On June 15, 2016, North Castle
Partners and its co-investors announced the sale of Doctor's Best, Inc.
("Doctor's Best" or "DRB"), a leading marketer and
distributor of branded nutritional supplements (e.g., Doctor's Best Strontium Bone Maker brand of strontium citrate), to Xiamen Kingdomway Group Co.
(SHE: 002626). For North Castle Partners, the
exit concludes another successful partnership in the nutritional supplements
industry. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
About North Castle Partners
North Castle Partners is a private equity firm focused on investments in product and service businesses that promote healthy, active, and sustainable living. North Castle is a hands-on, value-added investor in high-growth, middle market companies in the (i) beauty and personal care, (ii) consumer health, (iii) fitness, recreation and sports, (iv) home and leisure and (v) nutrition sectors, among others. North Castle's current portfolio includes such well-known brands as Curves International/Jenny Craig, Barry's Bootcamp, Palladio Beauty Group, Mineral Fusion, Red Door Spas, Sprout Organics, SmartyPants, Brooklyn Boulders, Ibex Outdoor Clothing, and Turnbridge. North Castle is headquartered in Greenwich, CT. For more information, visit www.northcastlepartners.com.
North Castle Partners is a private equity firm focused on investments in product and service businesses that promote healthy, active, and sustainable living. North Castle is a hands-on, value-added investor in high-growth, middle market companies in the (i) beauty and personal care, (ii) consumer health, (iii) fitness, recreation and sports, (iv) home and leisure and (v) nutrition sectors, among others. North Castle's current portfolio includes such well-known brands as Curves International/Jenny Craig, Barry's Bootcamp, Palladio Beauty Group, Mineral Fusion, Red Door Spas, Sprout Organics, SmartyPants, Brooklyn Boulders, Ibex Outdoor Clothing, and Turnbridge. North Castle is headquartered in Greenwich, CT. For more information, visit www.northcastlepartners.com.
About Doctor's Best, Inc.
Irvine, CA-based Doctor's Best, Inc. manufactures and distributes dietary supplements. Doctor's Best is known for a broad line of products based on sound research and manufactured with quality ingredients. For more information, visit www.drbvitamins.com.
Irvine, CA-based Doctor's Best, Inc. manufactures and distributes dietary supplements. Doctor's Best is known for a broad line of products based on sound research and manufactured with quality ingredients. For more information, visit www.drbvitamins.com.
About Xiamen Kingdomway Group Co.
Xiamen Kingdomway Group Company (KDW) was founded in 1997 as a key High-tech Enterprise of the National Torch Project and was publicly listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 2011 under the ticker 002626. With over 1,500 employees, KDW is one of the first high-tech enterprises in Xiamen, China. KDW is a fully integrated global nutrition company. KDW currently provides Coenzyme Q10, Microalgea DHA, ARA, Vitamin A, Vitamin D3 and Beta-Carotene, with many more products in a well-established research and development process. KDW has retail stores in Singapore, sales outlets throughout Southeast Asia, a joint venture in Japan and wholly owned subsidiaries in the United States, including Vit-Best Nutrition, a contract manufacturer of nutritional supplements and, with this most recent acquisition, Doctor's Best.
Xiamen Kingdomway Group Company (KDW) was founded in 1997 as a key High-tech Enterprise of the National Torch Project and was publicly listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 2011 under the ticker 002626. With over 1,500 employees, KDW is one of the first high-tech enterprises in Xiamen, China. KDW is a fully integrated global nutrition company. KDW currently provides Coenzyme Q10, Microalgea DHA, ARA, Vitamin A, Vitamin D3 and Beta-Carotene, with many more products in a well-established research and development process. KDW has retail stores in Singapore, sales outlets throughout Southeast Asia, a joint venture in Japan and wholly owned subsidiaries in the United States, including Vit-Best Nutrition, a contract manufacturer of nutritional supplements and, with this most recent acquisition, Doctor's Best.
18 comments:
I just looked and the doctors best strontium product has been discontinued. Does the bone lady have any suggestions for reputable alternatives?
To: Anonymous of 10/4/2016,
Doctor's Best has not been discontinued, but the smaller sizes are unavailable. The online suppliers, www.iherb.com and www.vitacost.com, are carrying only the 360-capsule size and are currently out of stock. Amazon will have the 360-cap size in stock on October 12, 2016.
Two brands I know are good are Advanced Ortho Molecular Research, AOR, Advanced Series, Strontium Support II and Pure Encapsulations Strontium (citrate). Swanson Stontium Citrate, and Vitacost Strontium may also be worth checking out.
What about Life Extensions Strontium, do you like that one??
Dear Marilyn Pinkerton,
Life Extension has a good reputation in integrative health. Not only does the company provide supplements, but it also funds research, has published a textbook, publishes a magazine, and offers blood tests. LifeExtension Super K with Advanced K2 complex is the #1 best seller in vitamin K supplements at amazon.com. I don’t take it but know people who do. LifeExtension Strontium Caps come in 250-mg capsules, with a serving size of three capsules (total of 750 mg strontium). I don’t recall having heard from anyone on my blog or at NOF claiming to take this strontium product. It’s probably a good product. My only hesitation is the dosage and the number of capsules per dose. The more common dosage is 680 mg strontium from two capsules of 340 mg each.
