Vitamin Relief USA

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Vitamin Relief USA
P.O.BOX 888, M
URRIETA,CA 92564-0888, USA
TEL 909-696-0552
FAX 909-696-0702
http://WWW.HEALTHFOUND.ORG
News Release
Media Contact
July 16, 2003
Michael Morton
(909) 696-0552
[email hidden]

The Healthy Foundation Awards Research Contract For Congressionally Funded
Study
Investigators from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and
Rutgers University to Study Impact of Daily Vitamins on the Academic
Performance of At-Risk Children

Murrieta, CA – The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)
has been awarded
the research contract to conduct The Healthy Foundation’s Better Student
Research Initiativeâ„¢, a
research study mandated by Congress to determine if daily vitamins improve the
academic performance of at-risk children.

Adam Perlman, MD, Executive Director of the Institute of Complementary &
Alternative Medicine,
housed in the UMDNJ-School of Health Related Professions, will serve as
principal investigator of the study.

“We are pleased to be conducting a study that has such important public
health implications for the well-being of our nation’s children. We also
welcome the opportunity to collaborate with our colleagues at Rutgers.”

The research team from Rutgers University serving as co-investigators are John
Worobey, PhD and Daniel Hoffman, PhD, both from Department of Nutritional
Sciences, and Jeffrey Smith, PhD, from the Department of Educational
Psychology. In addition to Dr. Perlman, the UMDNJ research team
includes Julie O'Sullivan Maillet, PhD, RD, and Riva Touger-Decker, PhD, RD,
both members of the clinical nutrition faculty.

Tishcon Corp., a project partner in this important initiative has generously
donated the multi-vitamins as well as the placebos for this study. United
States Pharmacopeia (USP) has donated the testing of the vitamins and placebos
for purity and content.

Page 2

In this double-blind study, 1,500 fourth-grade students will be randomly
selected from an urban school district in New Jersey. From December 2003
through May 2004, the students will receive either a daily placebo or vitamins.
At the end of the study, the state's standardized test will be administered to
the students. In addition, changes in grade point averages, instances of
tardiness, absenteeism, and misbehavior will be measured.
All students involved in the research will receive multivitamin-mineral
supplements free of charge for one year after the study. Teachers will receive
educational support materials and gifts for their classrooms for their
participation.

The Better Student Research Initiative is a study funded through a
Congressional earmarked appropriation of $500,000 to The Healthy Foundation
through The U.S. Department of Education.
Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) sponsored the
appropriation.Commenting on the passage of this key appropriation, Senator
Harkin said, “The foundation’s program, Vitamin Relief USA-Children First,
provides at-risk children with daily nutritional supplements to improve their
health and academic success and then evaluates the impact it makes. We
already know that sound child nutrition is linked with improved school
performance and attendance.

This new program just makes sense. We need this type of investment to help
ensure a brighter future for every student.”

Congressman Pallone said, “We have the opportunity and obligation to make
sure the basic biological needs of every citizen are met. The Healthy
Foundation program offers a simple, low cost solution to a serious problem for
America’s underserved children.”
The Healthy Foundation currently provides daily vitamins to 12,850 children
from low-income families at 225 partner sites in 40 states. It is also
providing vitamins to over 1,100 seniors through a model pilot program in
Riverside, California.

This national initiative called Vitamin Relief USA is a
public/private partnership that distributes daily children’s
multivitamin/mineral supplements to those at-risk for malnutrition and nutrient
deficiency.
The Healthy Foundation is a tax-exempt, non-profit foundation committed to
improving the health status of children and adults through vitamin
supplementation. To support The Healthy Foundation or
for further information, please call 877-935-5348 or log onto
www.vitaminrelief.org.
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