Content about Dietary supplements

August 3, 2011
Supplement trade requests NDI comment extension

Five trade associations representing the dietary supplement industry on Wednesday collectively requested a time extension to provide comments concerning the recent draft guidance on new dietary ingredient notifications that was recently issued by the Food and Drug Administration.

WASHINGTON — Five trade associations representing the dietary supplement industry on Wednesday collectively requested a time extension to provide comments concerning the recent draft guidance on new dietary ingredient notifications that was recently issued by the Food and Drug Administration.

July 25, 2011
Industry reaction mixed to NDI draft guidance


The Food and Drug Administration last month published long-awaited draft guidance on new dietary ingredients in the Federal Register.


The Food and Drug Administration last month published long-awaited draft guidance on new dietary ingredients in the Federal Register. Once finalized, the guidance will establish an additional pillar of credibility to the dietary supplement industry and help counter criticism that the FDA does not regulate the safety of supplement products — that is, if the FDA doesn’t force supplements off the shelf that are already on the shelf today. 


July 22, 2011
Schiff: Stop the BOGO promo

Enough is enough. That’s what Schiff Nutrition director, president and CEO Tarang Amin told analysts during a conference call Thursday — only four months into his tenure — regarding the predominant industry practice of funding buy-one-get-one promotions for glucosamine and chondroitin supplements.

SALT LAKE CITY — Enough is enough. That’s what Schiff Nutrition director, president and CEO Tarang Amin told analysts during a conference call Thursday — only four months into his tenure — regarding the predominant industry practice of funding buy-one-get-one promotions for glucosamine and chondroitin supplements.

July 5, 2011
Adults go for gummies

Perhaps the most exciting recent development in the multivitamin segment is the success of gummy vitamins. Data from SymphonyIRI show that, while teen and infant vitamin sales are in decline, gummy vitamins for adults are driving growth within the category.


NEW YORK — Perhaps the most exciting recent development in the multivitamin segment is the success of gummy vitamins. Data from SymphonyIRI show that, while teen and infant vitamin sales are in decline, gummy vitamins for adults are driving growth within the category.


July 5, 2011
New niches fuel multivitamins


Findings from the past year show that vitamin sales have been stronger than most other health and beauty categories. The recent emphasis placed by vitamin and nutritional supplement manufacturers on new multivitamin brands has delivered positive results.


Findings from the past year show that vitamin sales have been stronger than most other health and beauty categories. The recent emphasis placed by vitamin and nutritional supplement manufacturers on new multivitamin brands has delivered positive results. SymphonyIRI Group reported that, in the 24 weeks ended May 15, multivitamins outperformed the total vitamin category. 


July 5, 2011
Vitamin D explodes with product growth


The vitamin D category continues to grow. Category leader Nature Made from Pharmavite is on the cusp of launching a host of new products, including a Super D-Complex with magnesium, vitamin D chewable tablets and vitamin D with vitamin C and zinc.



The vitamin D category continues to grow. Category leader Nature Made from Pharmavite is on the cusp of launching a host of new products, including a Super D-Complex with magnesium, vitamin D chewable tablets and vitamin D with vitamin C and zinc.


July 5, 2011
VMS segment gets a boost from Wall Street


The latest vindicator to the almost $3.5 billion vitamin and supplement business across all outlets isn’t positive press. It’s not even the continued consumer gravitation toward self-care. It’s Wall Street. 



The latest vindicator to the almost $3.5 billion vitamin and supplement business across all outlets isn’t positive press. It’s not even the continued consumer gravitation toward self-care. It’s Wall Street. 


June 30, 2011
Osteo Bi-Flex passes advertising scrutiny

The National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus earlier this month determined that Rexall Sundown has supported claims regarding the company’s Osteo Bi-Flex glucosamine HCL and vitamin D3 dietary supplement.

NEW YORK — The National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus earlier this month determined that Rexall Sundown has supported claims regarding the company’s Osteo Bi-Flex glucosamine HCL and vitamin D3 dietary supplement.

June 20, 2011
Adults thirsty for weight-loss/nutrition drinks

The overall weight-loss/nutritional shake category spans ready-to-drink diet aids (Slim Fast), pediatric nutrition needs (PediaSure) and adult nutrition needs (Ensure and Boost). Out of all of these, it’s adult nutrition that creates the most synergy with the backbench; seniors need protein and supplementation to ensure a healthy life free of broken hips and fractured elbows. But that isn’t the only prescription-heavy demographic checking out the latest Ensure and Boost flavors.


