Anvisa clarifies that phosphoethanolamine is not approved for cancer treatment.

The substance is not permitted or registered as a food supplement or medicine in Brazil.

Anvisa informs the population that phosphoethanolamine is not authorized or registered as a food supplement or medicine in Brazil. The commercialization of this substance can only occur with the appropriate approval of the Agency, as required by Brazilian legislation and international standards.

Risks of Using Unregistered Products

The use of products not registered by Anvisa for cancer treatment is extremely risky. These products can negatively interfere with conventional therapies and pose a risk of contamination. Patients must not abandon established medical treatments in favor of unauthorized therapies of unknown efficacy, such as phosphoethanolamine.

Importance of Clinical Research

Without adequate clinical research and proper registration, phosphoethanolamine cannot be considered safe or effective for treating cancer. Medical science is based on rigorous data and evidence, and criteria for approving new treatments are established to protect the health of patients.

Rules for Food Supplements

Phosphoethanolamine also does not have approval from Anvisa as a food supplement. For supplements containing this substance to be commercialized, they cannot make therapeutic or medicinal claims, according to Article 56 of Decree-Law 986/1969. This measure aims to prevent consumers from being deceived by products that promise cures without scientific proof.

Irregular Advertisements

Advertisements on social media suggesting that phosphoethanolamine fights cancer or any other disease, attributing functional or health properties to it, are irregular and misleading.

Commitment to Public Health

Anvisa actively participates in debates on the release of substances without appropriate approval, in alignment with international practices and Brazil’s efforts to maintain a modern and safe regulatory environment. Since the creation of the Agency by Law 9,782, in 1999, Anvisa’s focus has been protecting the health of the population. Anvisa supports innovations and new products, but reinforces that protecting public health is its main mission. For phosphoethanolamine to be sold in Brazil, its producers must submit a registration application with quality, safety, and efficacy tests for analysis.

Because it is a substance that does not have a regularized product with the Agency, the term phosphoethanolamine is present in the Epinet search list (Exclusion of Irregular Products from the Internet). Since the creation of this tool in 2021, 57 incidents have already been recorded, with a success rate in removing these products from the internet of 97.73%.

Source: Anvisa