San Diego man feels misled after buying ‘stem cell’ pills

A San Diego man says he was misled into buying what he believed were stem-cell treatments, only to later learn the products were common dietary supplements.

Jose Gonzalez, 75, said he was searching for relief from chronic knee pain when he heard a radio advertisement promoting stem cells as a “miracle” solution. He said stem cell injections had helped his pain in the past, so he called the number, believing he was purchasing stem cell pills from a company called Royal Nature.

“I heard on the radio about stem cells — it’s a real miracle and everything, and since a few years ago I had taken it, and it worked, I called,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said he was initially quoted $1,200 for a six-month treatment but told the salesperson he could not afford it. He said the price was eventually reduced to $300.

In January, Gonzalez received bottles labeled “Biomaster,” which, he said, he was told contained stem cells. About a week later, he said the company offered him another product called Golden Flex, also at a discounted price.

“It will help you faster with the pills,” Gonzalez said.

After finishing a full bottle of Biomaster, though, Gonzalez said, he felt no improvement. When he called the company, he said the response shocked him. He said they told him they didn’t send him stem cells.

“’ ‘I ordered them,’ ” Gonzalez said he told them. ” ‘Yes,’ he says, ‘but for that price they didn’t send the stem cells.’ ”

Gonzalez said he repeatedly called the company seeking a refund or alternative treatment, but claims his calls were either ignored or ended abruptly.

“All they do is hang up on me,” Gonzalez said.

After Gonzalez contacted NBC 7 Responds, we took a look at the products’ ingredients, which included chondroitin, glucosamine, and spirulina — all commonly found in dietary supplements. Both products appeared to be standard supplements, not stem cell treatments.

Further investigation into Royal Nature revealed additional concerns. The company’s website claims its products are “FDA-certified and approved,” but the FDA told NBC 7 Responds it “does not have the authority to approve dietary supplements or their product labeling before they are marketed.”

NBC 7 Responds also conducted reverse image searches of photos posted on the staff page of the company’s website. Several appeared on stock photo websites, while others belonged to real professionals whose names had been changed.

One image matched Dr. Fred Nicacio, a public figure in Brazil. Another matched Dr. Cindy Naime, a dentist in Canada. Both told NBC 7 Responds they were not affiliated with Royal Nature and were unaware their images were being used.

Shortly after inquiries were made, the company’s staff page was removed from its website.

Attempts to contact Royal Nature were unsuccessful. A phone call ended abruptly after questions were raised, emails bounced back and messages sent through social media and WhatsApp went unanswered.

Shipping labels tied the products to RNG Business Consulting LLC in Florida, but NBC 7 Responds did not receive a response after reaching out to its registered agent.

“They lied to me,” Gonzalez said.

The FDA advises consumers who feel misled by advertisements to contact the Federal Trade Commission. According to the FTC, advertisements must be truthful and not misleading.

Gonzalez said he hopes others will learn from his experience.

“Because there are others who are even sicker, and out of desperation, they’ll say, ‘Well, they tell me it’s good, so I have to buy it to get some relief,’ ” Gonzalez said. “And that’s what I don’t want: for them to fall into the same trap I did.”

It’s important to fully research a company before spending your hard-earned money. NBC 7 Responds found several negative reviews about Royal Nature on the Better Business Bureau website.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication.