HEALTH

StoreBoard Media — a company that places advertising billboards on the security pedestals at the entrance of chain stores nationwide — is launching its StoreBoard Wellness Program throughout New York's 259 Duane Reade stores.

Through the program, Duane Reade stores will feature StoreBoard Media's billboards and in-store kiosks advertising brands like Eau Thermale Avene — a hypoallergenic skin recovery cream from Pierre Fabre USA — and encouraging customers to use the Purell hand sanitizer at the kiosk.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club, via its Simply Right wellness brand, has donated $500,000 to Vitamin Angels, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing availability, access and use of micronutrients among at-risk populations in need. The monetary donation will help Vitamin Angels expand their efforts to reach at-risk children age five and under with vitamin A and daily multivitamins and pregnant or breastfeeding women with prenatal vitamins around the world and domestically.

BUTLER, N.J. – Sneaky Pete's Naturally Oatstanding Beverage is now available at various grocery stores and other retailers nationwide. The first soluble oat beverage of its kind, Sneaky Pete's is an easy and low-calorie way for consumers to meet the daily requirement for fiber.

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – Pharmavite has introduced Voots Veggie-Fruit Tarts, a fruit- and vegetable- based supplement for children ages 4 years and older that provides the antioxidants found in three servings of fruits and vegetables in two chewable berry-flavored tarts.

Voots are made with a blend of 11 fruits and vegetables and are blended with vitamin C and other ingredients before being pressed into tablets. Voots do not contain any artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. The tablets come in convenient single-serve packets so that kids can enjoy them on-the-go.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy is encouraging customers to consider making simple lifestyle changes to experience long-term health benefits in light of new findings on the positive effect of daily vitamin regimens released this week by Brigham and Women's Hospital and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Healthcare product sales through the nation’s primary healthcare distributors hit a record high of $294 billion in 2011, according to the 2012-2013 HDMA Factbook released Friday. Specifically, pharmaceutical products moved by distributors represent approximately 90% of sales in the United States.

BOSTON — Smokers who have been unsuccessful to date in trying to kick the nicotine habit may be able to stop smoking by combining two smoking cessation approaches, according to a report published in the Oct. 17 issue of JAMA.  

AUSTIN, Texas — British researchers have concluded that a Swiss echinacea extract is both safe and effective in helping to prevent symptoms of the common cold, according to a study published in American Botanical Council's peer-reviewed journal HerbalGram.