PHARMAVITE EARNS SUPPORT OF
THE ALLIANCE OF MINORITY MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONS

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. (April 5, 2006) -Pharmavite LLC- manufacturer of Nature Made vitamins, Nature’s Resource herbal supplements, and OLAY vitamins-has been recognized by the Washington, D.C.-based Alliance of Minority Medical Associations (AMMA), which recognizes that dietary supplements can be “valued assets” to a healthy life.

“The Alliance is a respected authority on the health needs of all Americans,” said David Smith, Pharmavite chief science officer. “Pharmavite supports AMMA’s goal to promote optimal health and eliminate health disparities for all populations. Our aim is to be an information resource on how dietary supplements can help.”

Smith noted that Carroll Reider, M.S., R.D., director of scientific affairs and education at Pharmavite, will speak at the National Minority Health Month Foundation’s Annual Leadership Summit on Health Disparities on April 11, 2006. The title of Ms. Reider’s speech is “Achieving Optimum Nutrition: Addressing Nutritional Health Disparities.”

Other examples of Pharmavite’s long-term commitment to health promotion are the Wellness Advisor (www.NatureMade.com) and Vitamin Herb University (VHU, www.vitaminherbuniversity.com). Through the Wellness Advisor Web site, the public has free access to the latest health information and advice from experts in a variety of disciplines, including women’s and men’s health, food and nutrition, and fitness. At NatureMade.com, visitors can create personalized wellness profiles and obtain confidential answers to personal health questions from the site’s health experts.

For physicians and other health-care professionals, VHU is a free online resource that offers immediate access to detailed information on dietary supplements. Physicians can share VHU information with patients to help them make informed choices. This information includes the new Drug-Nutrient Interaction and Depletion database, which reviews more than 70 vitamins, minerals, herbs, and supplements and 16 common drug classes, identifying products to be taken or used with caution with certain medications.

AMMA Statement of Support:

The Alliance of Minority Medical Associations (AMMA)-representing a collaborative effort of the Asian and Pacific Physicians' Association (APPA), the Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP), the Interamerican College of Physicians and Surgeons (ICPS), and the National Medical Association (NMA)-supports the use of nutritional vitamins and minerals to complement patients’ health regimens. AMMA encourages well-balanced and nutritious meals as the primary source of necessary vitamins and minerals, but it recognizes the role of supplements as valued assets for patients. Further, there may be a role for herbal supplements as part of a healthy lifestyle, but, as with all medications including vitamins and minerals, we strongly recommend that patients discuss their use with their physicians and health-care providers. We encourage patients to seek out safe, well-respected manufacturers with track records of safety and efficacy as appropriate.

ABOUT AMMA

The Alliance of Minority Medical Associations (AMMA) is a collaborative effort of the Asian and Pacific Physicians' Association (APPA), the Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP), the Interamerican College of Physicians and Surgeons (ICPS), and the National Medical Association (NMA). Our coalition was formed on the basis of evidence-based data that highlight significant disparities in health-care treatment plans and outcomes among many underserved populations within the United States. AMMA collectively supports the moral imperative that all individuals are equally entitled to receive high-quality health-care therapies that can improve and prolong life. Although our efforts focus on eliminating disparities in access to health care and quality of health care for the more than 82 million U.S. citizens whom we collectively serve, we believe that the health needs of all underserved Americans benefit from our collaboration. To that end, AMMA has established the following goals: (a) to eliminate racial/ethnic disparities in health in the United States, (b) to increase the quality of health care and access to health care for minority populations, and (c) to provide leadership to develop private/public partnerships in minority communities to eliminate health disparities.

ABOUT PHARMAVITE LLC

For more than 30 years, Pharmavite has earned and maintained the trust of pharmacists, consumers, and retailers by manufacturing high-quality vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other dietary supplements that are safe, effective, and science-based. As an industry leader, Pharmavite adheres to manufacturing standards recommended by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), a not-for-profit organization that has set pharmaceutical and dietary supplement quality standards since 1820. In addition, Pharmavite participates in USP’s Verification Program for dietary supplements.

The dietary supplement industry is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission, as well as by government agencies in each of the 50 states.