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WHITE PLAINS, NY — November 21, 2000 — ConsumerLab.com today released results of its 10th Product Review, focusing on dietary supplements containing coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). CoQ10 may aid in the treatment of congestive heart failure ­ a disease in which the heart does not adequately maintain circulation. Although the evidence is not as strong, CoQ10 may also be useful in treating other diseases affecting the heart muscle, as well as in the healing of periodontal infections, muscular dystrophy, AIDS, hypertension, and some cancers. It is among the fastest growing supplements in terms of sales and can easily cost several hundred dollars a year. Among the 29 CoQ10 products independently purchased and tested by ConsumerLab.com, one product was found to contain only 17% of its claimed amount of CoQ10. The others met their CoQ10 content claims.

Tod Cooperman, M.D., ConsumerLab.com's President, commented, "While most products had what they said, it is a shame that some people turning to CoQ10 to improve their quality of life may be using a product with less than one-fifth of the expected dose. Symptoms can worsen for congestive heart failure patients who switch to a sub-standard product ­ although they and their healthcare providers may never suspect this as the cause."

A list of the products that passed, as well as more information about the testing, is available at www.consumerlab.com. To further assist consumers, ConsumerLab.com is licensing its flask-shaped Seal of Approved Quality for CoQ10 to manufacturers and distributors to use on products that passed testing. ConsumerLab.com will periodically re-evaluate these products to ensure their compliance with its standards. In addition, manufacturers and distributors may request the testing of products not already tested. The list of CoQ10 products that have passed testing will be continually updated.

Products were purchased through retail stores, on-line retailers, catalogues, or multi-level marketing companies. CoQ10 and other dietary supplements, which now represent more than $14 billion in annual sales, are not considered drugs in the U.S. and do not require testing for quality by any governmental agency prior to sale.

ConsumerLab.com's recent Product Reviews have included ginkgo biloba, saw palmetto, glucosamine, chondroitin, SAM-e, vitamin C, Asian and American ginseng, creatine and calcium. Product Reviews of multivitamins, vitamin E, echinacea and St. John's wort are currently underway and will also be released at www.consumerlab.com and through other Web sites and media licensed by ConsumerLab.com. Next year, ConsumerLab.com plans to publish the first annual edition of ConsumerLab.com's Consumer's Guide to Supplements in paperback.

ConsumerLab.com is a provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health, wellness, and nutrition. The company is privately held and headquartered in White Plains, New York. It has no ownership from or interest in companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products. Parties interested in purchasing comprehensive Product Review Technical Reports, licensing content or requesting testing of additional products may contact Lisa Sabin, Vice President for Business Development, at lisa.sabin@consumerlab.com. More information about Consumerlab.com is available at www.consumerlab.com.

Copyright ConsumerLab.com, LLC, 2000. All rights reserved. For use only by news organizations. Other parties wishing to republish this information are required to have prior written permission from ConsumerLab.com.



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