Study Shows Fruit and Vegetable Juice Powder Extracts Confer
Cardiovascular Protective Effects
SAN MARCOS, Calif., June 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Natural Alternatives International ("NAI"), Inc. (Nasdaq: NAII), a leading
formulator and manufacturer of customized nutritional supplements, and NSA
International ("NSA") a Memphis based health and nutrition company, jointly
announced today that the results of an important clinical study on the
proprietary whole food based supplement, Juice Plus+(R) ("JP+") were published
in the May 21, 2003 issue of the prestigious Journal of the American College
of Cardiology. The study conducted at the University of Maryland, School of
Medicine, demonstrated that supplemental phytonutrients can prevent the
immediate adverse impact of a high fat meal. Two of the authors on the study,
cardiologists Gary D. Plotnick, M.D. and Robert A. Vogel, M.D. had shown
previously that consuming a high fat meal (900 kcal; 50% calories from fat)
caused constriction of major arteries and restriction of blood flow by
one-half, an impairment which lasted up to 5 hours. However, concentrated
juice powders derived from mixtures of fruits (JP+ Orchard Blend), vegetables
(JP+ Garden Blend) and berries (JP+ Vineyard Blend) supplemented for 4 weeks
were shown to virtually eliminate the deleterious effect of a high fat meal.
John J. Blair, Vice President of Product Development at NSA stated, "We
are pleased to have a strategic partnership with NAI that has resulted in a
series of clinical studies and peer reviewed publications on Juice Plus+.
This latest research study further demonstrates the benefits of our
proprietary whole food based supplements, and furthers the goal of NSA to make
Juice Plus+ the best researched supplement in the world."
In the study conducted at the University of Maryland, blood flow in the
brachial artery ("BART") was measured before and three hours after a high fat
meal in 38 healthy volunteers. Subjects were randomly assigned to 4-week
supplementation with JP+ Orchard & Garden Blends or JP+ Orchard, Garden &
Vineyard Blends or a placebo. At 21 and 28 days, BART was repeated both
before and after a high fat meal. In the placebo group, the arterial blood
flow remained restricted by 38% after a high fat meal, while the JP+ O & G
group showed a 16% restriction and the JP+ O, G & V group virtually eliminated
the detrimental effect on blood flow, even when the supplement was not
administered with the meal on day 28.
"Maintenance of arterial blood flow after a fatty meal appears to be
dependent on healthy functioning of the arterial wall lining or endothelium by
protecting it from oxidative stress, and Juice Plus+ supplementation maximizes
this important cardiovascular function mediated by natural plant
antioxidants," said John A. Wise, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer of NAI. "The
results suggest another beneficial role of the numerous phytonutrients found
in fruit and vegetable juice powder concentrates and supports future studies
to validate the utility of such products."
NSA markets and distributes their proprietary Juice Plus+ product line in
25 countries worldwide. These are whole food based products containing a wide
variety of nutrients found in fresh fruits, vegetables, berries and grapes in
a highly bio-available and concentrated form.
NAI's CEO, Mark LeDoux emphasized, "This study exemplifies the dual
benefits of an important strategic initiative at NAI: to apply strong
evidence-based science to clearly establish the efficacy of products we
produce, and to employ our strength in nutritional science to contribute to
the success of major clients such as NSA."
NAI, headquartered in San Marcos, California, is a leading formulator and
manufacturer of customized nutritional supplements that provides strategic
partnering services to its clients. The Company's comprehensive partnership
approach offers a wide range of innovative nutritional products and services
including: scientific research, clinical studies, client-specific nutritional
product formulation, product testing and evaluation, marketing management and
support, packaging and delivery system design, regulatory review and
international product registration assistance. For more information about
NAI, please see our website at http://www.nai-online.com .
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are not historical
facts and information. These statements represent the Company's intentions,
expectations and beliefs concerning future events, including, among other
things, expectations and beliefs with respect to the health benefits that may
be realized by users of products manufactured by the Company, and whether such
benefits will translate into any future financial benefit to the Company. The
Company wishes to caution and advise readers that these statements involve
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes for
future periods to differ materially from any forward-looking statement or
views expressed herein. The Company's financial performance and the forward-
looking statements contained herein are further qualified by other risks
including those set forth from time to time in the documents filed by the
Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including NAI's most
recent Quarterly Report on Form 10Q and its Annual Report on Form 10-K.
For further information please contact: John A. Wise, Ph.D., Chief Science
Officer, Natural Alternatives International, Inc. (760) 744-7340 or
info@nai-online.com
SOURCE Natural Alternatives International, Inc.; NSA
International
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http://www.nai-online.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/607813.html
CONTACT:
John A. Wise, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer of
Natural Alternatives International, Inc., +1-760-744-7340,
info@nai-online.com
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