HEALTH

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force on Monday issued a trio of controversial recommendations regarding supplementing with vitamin D and calcium. Specifically, the Task Force determined that the current evidence was insufficient to support vitamin D and calcium supplementation for the primary prevention of fractures in premenopausal women, in men or in postmenopausal women and recommended against daily supplementation of vitamin D or calcium toward that end. 

NEW YORK — Sun Products' All Mighty Pacs laundry packs, Aquafresh Extreme Clean Pure Breath Action Paste, M&M's Brand Snack Mix, Reckitt Benckiser's Resolve All-Stains, Sun Products' Surf Liquid Laundry Detergent and GlaxoSmithKline's Tums Freshers were among the winners of Product of the Year USA's recently announced top products for 2013, the group said.

The named products were the result of a vote among 50,000 consumers.

NORWELL, Mass. — Carex Health Brands on Monday introduced two new items to its mobility lineup — the new Classic Wheelchair from Carex Health Brands and Carex's Two Wheeled Walker with Seat and Backrest. 

NEW YORK — Sears Holdings will add some of its own products and allow customers to pick up products ordered from its flagship store in Chicago on the same day, according to published reports.

It's another innovative, yet simple, "Made by Mom" product in the pediatric section. Iris Shamus, the mom and entrepreneur behind AllerMates, developed a line of fun characters that kids won't have a problem wearing and will alert caregivers to specific food allergies.

NEW YORK — In View, the Discovery Channel program of which Larry King is host, will include a feature about DivaCup, a reusable menstrual cup.

The show will air on March 7 at 7 a.m., examining the product and its role in feminine hygiene and featuring the mother and daughter who created it, Francine and Carinne Chambers. The product is made from healthcare-grade silicone and is designed to reduce the amount of disposable feminine hygiene waste created each year.

NEW YORK — Trojan is about to enter the personal lubricant business, Jim Craigie, chairman and CEO for Church & Dwight, told analysts last week at the 2013 Consumer Analyst Group of New York Conference. 

"Trojan, finally, is entering the sexual lubricant category with a brand called Crazy Sexy Feel, under the Trojan brand name," Craigie said. "We hope to do this category, what the AXE brand did to the deodorant category."

As many as 72% of consumers use vitamins and dietary supplements, according to an online survey of more than 900 AccentHealth viewers conducted in late 2012. Those most likely to report supplement use include women and all consumers over the age of 55 years. Almost 3-in-4 women surveyed supplement their diets (74%) vs. 65% of men, and 81% of consumers over 55 years reported supplementing vs. 72% of consumers between the ages of 35 years and 54 years.