HEALTH

ATLANTA — New graphic cigarette warning labels released last month by the Food and Drug Administration already appear to be having one desired effect: an increase in "quit smoking" queries to the national 1-800-QUIT-NOW smoking cessation line, the Associated Press reported Saturday.

The new labels aren’t even on cigarette packages yet — the labels will be implemented next year.

SUPPLIER NEWS — A survey for Vitamin Shoppe found that 60% of Americans currently take a vitamin or supplement. Of those who take vitamins, more than 70% of respondents said they feel more confident about their health when they are taking a vitamin. Multivitamins are the most popular supplements, with 75% of respondents taking a multivitamin regularly. Other top supplements by those who take vitamins were: vitamin D (52%), vitamin C (49%), calcium (45%), B vitamins (43%), fish oil (42%) and iron (25%). 



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. 


SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — H. D. Smith, the fourth-largest national pharmaceutical wholesaler, on Tuesday named Mark de Bruin to the post of corporate VP managed care.

In his new position at H. D. Smith, 29-year industry veteran de Bruin will be responsible for the company's third party network, creating and maintaining an alliance of prescription and healthcare service providers.

WASHINGTON — The dietary supplement industry last week took another legislative knock to the chin as it was associated with controversy surrounding mislabled conventional foods, specifically Lazy Cakes, a brownie that contains the dietary ingredient melatonin and purports to be a dietary supplement.

SAN DIEGO — MediShield was selected as a winner of the 11th Annual New York Venture Summit Top Innovator award last month by YoungStartup Ventures. The award recognizes privately held companies from across the United States that play a leading role in innovation.

MediShield was recognized for its CastShield line, which offers waterproof protection for casts, bandages, prosthetics and vascular compression products. CastShield is meeting a significant consumer demand, the company noted.


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. 


NEW YORK — McNeil Consumer Healthcare’s foray into heat patches has proven a success. Tylenol Precise is the No. 2 brand across heat and ice packs, falling in behind Pfizer’s ThermaCare. Within its first year on the shelf, Tylenol Precise has generated $6.1 million in sales for the 52 weeks ended April 17, according to SymphonyIRI Group data across food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart). 


The Tylenol Precise patches retail for around $7.99.