Centrum Carb Assist, the New Multivitamin for those on Low Carb Diets

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 01 Jun 2004 - 12:00 PDT

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Wyeth Consumer Healthcare (NYSE:WYE) announced their new multivitamin, Centrum® Carb Assist™, which includes high levels of select nutrients to help the body utilize carbs, fats and proteins, while providing vitamin and mineral support for those who have cut back on their carbohydrate intake.

"By severely limiting - or completely cutting - carbohydrates from their diets, many people may not be getting the full complement of nutrients required for optimal health," said Andy Davis, Senior Vice President for Wyeth Consumer Healthcare. "With the popularity of low-carb diets at an all time high, Centrum Carb Assist is formulated to provide optimal levels of vital nutrients as part of a complete formula to help support the millions of Americans currently living a low-carb lifestyle."

Understanding the Impact of Low-Carb Diets

In general, it is well documented that when an individual is dieting or has modified his/her eating habits, certain vitamin and mineral intake levels may become sub-optimal or deficient. More specifically, low carbohydrate diets, which vary greatly by definition, often limit or omit certain food groups. Exclusion or reduction of carbohydrates in the form of dairy, fruits, vegetables, and grains can lead to deficiency in certain micronutrients, including: vitamins C, D, E, and B6, as well as calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and folic acid.

Scientific studies suggest that optimal levels of certain vitamins and minerals may lead to health benefits such as the risk reduction of certain chronic diseases including osteoporosis, heart disease, and certain types of cancer. In addition, the B vitamins play an indispensable role in the metabolic conversion of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates to energy.

About Centrum Carb Assist

Centrum Carb Assist is a complete multivitamin/mineral to help supplement a low carbohydrate lifestyle. Thus it is formulated with high levels of the B vitamins - niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamins B6 and B12 - as well as the antioxidants selenium, manganese, and vitamins C and E.

In addition, it contains 100% of the RDI for such key nutrients as vitamin D, iron, zinc and copper; all of which may become difficult to obtain at optimal levels when excluding or reducing intake of certain food groups. The higher levels of the five B vitamins as well as the manganese, selenium, and vitamins C and E as discussed above, are well within safe levels as defined by the Institute of Medicine's Dietary Reference Intake Reports.

Wyeth Consumer Healthcare

Wyeth Consumer Healthcare, a division of Wyeth, is one of the world's leaders in the development, manufacture and marketing of non-prescription medicines, vitamins and nutritional products including such established brands as Advil®, Centrum®, Chap Stick®, Dimetapp® and Robitussin®.

Wyeth Consumer Healthcare is also the maker of the Centrum® family of products, including: Centrum®, Centrum Silver®, Centrum Performance® and Centrum Kids®.

About Wyeth

Wyeth is one of the world's largest research-driven pharmaceutical and health care products companies. It is a leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing, and marketing of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biotechnology products and non-prescription medicines that improve the quality of life for people worldwide. The Company's major divisions include Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare and Fort Dodge Animal Health.

Media
Francis Sullivan
Wyeth Consumer Healthcare
973-660-6923
http://www.wyeth.com