Content about dietary supplements

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.

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. 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.

March 30, 2011

Study: Nordic Naturals omega-3 effervescent absorbed faster

A research study conducted earlier this year on two Nordic Naturals arctic cod liver oil products concluded that the effervescent formulation is absorbed more rapidly than gelatin soft gels, and suggested that the effervescent form is equally palatable, making it an acceptable alternative to the soft gel form.

WATSONVILLE, Calif. — A research study conducted earlier this year on two Nordic Naturals arctic cod liver oil products concluded that the effervescent formulation is absorbed more rapidly than gelatin soft gels, and suggested that the effervescent form is equally palatable, making it an acceptable alternative to the soft gel form.

March 29, 2011

MyKidz Iron re-enters market

Tris Pharma on Tuesday announced its relaunch of the MyKidz Iron product line, which includes two supplement products and one prescription-only product.

MONMOUTH JUNCTION, N.J. — Tris Pharma on Tuesday announced its relaunch of the MyKidz Iron product line, which includes two supplement products and one prescription-only product.

MyKidz Iron was launched in 2007 by NextWave Pharmaceuticals. In August 2010, NextWave partnered with Tris on developing medicines focused on the central nervous system. As part of that partnership, all non-CNS over-the-counter products were acquired by Tris.

March 15, 2011

FDA attacks ‘lose pounds quick’ weight-loss frauds

The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday outlined a new campaign attacking fraudulent weight-loss products marketed as dietary supplements, especially those companies that proffer a “magic pill” that almost immediately achieves weight loss.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday outlined a new campaign attacking fraudulent weight-loss products marketed as dietary supplements, especially those companies that proffer a “magic pill” that almost immediately achieves weight loss.

March 14, 2011

CHPA taps Paul Sturman as new board chairman

Members of the Consumer Healthcare Products Association last week elected Paul Sturman, president and general manager of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, to chair the association’s board, the association announced Monday.

WASHINGTON — Members of the Consumer Healthcare Products Association last week elected Paul Sturman, president and general manager of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, to chair the association’s board, the association announced Monday.

March 14, 2011

Dietary supplements used, recommended by physicians with various specialties

A study published last week in Nutrition Journal found that dietary supplement usage and patient recommendations were common for physicians across several medical specialties, including dermatology, cardiology and orthopedics.

WASHINGTON — A study published last week in Nutrition Journal found that dietary supplement usage and patient recommendations were common for physicians across several medical specialties, including dermatology, cardiology and orthopedics.

March 14, 2011

New Chapter debuts Wholemega, Perfect products

New Chapter last week introduced a slew of new products at the Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, Calif., including three fish oil supplements and two multivitamins.

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. — New Chapter last week introduced a slew of new products at the Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, Calif., including three fish oil supplements and two multivitamins.

New Chapter developed the Wholemega line sourcing wild Alaskan salmon oil and using a cold-pressed proprietary extra-virgin process, similar to that of fine olive oil, to preserve the whole omegas, natural antioxidants and vitamin D3.

March 11, 2011

Ganeden, Agostoni extend partnership with probiotic-enhanced chocolate

Ganeden Biotech is continuing its partnership with Agostoni Chocolate to extend their line of probiotic-enhanced, private-label chocolates.

CLEVELAND — Ganeden Biotech is continuing its partnership with Agostoni Chocolate to extend their line of probiotic-enhanced, private-label chocolates.

The new over-the-counter daily supplements include a daily supplement dose of Agostoni's premium dark chocolate combined with the GanedenBC30 probiotic in a small 0.18-oz. mini-disk format.

The disks will be available in two retail share-pack box sizes: 14-day (28 disk) and 30-day (60 disk) supply.

March 4, 2011

Pharmavite supplement unites probiotics, vitamins

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — Pharmavite recently introduced a new probiotic daily supplement combined with a multivitamin that may encourage regular use of probiotics. Called Nature Made Triple Probiotic, the blend includes three probiotic strains, along with vitamins A, C and E; minerals iron, magnesium and zinc; and other vitamins and minerals.