Chain Drug Review, March 16th, 2020

CATEGORY INSIGHTS VITAMINS Fish oil is good for the heart new study suggests NEW YORK Fish oil is one of the most popular supplements consumed to boost health particularly heart health Fish oil is a dietary source of omega 3 fatty acids substances the body needs according to the Mayo Clinic for many functions from muscle activity to cell growth Omega 3 fatty acids are derived from food They cant be manufactured in the body Fish oil contains two omega 3s docosahexaenoic acid DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid EPA Dietary sources of DHA and EPA are fatty fish such as salmon mackerel and trout and shellfish such as mussels oysters and crabs Some nuts seeds and vegetable oils contain another omega 3 called alphalinolenic acid ALA Fish oil supplements come in liquid capsule and pill form People take fish oil to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes to treat high triglycerides and high blood pressure and to improve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis But do they work Yes according to a study from the Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health and Brigham and Womens Hospital which was published online in the Journal of the American Heart Association Those who received omega 3 fish oil supplements in randomized clinical trials had lower risks of heart attack and other cardiovascular disease CVD events than those who were given placebo Researchers conducting the study found an association between daily omega 3 supplementation and reduced risk of most CVD outcomes including heart attack death from coronary heart disease and death from CVD The study did not find a benefit concerning stroke In addition higher doses of omega 3 fish oil supplements appeared to provide even greater risk reduction Omega 3s may also improve joint health This meta analysis provides the most up to date evidence regarding the effects of omega 3 supplementation on risk of multiple CVD outcomes We found significant protective effects of daily omega 3 supplementation against most CVD outcome risks and the associations appeared to be in a dose response manner said first author Yang Hu a postdoctoral research fellow in the department of nutrition at Harvard Chan School While observational studies have shown an association between fish consumption and lower heart disease risk results from randomized controlled trials have been inconsistent Two reviews published last year did not find clear evidence for benefit In this new analysis however the researchers did an updated meta analysis that included three recently completed largescale trials which increased the sample size by 64 The total population analyzed by Hu and colleagues included more than 120000 adults in 13 randomized trials worldwide The analysis included the VITAL trial the largest randomized trial of omega 3s to date The findings showed that people who took daily omega 3 fish oil supplements compared with those who took a placebo lowered their risk for most CVD outcomes except stroke including an 8 reduced risk for heart attack and death from coronary heart disease CHD The association was particularly evident at higher doses of omega 3 fish oil supplementation This finding may suggest that marine omega 3 supplementation dosage above the 840 mg day used in most randomized clinical trials may provide greater reductions in CVD risk Given that several million people experience these CVD events worldwide each year even small reductions in risk can translate into hundreds of thousands of heart attacks and CVD deaths avoided according to the researchers Although public health recommendations should focus on increasing fish consumption having an overall heart healthy diet being physically active and having other healthy lifestyle practices this study suggests that omega 3 supplementation may have a role in appropriate patients said senior author JoAnn Manson chief of the Division of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Womens Hospital and professor in the department of epidemiology at Harvard Chan School Manson is also the director of the large scale VITAL trial Theres also evidence to suggest according to the Mayo Clinic that fish oil consumption could lead to modest reductions in blood pressure and some evidence that this effect is greater for people with moderate to severe hypertension than those with mild hypertension Studies also suggest the Mayo Clinic reports that fish oil supplements might help reduce pain improve morning stiffness and relieve joint tenderness in people with rheumatoid arthritis While relief is often modest it might be enough to reduce the need for anti inflammatory medications Evidence such as this should only fuel the market for fish oil supplements which was valued in 2018 according to Allied Market Research at 328 billion in 2018 and is expected to top 5 billion by 2026 Natures Truth adds new line of gummies RONKONKOMA N Y Natures Truth a wholesale division of Piping Rock Health Products founded in 2014 has added a new line of gummies to its vitamin portfolio Vitamins in gummy form are one of the fastest growing products in the vitamins and supplement categories according to Nielsen contributing to 55 of all dollar growth and generating close to 20 of vitamin sales Backed by a team of experts with more than 40 years of experience in the vitamin industry Natures Truth has found the secret to making quality supplements and wellness products Natures Truth the company says is committed to developing and delivering only the highest quality innovative wellness products to retailers and consumers Natures Truths new gummy product line features top trending ingredients including apple cider vinegar turmeric melatonin elderberry and collagen in pectin and traditional gelatinbased gummies Taste was a key factor and a critical benchmark in the development of each gummy formulation It was very important to us that our gummies were nutritious without sacrificing taste states Kimberly Vigliante senior vice president of wholesale sales and marketing at Natures Truth Our goal was to delight the customer experience and focus on top segments as well as ingredients that you typically wouldnt think would taste good as a gummy Made from only the best ingredients our flavorful gummies are carefully taste tested and approved and packed with an explosion of natural fruit flavors We had to be sure that they arent bitter and dont have any unpleasant odor which can often be associated with ingredients like apple cider vinegar and turmeric We are excited to launch these unbelievably delicious gummies In addition to tasting great all our gummies are non GMO gluten free free of common allergens free of chemical additives and where possible vegan friendly Natures Truth says it is dedicated to purity and potency to ensure that consumers are receiving only the highest quality innovative products that can be added easily to their wellness journey Hitting shelves this spring with some fun advertising and eye catching displays Natures Truths new line of colorfully packaged gummies are sure to be the center of attention and a customer favorite CRN welcomes pilot program WASHINGTON Last month the Council for Responsible Nutrition CRN applauded the ANSI National Accreditation Board ANAB for launching a new pilot accreditation program under the Global Retail and Manufacturer Alliance GRMA certification scheme which incorporates the NSF ANSI 455 2 2018 standard Good Manufacturing Practices for Dietary Supplements Last year CRN welcomed the release of the NSF ANSI standard to evaluate a dietary supplement firms adherence to current Good Manufacturing Practices cGMPs The program is now moving into its next phase and offering an opportunity for third party conformity assessment bodies to become accredited to conduct audits using the NSF ANSI standard This will allow third party auditors in the dietary supplements field to become qualified to use the single set of standards when evaluating manufacturers for GMP compliance The NSF ANSI 455 2 2018 standard is part of an important selfregulatory initiative developed in collaboration with GRMA of which CRN is a member CRN is pleased to see the next stage of the audit scheme is under way as formally accrediting certifying bodies to use the single uniform NSF ANSI standard will lead to more consistent outcomes That makes it easier for manufacturers to demonstrate GMP compliance to retailers and consumers said Megan Olsen vice president and associate general counsel at CRN We recognize the significance of establishing uniform requirements to bring predictability and consistency across certifying bodies which will improve the overall audit process and increase consumer confidence in the industry More than three quarters of Americans take dietary supplements so it is increasingly important that responsible companies demonstrate that they comply with the law and reassure consumers that each product meets the strict expectations of regulators retailers and consumers before it goes to market ANAB began accepting applications for the pilot accreditation program on February 12 and will continue through April 12 28 Chain Drug Review March 16 2020