Just found a new product on Amazon, Happy Healthy Smart STRONTIUM, it can supply 680mg per day.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00V2K6IT4/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=G363X4YPXZ27&coliid=I12K63RQPDFR0H
I don't see many reviews for this one, not sure if it's the same quality as Doctor's best.
Just FYI.
BoneLady said...
To Anonymous of 10/30/2016,
I had not heard of Happy Healthy Smart Strontium before now. I know nothing about the company. There are only 16 customer reviews for HHS Strontium on amazon.com as of 11/15/2016, and most of the reviewers have only been using the product a few days or a few months. One reviewer had been using it for a little over a year. Fifteen reviews were positive. The one negative review simply said, "Not what I needed." That brand is not available at iherb.com,the online supplier I use.
I would not buy a little known brand for myself. There are other good brands of strontium. Check out Advanced Ortho Molecular Research (AOR)Strontium Support II, Pure Encapsulations Strontium (citrate), Swanson Stontium Citrate, Vitacost Strontium, and Life Extensions Strontium. AOR is the one I recently purchased for myself.
November 15, 2016 at 10:14 AM
Thank you so much for your blog. I have purchased Dr's Best for many years. I was shocked when I went to Amazon and only found it for a very high price. I read that the manufacturer had discontinued it. I knew the BoneLady would know so that you so much for the info and listing alternatives for us. Going to check them out.
Unfortunately, the 360 count of Doctor's Best Strontium has also been discontinued as of Sept. 2016 according to their website. 😡
To Anonymous of 12/19/2016:
You're right. According to the website, https://www.drbvitamins.com/, Doctor's Best discontinued Doctor's Best Strontium Bonemaker, 340 mg, 60 veggie caps and 120 veggie caps, as of July 2016 and then discontinued the 360-veggie cap size as of September 2016. Some distributors may have stock for a while. Two marketplace vendors on amazon.com are currently selling Strontium Bonemaker at exorbitant prices. Wholesale Cheapest wants $49.60 plus $5.39 shipping for a 60-count bottle. Earth Nature wants $99.99 for a 120-count bottle, with free shipping and fulfillment by Amazon. Doctor's Best does not give an explanation on its website about why Bonemaker was discontinued.
To: Anonymous of 11/17/2016,
You're welcome. I enjoy writing my blog and interacting with my readers. So, thank you for reading and responding. I want it to be a two-way street because I learn from my readers. I, too, had purchased Doctor's Best Strontium Bone Maker for many years. Yes, the current prices for it at Amazon are outrageous. Doctor's Best stopped making the 60- and 120-veggie caps as of July 2016 and the 360-cap size as of September 2016, although some vendors still have stock. I bought AOR Strontium Support II and am half way through my first bottle. Pure Encapsulations Strontium (citrate), Swanson Stontium Citrate, Vitacost Strontium, and Life Extension Strontium Caps are also worth checking out.
I emailed Doctor's Best and received the following reply:
A safety review done on strontium ranelate, a prescription drug available in Europe showed the drug could have increased heart and circulatory effects in patients with previous heart conditions. It is important to note that this was a prescription medication and in the form of strontium ranelate. Doctor’s Best Strontium Bone Maker is in the form of strontium citrate.
While there have been no reports of heart or circulatory issues with strontium citrate, Doctor’s Best has decided to discontinue Strontium Bone Maker from our product line.
We now offer Doctor’s Best Bone Maker® with Bonolive, a calcium-free bone health supplement that helps promote the stimulation of bone building cells (osteoblasts). Bonolive™ is the only clinically proven olive-based bone supplement. The clinical dose is very small compared to other calcium supplements.
http://www.bonolive.com/
Thank you for contacting Doctor’s Best. We appreciate your continued support.
Best Regards,
Daniel Cruz
Consumer Affairs
Hello all,
Doctor's Best has not discontinued the production of our Strontium Bone Maker due to the recent change in ownership.
A safety review done on strontium ranelate, a prescription drug available in Europe showed the drug could have increased heart and circulatory effects in patients with previous heart conditions. It is important to note that this was a prescription medication and in the form of strontium ranelate. Doctor’s Best Strontium Bone Maker is in the form of strontium citrate.
While there have been no reports of heart or circulatory issues with strontium citrate, we have decided to discontinue Strontium Bone Maker, until we can receive safety data showing strontium citrate cannot cause the side affects associated with strontium ranelate.
As you have read, Doctor’s Best is now owned by the Kingdomway Group, a publicly traded company in China. The primary reason Kingdomway purchased Doctor’s Best was to provide an authentic, manufactured in the USA brand to the rapidly expanding market in Asia. U.S. brands are considered to be of the highest quality and are sought after in those markets.
Therefore, it is fundamental to Kingdomway’s investment that the brand not only maintain its authenticity and integrity, but continue to be manufactured in the USA. There have been no changes in the staff, sourcing, or our quality standards. Doctor’s Best is headquartered in California and our manufacturing is done in the USA and will remain in the USA.
