early American dietary-supplement market and was established by Michael J. Ellis and Michael Blevins. Both founders had previously been arrested in connection with methamphetamine production and distribution and cooperated with federal authorities in exchange for reduced sentences. After Blevins's release, the two entered the supplement business and built a company around stimulant-based products containing ephedra. The company's leading product, Metabolife 356, was manufactured by Chemins. It was initially positioned as a bodybuilding supplement, but Metabolife rebranded it in 1995 as a weight-loss aid. That repositioning aligned the product with the expanding market for over-the-counter diet products. Metabolife used a multilevel-marketing approach in which customers and independent sellers helped promote and distribute the product. This structure gave the brand a large sales force without relying exclusively on conventional retail advertising. During the late 1990s, Metabolife 356 became a major commercial success. The company reported very substantial annual sales, while its product became emblematic of the period's stimulant-based diet-supplement boom. Metabolife also pursued unusually ambitious promotional ideas, including an offer to the Russian government involving the display of its logo on a rocket associated with the International Space Station and the use of its supplement by cosmonauts. The proposal did not become a lasting business platform, but it illustrated the company's aggressive marketing style. At the same time, regulators were receiving reports of serious reactions associated with ephedra products. Reported events included psychosis, heart attack, stroke, diabetic ketoacidosis, and deaths. A clinical trial examining Metabolife 356 found increased blood pressure and mild cardiac arrhythmias, leading researchers to identify serious safety concerns. Metabolife responded not only through product and legal defenses but also through political activity. It helped form the Dietary Supplement Safety and Science Coalition and supported lobbying against stricter regulation. The company and people associated with it contributed to political campaigns and lobbying efforts involving federal and state officials. Regulatory and congressional scrutiny intensified as evidence accumulated. A congressional investigation concluded that Metabolife had received thousands of reports of serious adverse events, including reports involving young and otherwise healthy people, and accused the company of concealing those reports and showing indifference to consumer health. The company also became involved in a separate tax investigation. Federal prosecutors alleged that income had been omitted from tax returns and that offshore accounts, trusts, and concealed cash had been used. Metabolife pleaded guilty to filing fraudulent returns and was fined, while owner William Bradley pleaded guilty to tax evasion and received a prison sentence and probation. After the FDA prohibited the sale of dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids in 2004, Metabolife lost the product category that had driven its growth. Founder Michael Ellis was indicted on charges of making false statements to the FDA and ultimately pleaded guilty to one count. He received a six-month federal prison sentence and a fine. Metabolife then faced more than $1 billion in personal-injury claims and entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2005. Its property and furnishings were liquidated in 2006. Ideasphere acquired its remaining non-ephedra assets for $12 million in 2007, marking the effective end of Metabolife as a major operating brand. Ellis later published a memoir about the company's history in 2008.

• 2008

  Michael Ellis publishes a memoir

  [1]Metabolifeen.wikipedia.org

  Ellis published The Metabolife Story: The Rape of Cinderella, describing his account of the company's history.

• 2007

  Ideasphere acquires remaining non-ephedra assets

  [1]Metabolifeen.wikipedia.org

  Ideasphere acquired Metabolife's remaining non-ephedra assets as the original company was wound down.

• 2006

  Company property is liquidated

  [1]Metabolifeen.wikipedia.org

  Furniture, property, artwork, and other assets were liquidated to compensate creditors and address injury claims.

• 2005

  Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing

  [1]Metabolifeen.wikipedia.org

  The company filed for bankruptcy after the loss of its ephedra business and the accumulation of personal-injury claims.

• 2004

  U.S. ephedra supplement ban takes effect

  [1]Metabolifeen.wikipedia.org

  The FDA banned the sale of dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids, removing Metabolife 356 from its central market.

• 2002

  IRS investigators raid an accountant's office

  [1]Metabolifeen.wikipedia.org

  Investigators seized documents and computer data from the office of accountant Michael Compton during the tax investigation.

• 2000

  David Brown succeeds Michael Ellis as chief executive

  [1]Metabolifeen.wikipedia.org

  Ellis left the chief executive role in September 2000 and was succeeded by David Brown.

• 1995

  Metabolife 356 is repositioned as a diet product

  [1]Metabolifeen.wikipedia.org

  The supplement was shifted from bodybuilding positioning to weight-loss marketing, helping it reach the mass diet-supplement market.

Mass-market weight-management and energy supplementation, distributed through direct selling and multilevel marketing.

