vitacost.com - Press Releases 1/06/00

SPRINGFIELD, Ill, Jan. 6, 2000 – Today vitacost.com released an independent lab analysis of some of the top nutritional supplements created to promote healthy joint functions. The products, largely targeted at seniors and athletes, were also evaluated for their effectiveness, safety and value by a panel of board-certified physicians.

Each product was tested for its concentration of glucosamine which, along with SAM-e and other vitamins and nutrients, has been shown to reverse the progression of joint and cartilage deterioration. The analysis was conducted by Alpha Chemical and Biomedical Laboratories, an independent, FDA registered lab.

The products tested and evaluated were:

Atkins Arthrijoint
Twinlab’s MaxiLIFE Joint Protector
Nature’s Way Glucosamine Sulfate
Thompson Gluco-Pro 900
Nutraceutical Science Institute’s (division of vitacost.com) ArthriPower

Products that contained at least 95% of the concentration indicated on the label are considered to have passed. Anything else is considered a failure and typically indicates low manufacturing standards that could result in inferior products.

The independent lab analysis determined that all the tested products contained (within five percent) the concentration of glucosamine stated on the packaging. The actual lab reports are scanned and posted on vitacost.com’s web site (www.vitacost.com) for consumer review.

"Unfortunately, consumers can’t always be sure they’re getting what a product label claims," says Dr. Allen Josephs, president of vitacost.com and a board certified internist and neurologist. "We’ll have a new category of products tested and evaluated each month. If one should fail the independent lab analysis, we’ll not only inform vitacost.com visitors, we’ll stop selling the product.

"We’re pleased the tested products for joint health all passed the analysis," Josephs continued, "but that’s just the beginning. Our goal is to educate consumers, and if they’re not considering the form of nutrients, the value, the delivery system and the safety of the products, they’re not making a truly informed decision. That’s why our scientific advisory board of board-certified physicians and a registered dietician also evaluate and rank the products."

The ranking and comprehensive evaluation is available at www.vitacost.com.

The testing and evaluation schedule through July is:

January – Joint health supplements
February – Mood enhancement supplements
March – Cardio enhancement supplements
April – Weight management supplements
May – Women’s health supplements
June – Men’s health supplements
July – Vision enhancement supplements

About vitacost.com

vitacost.com is the online destination consumers can trust for detailed information on nutritional supplements and the first and only to offer consumers products at the published wholesale cost. vitacost.com provides consumers with a monthly analysis of top nutritional supplements tested by an FDA-registered and approved independent lab and evaluated by a distinguished medical advisory board. The company also offers a five star guarantee, ensuring customers a secure online shopping experience, a large selection of high quality/safe products at the published wholesale cost and expert service backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.