We appreciate the trust our consumers have in our brand and we will maintain our brands’ quality and integrity as our pledge to our consumers.
Daniel Cruz
Consumer Affairs Representative
Doctor's Best Inc
Dear Mr. Cruz,
It was the current owner, Kingdomway Group, that decided to discontinue the production of Strontium Bone Maker. Was it not?
Protelos and Osseor (strontium ranelate) remain available in Europe but with further restriction to patients who cannot be treated with other medicines approved for osteoporosis. Such patients are to be evaluated regularly by their doctors, and treatment is to be stopped if patients develop heart or circulatory problems, such as uncontrolled high blood pressure or angina. Patients who have a history of certain heart or circulatory problems, such as stroke and heart attack, must not use the drug.
A recent study on the "Effects of Strontium Ranelate on Markers of Cardiovascular Risk on Postmenopausal Osteoporotic Women" found that "after 12 months of treatment, there was no statistically significant change in cardiovascular risk factors and hemostatic parameters. None of the 40 women developed any clinical venous thromboembolic event. Strontium ranelate (SR) did not alter hemostasis factors or markers of cardiovascular risk, suggesting that reported increased risk of venous thromboembolism and non-fatal myocardial infarction with SR is mediated by other factors.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12020-015-0721-8
As you noted,"...there have been no reports of heart or circulatory issues with strontium citrate..." Yet your company decided to "discontinue Strontium Bone Maker, until we can receive safety data showing strontium citrate cannot cause the side affects(sic)associated with strontium ranelate." When, and from whom, do you expect to receive such data?
No, the decision made by our team here in Irvine, California. Led by our CEO Gale Bensussen who has been with the company since 2014. This was a tough decision, Strontium has been one of our top products over the past 5 years. However, as a manufacturer of dietary supplements we need to take into the account the health and safety of all consumers. Even if that means being overly cautious with a particular ingredient. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused. At this time, we do not have a specific time frame as to when we will revisit this product.
Dear Mr. Cruz,
I think Doctor’s Best decision to stop making Doctor’s Best Strontium Bone Maker stems from the latest labeling requirements in Canada.
A Health Canada review found that there is no information available on the cardiovascular risk with strontium ranelate at levels lower than 680 mg/day, or with non-ranelate forms of strontium at any dose. No Canadian or international reports of cardiovascular side effects involving non-ranelate strontium products were identified at the time of the review.
Nevertheless, in late 2015, Health Canada began requiring new labeling of strontium products, even those with only 4 mg strontium, to inform consumers not to use these products if they have, or are at high risk for heart disease, circulatory problems, or blood clots. Most affected companies revised their labels to comply with the new rules and continued selling their products in Canada, but Doctor’s Best chose to cancel its license for selling Doctor’s Best Strontium Bone Maker in Canada. http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2015/55524a-eng.php
The label on my Strontium Support II by Advanced Orthomolecular Research (AOR) carries the warnings required by Canada. That’s fine with me. I believe that strontium citrate (SC) is safer than strontium ranelate (SR) and all the other bone drugs. I have been taking SC for nine years and have suffered no side effects. My cholesterol and triglyceride levels are normal only because I take a statin and a drug for hypothyroidism. I also have a family history of heart disease and blood clots. I will continue to take the drugs that limit my cardiac risk while taking SC.
Dear Mr. Cruz,
You wrote "Bonolive™ is the only clinically proven olive-based bone supplement." Blogger marked your comment as spam because you were advertising a product. I just found it in my spam file.
Your new product has NOT been clinically proven effective for bone health. One small study on humans is not proof. Bonolive™ is a poor substitute for Doctor's Best Strontium Bone Maker (strontium citrate) for those with osteopenia or osteoporosis.
Olive oil and olives contain oleuropein, the active ingredient in your new product. There is evidence that a diet using olive oil as the primary source of fat (i.e., the Mediterranean diet) reduces the risk of dying from a heart attack and from other causes and the risk of getting cancer, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. Use virgin olive oil in your cooking, and drizzle extra-virgin olive oil on salads and vegetables. It is delicious and healthy.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/mediterranean-diet/art-20047801
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4227229/
Are you aware of studies showing Curcumin (as Meriva) improving osteoporosis. See recent study at http://www.europeanreview.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/1684-1689-Curcumin-based-supplementation-in-osteopenia.pdf which outlines a form of Curcumin (Turmeric) that has greater bioavailability for promising results. Am interested in your thoughts.
To Anonymous Poster of 10/2/17,
The preliminary, 24-week study on 57 subjects given curcumin(as Meriva)concluded that curcumin supplementation in combination with an appropriate lifestyle could be beneficial in the prevention and management of osteopenia.
It is way too early to know if further studies will prove curcumin to be beneficial for bone health, but, as a natural anti-inflammatory compound, curcumin is useful for many medical conditions. It is now believed that chronic, low-level inflammation plays a major role in almost every chronic Western disease, including heart disease, cancer, metabolic syndrome, Alzheimer's, and various degenerative conditions, such as arthritis.
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