• Ephedra-based weight-loss dietary supplement · 1995

  Metabolife 356

  Metabolife 356 was the company's signature product and its principal commercial engine. Manufactured by Chemins, it contained ephedra alkaloids and was promoted first for bodybuilding before being repositioned in 1995 as a dieting aid. Metabolife marketed it through a multilevel-sales structure emphasizing customer and distributor recommendations. The product became associated with claims of weight reduction and increased energy, but clinical and regulatory scrutiny connected ephedra exposure with elevated blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias, and other serious adverse events. Its U.S. sale ended after the FDA's 2004 prohibition on ephedrine-alkaloid dietary supplements.

• Dietary supplements

  Metabolife dietary supplements

  Beyond Metabolife 356, the company marketed dietary-supplement products associated with weight management and stimulant use. The brand's identity was strongly tied to ephedra, so the FDA ban and subsequent litigation substantially undermined the broader product portfolio. The available reference material does not establish a complete list of later non-ephedra products or their individual launch dates.

• Concealment of adverse-event reports

  A congressional investigation found that Metabolife had received thousands of reports of serious adverse events associated with its ephedra products and concluded that the company concealed the reports and acted with indifference toward consumer health.

  Source

• False statements to the FDA

  Founder Michael Ellis ultimately pleaded guilty to one count involving a false statement to the FDA about adverse effects linked to Metabolife 356. He was sentenced to six months in federal prison and fined $20,000.

  Source

• Corporate and executive tax violations

  Metabolife pleaded guilty to filing fraudulent tax returns and received a $600,000 criminal fine. Owner William Bradley separately pleaded guilty to evading millions of dollars in taxes and received imprisonment and probation.

  Source

Read more

• Customer-led multilevel marketing

  United States

  Metabolife recruited customers and independent sellers to advertise and distribute its supplements, particularly Metabolife 356. The model expanded the brand's reach through personal selling and recommendations rather than relying only on conventional retail channels.

  Outcome. The approach contributed to rapid sales growth, but it also amplified scrutiny of the company's marketing and product-safety claims.

  Source
• International Space Station rocket proposal

  United States · Russia

  Metabolife reportedly offered the Russian government $15 million to place its logo on an International Space Station rocket and incorporate its ephedra supplement into cosmonauts' diets.

  Outcome. The proposal did not become an established sponsorship or product program.

  Source

• 2005

  File for Chapter 11 bankruptcyOther

  Background

  The company faced sharply reduced sales after the ephedra ban and more than $1 billion in personal-injury claims.

  Action taken

  Metabolife sought protection under Chapter 11.

  Aftermath

  Assets were liquidated in 2006, and remaining non-ephedra assets were acquired by Ideasphere in 2007.

  Reported acquisition price for remaining non-ephedra assets. $12 million (2007)

  Source

• 2004

  Exit the ephedra supplement marketOther

  Background

  The FDA banned the sale of dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids following extensive safety concerns.

  Action taken

  Metabolife discontinued the product activity centered on Metabolife 356 and faced a major contraction of its business.

  Aftermath

  The loss of its flagship category contributed to bankruptcy proceedings and the later liquidation or sale of remaining assets.

  Source

• 1995

  Reposition Metabolife 356 from bodybuilding to weight lossStrategy

  Background

  The company sought to participate in the expanding market for consumer diet products.

  Action taken

  Metabolife marketed its principal ephedra supplement as a dieting aid rather than primarily as a bodybuilding product.

  Aftermath

  The repositioning helped make Metabolife 356 the company's best-known and most commercially important offering.

  Source

• Lobby against tighter ephedra controlsStrategy

  Background

  The FDA and other authorities were considering stronger regulation as reports accumulated linking ephedra to serious health events.

  Action taken

  Metabolife helped establish the Dietary Supplement Safety and Science Coalition and supported political contributions and lobbying opposing stricter controls.

  Aftermath

  The lobbying became part of later scrutiny of the company's conduct before the FDA ultimately prohibited ephedrine-alkaloid supplements.

  Source

• 2026.11.02

  cbdMD completes acquisition of Twinlab operating assets[2]cbdMD完成对Twinlab经营资产的收购newjerseytelegraph.com

  cbdMD announced that it had completed its acquisition of Twinlab's operating assets, including the Twinlab, Reserveage, Metabolife and ResVitale brands, through a Florida Chapter 727 assignment for the benefit of creditors proceeding.

Read more

1. 1Metabolifeen.wikipedia.org
2. 2cbdMD完成对Twinlab经营资产的收购newjerseytelegraph.com