The overall weight-loss/nutritional shake category spans ready-to-drink diet aids (Slim Fast), pediatric nutrition needs (PediaSure) and adult nutrition needs (Ensure and Boost). Out of all of these, it’s adult nutrition that creates the most synergy with the backbench; seniors need protein and supplementation to ensure a healthy life free of broken hips and fractured elbows. But that isn’t the only prescription-heavy demographic checking out the latest Ensure and Boost flavors.

June 20, 2011
Schiff looks to probiotics acquisition for growth

Schiff Nutrition president and CEO Tarang Amin promised to infuse some new energy into the company with his appointment earlier this spring, and he wasted no time with the Schiff acquisition of two probiotic brands — Sustenex and Digestive Advantage — in June. 


SALT LAKE CITY — Schiff Nutrition president and CEO Tarang Amin promised to infuse some new energy into the company with his appointment earlier this spring, and he wasted no time with the Schiff acquisition of two probiotic brands — Sustenex and Digestive Advantage — in June. 


June 15, 2011
Urinozinc expands retail distribution to GNC

A dietary supplement that is designed to alleviate the symptoms of an enlarged prostate has arrived at GNC.

MIAMI — A dietary supplement that is designed to alleviate the symptoms of an enlarged prostate has arrived at GNC.

Urinozinc prostate formula now is available at all corporate-owned GNC Live Well stores and at select GNC franchise stores, the company said. Product ingredients for Urinozinc include saw palmetto extract, pumpkin seed, zinc, pygeum africanum, lycopene, magnesium, selenium, folic acid and vitamins B6, B12 and E.

Urinozinc currently is available for purchase at such retail locations as Bi-Lo, Duane Reade, H-E-B, Publix, Rite Aid, Walgreens and Walmart.

June 9, 2011
NAD to New Nordic US: Discontinue Mulberry Zuccarin dietary supplement ad claims

The National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus earlier this week recommended that New Nordic US modify or discontinue a wide range of advertising claims for the company’s Mulberry Zuccarin dietary supplement product, including claims made in testimonials.

NEW YORK — The National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus earlier this week recommended that New Nordic US modify or discontinue a wide range of advertising claims for the company’s Mulberry Zuccarin dietary supplement product, including claims made in testimonials.

May 23, 2011
CRN, AANP launch online supplement resource

The Council for Responsible Nutrition earlier this month announced the launch of a microsite as part of its joint education campaign with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Foundation.

WASHINGTON — The Council for Responsible Nutrition earlier this month announced the launch of a microsite as part of its joint education campaign with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Foundation. The new microsite, available via the CRN website, is a hub for resources and information about nurse practitioners in general, as well as their attitudes about and usage of dietary supplements, the association stated.


May 23, 2011
Pump up the iron


It’s not often a niche brand manufacturer attempts to resuscitate what has been for years a commoditized category. But that’s exactly what Meda Consumer Healthcare will be attempting to do with iron — establish a good/better/best proposition to a supplemented category best defined as mediocre.


It’s not often a niche brand manufacturer attempts to resuscitate what has been for years a commoditized category. But that’s exactly what Meda Consumer Healthcare will be attempting to do with iron — establish a good/better/best proposition to a supplemented category best defined as mediocre. For the 52 weeks ended April 16, mineral supplement sales were down 3.3% to $534 million across food, drug and mass (including Walmart), according to Nielsen Group data.


May 20, 2011
CRN responds to Lazy Cakes controversy

The Council for Responsible Nutrition on Thursday issued a statement regarding the growing controversy surrounding Lazy Cakes — a brownie containing melatonin, an ingredient that helps establish more normal sleeping patterns — that has been cited in a New York Times article as having “flagrantly mimic[ked] the soothing effects of hash brownies.”

WASHINGTON — The Council for Responsible Nutrition on Thursday issued a statement regarding the growing controversy surrounding Lazy Cakes — a brownie containing melatonin, an ingredient that helps establish more normal sleeping patterns — that has been cited in a New York Times article as having “flagrantly mimic[ked] the soothing effects of hash brownies.”

Other published reports suggested the Arizona Department of Health issued a mandatory recall of Lazy Cakes following the report of an adverse event.

May 16, 2011
Taylor Wallace succeeds Andrew Shao at CRN

The Council for Responsible Nutrition on Monday named Taylor Wallace to the post of senior director, scientific and regulatory affairs.

WASHINGTON — The Council for Responsible Nutrition on Monday named Taylor Wallace to the post of senior director, scientific and regulatory affairs.

“Dr. Wallace’s background will nicely complement that of our well-established scientific team, and we’re looking forward to the fresh perspective his background will provide,” CRN president and CEO Steve Mister said. “We were impressed with the amount of work he has published in his short career along with the relationships he has built within the scientific research community.”

