Testimonials notwithstanding

[Egyption Arrow]

In the name of the Merciful Allah,
Hi, please read this: "Do magnets really relieve the chronic pain that is associated with repetitive stress injury? Testimonials notwithstanding, the only way to answer this question is by controlled research." Well, I ask about " Testimonials notwithstanding"; is "notwithstanding" an adjective? and what is the role of this phrase in the whole statement?, that is, what is the relation between it and the sentence that follows? Thanks ahead.

[Anglika]

notwithstanding =
• preposition in spite of/despite
• adverb nevertheless.
• conjunction although





It is a preposition in this sentence, and the meaning is that in spite of there being testimonials from users stating that the magnets work, there is no real evidence to support them.