Web Site Tests Top Brand Weight Loss Supplements for Safety and Efficacy.

Business Editors and Health/Medical Writers

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.--(BW HealthWire)--July 17, 2000

vitacost.com Provides Consumers With Safe and Effective Options

for Natural Weight Loss Supplements and Which Nutrients to Look For

Weight reduction is the goal of many Americans. Consequently, there is always a new diet or diet product that is being touted to help reduce weight. In an effort to educate consumers about which nutrients are the most effective and safe for weight loss, vitacost.com, an online store and comprehensive resource for nutritional supplement information, has released an independent lab analysis of some of these natural weight loss aids.

A review of the most recent scientific literature shows that hydroxycitric acid, glucomannan, chromium and fiber are the most effective, safe nutrients for weight loss. Based on these findings, vitacost.com sent some of the most popular name brand weight loss supplements to Shuster Laboratories Inc., a leading, FDA-registered consumer products R&D firm and independent contract laboratory. Products that contained less than 90 percent of the potency of hydroxycitric acid, glucomannan, chromium and total dietary fiber indicated on the label were considered to have failed the independent analysis. Products that fail are immediately pulled from vitacost.com's shelves.

The products were also evaluated by vitacost.com's scientific advisory board, a panel of board-certified physicians, for their superiority of nutrient levels, effectiveness, safety and value.

Of the 13 products that were tested for their concentration of hydroxycitric acid, glucomannan, chromium and total dietary fiber, four failed to provide substantial amounts of the key ingredients.

The products tested and evaluated were:

-- Natrol's Chromium Picolinate

-- Nature's Way Citrus Slender Diet Drink Mix

-- Twinlab Megacitrimax

-- Natrol's Chromium Picolinate

-- Nature's Way Citrus Slender Diet Drink Mix

-- Twinlab Fibersol Capsules

-- Natrol's Chromium Picolinate

-- Nature's Way Citrus Slender Diet Drink Mix

-- Nature's Way Chromium Picolinate

-- Natrol's Chromium Picolinate

-- Nature's Way Citrus Slender Diet Drink Mix

-- Nature's Herbs Green Tea Power

-- Nature's Answer Garcinia Cambogia

The actual lab reports are scanned and posted on vitacost.com's Web site (www.vitacost.com) for consumer review.

"The purpose of this analysis is two-fold: to educate consumers about which nutrients to look for in natural weight loss supplements, and to provide them with the results from a lab analysis that tests top brand products for their concentration of the most active nutrients," said Dr. Allen Josephs, president of vitacost.com and a board certified internist and neurologist. "vitacost.com intentionally didn't test weight loss supplements containing ephedra (or ma huang), because we refuse to sell supplements that are proven to be harmful or deadly."

"There are safe and natural alternatives to dangerous prescription diet medications and hazardous over-the-counter supplements. vitacost.com wants to empower consumers with the knowledge they need to make safe purchasing decisions, especially when it comes to their health," stated Dr. John Joseph Walker, M.D., board certified gastroenterologist and member of vitacost.com's scientific advisory board.

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

The testing and evaluation schedule through October is:

May/June -- Weight management supplements

July/August -- Women's health supplements

September/October -- Men's health supplements

About vitacost.com

vitacost.com is the online destination consumers can trust for detailed information on nutritional supplements, including vitamins, minerals, herbs, antioxidants and nutraceuticals, and the first and only to offer consumers products at or below the published wholesale cost (33-75 percent below retail). vitacost.com provides consumers with a bi-monthly analysis of top nutritional supplements tested by an 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. vitacost.com has been reviewed and approved by Gomez, BBBOnLine Reliability, TRUSTe and Verisign.

About Shuster Laboratories Inc.

Founded in 1955, Shuster Laboratories Inc. is a leading, FDA-registered, consumer products R&D firm and independent contract laboratory. Shuster has modern facilities with leading-edge technology and equipment in Boston and Boulder, Colo. Their in-house resources include: product development laboratories, product and performance testing laboratories, controlled atmosphere rooms, state-of-the-art analytical laboratories, engineering testing, petroleum testing, microbiology laboratories, chemistry laboratories, sensory testing facilities, household and personal care products testing facilities, experimental test kitchens, and research library.

Sources are available upon request.