May 11, 2011
FDA: Dietary supplements distributed bear close resemblance to popular antibiotic

A recent Food and Drug Administration inspection prompted the recall of dietary supplements distributed by Multi-Mex Distributor, the company announced Monday. According to an FDA post, the supplements in question bore a close resemblance to antibiotics available in Mexico and may have been confusing to Hispanic consumers.

TUCKER, Ga. — A recent Food and Drug Administration inspection prompted the recall of dietary supplements distributed by Multi-Mex Distributor, the company announced Monday. According to an FDA post, the supplements in question bore a close resemblance to antibiotics available in Mexico and may have been confusing to Hispanic consumers.

May 6, 2011
CRN's new microsite offers resources about nurse practitioners

The Council for Responsible Nutrition earlier this week announced the launch of a microsite as part of its joint education campaign with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Foundation.

WASHINGTON — The Council for Responsible Nutrition earlier this week announced the launch of a microsite as part of its joint education campaign with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Foundation.

The new microsite, which will be available via the CRN website, is a hub for resources and information about nurse practitioners in general, as well as their attitudes about and usage of dietary supplements, the association stated.

May 2, 2011
Centrum teams up with celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak to offer summer resolution tips

Multivitamin brand Centrum has teamed up with 5 Factor Diet creator and celebrity personal trainer Harley Pasternak to offer consumers ways to keep their summer resolutions.

MADISON, N.J. — Multivitamin brand Centrum has teamed up with 5 Factor Diet creator and celebrity personal trainer Harley Pasternak to offer consumers ways to keep their summer resolutions.

April 29, 2011
WheyUp introduces weight-loss beverage

WheyUp on Wednesday announced the launch of its weight-loss beverage WheyUp, which features 20 g of protein, 1 g of carbs and 90 calories per bottle.

TEMPE, Ariz. — WheyUp on Wednesday announced the launch of its weight-loss beverage WheyUp, which features 20 g of protein, 1 g of carbs and 90 calories per bottle.

“WheyUp is the first preworkout drink to market a unique protein beverage that combines whey protein with caffeine,” WheyUp president Erik Rothchild said. “WheyUp is ideal for gaining lean muscle or losing weight, depending upon how and when you drink it.”

April 25, 2011
Walgreens leads the way to ‘well’

Walgreens not only is the “Way to Well,” it also is the “Way to Stay Well,” as evidenced by this shelf talker in the dietary supplement aisle that contains a 44-page pamphlet titled “Vitamins & Supplements Q&A: Your A to Z Shopping Guide.”


Inside are reasons to take supplements to both improve health and prevent disease. Specific supplement topics include the best supplements to take to help manage healthy blood-glucose levels, as well as bone and joint, cognitive, heart, immune and prenatal health. 


April 22, 2011
Council for Responsible Nutrition, Natural Products Association respond to British Medical Journal meta-analysis

Two associations representing dietary supplement companies criticized a British Medical Journal meta-analysis published April 20 that concluded calcium and vitamin D supplementation may increase risk of heart attack and stroke.

WASHINGTON — Two associations representing dietary supplement companies criticized a British Medical Journal meta-analysis published April 20 that concluded calcium and vitamin D supplementation may increase risk of heart attack and stroke.

April 22, 2011
Inaccurate meta-analyses cause dietary supplement industry to take a hit

Calcium causes heart attacks! Vitamin E kills! Vitamin D makes your eyeballs explode! OK, the last headline was just made up, but these are the kind of B-movie headlines many of these inaccurate meta-analyses generate, especially across the dietary supplement industry.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT — Calcium causes heart attacks! Vitamin E kills! Vitamin D makes your eyeballs explode! OK, the last headline was just made up, but these are the kind of B-movie headlines many of these inaccurate meta-analyses generate, especially across the dietary supplement industry.

April 19, 2011
Dietary supplements recommended, used by pharmacists

Pharmacists have become a go-to source for information about dietary supplements and also offer recommendations to patients, according to a study conducted by the Council for Responsible Nutrition.

WASHINGTON — Pharmacists have become a go-to source for information about dietary supplements and also offer recommendations to patients, according to a study conducted by the Council for Responsible Nutrition.

According to the CRN’s "Life…supplemented Healthcare Professionals Impact Study," 93% of pharmacists recommend supplements to their customers, while 87% believe that supplements can play an important role in improving or maintaining the health of their customers.

April 14, 2011
Dietary supplement use on the rise

The National Center for Health Statistics earlier this month issued a report showing that use of dietary supplements has been on an upward trajectory over the past decade — only 40% of Americans took supplements in 1988, compared with 53% who took supplements in 2006.

ATLANTA — The National Center for Health Statistics earlier this month issued a report showing that use of dietary supplements has been on an upward trajectory over the past decade — only 40% of Americans took supplements in 1988, compared with 53% who took supplements in 2006.