HEALTH

As many as 72% of consumers use vitamins and dietary supplements, according to an online survey of more than 900 AccentHealth viewers conducted in late 2012. Those most likely to report supplement use include women and all consumers over the age of 55 years. Almost 3-in-4 women surveyed supplement their diets (74%) vs. 65% of men, and 81% of consumers over 55 years reported supplementing vs. 72% of consumers between the ages of 35 years and 54 years.

A sick child leads to one certainty: parents in search of safe and effective symptom relievers that will allow their child — and subsequently, themselves — to get some rest.

"As seen on 'Shark Tank'" may become the new "As Seen on TV" plug, especially if more products like Ava the Elephant — a pediatric medical dispenser that talks to children as its dispensing the medicine — make it to market.

Mom and entrepreneur Tiffany Krumins appeared on the pilot show of ABC's "Shark Tank" and talked real-estate mogul Barbara Corcoran into investing $50,000 into the product concept.

CHICAGO — Balding men will give up just about anything to get their hair back, according to a recent survey out of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery — including that monster 60-in. LCD HDTV bought for this year's airing of the 49ers versus the Ravens. Of the 2,338 men with male pattern hair loss polled, more than 56% said they would be willing to give up something they owned in exchange for more hair. But they might not have to go as far as getting surgery with the launch of Lifes2good Natural Healthcare's Viviscal Man.

NEW YORK — HungerShield on Friday announced the launch of its appetite control product of the same name. The appetite suppressant is formulated with a blend of fiber, protein and probiotics and is designed to be mixed with 12-16 oz. of water to create a lemon-lime flavored drink that can be consumed on-the-go.

MIAMI — Scimera BioScience on Thursday announced the launch of a novel probiotic formulation, Asprega ProPac, to address the gastrointestinal side effects of antibiotic therapy including antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Unique to ProPac, Scimera packages its probiotic in a convenient 10-day course.

ATLANTA — This year's triumvirate influenza vaccine was less effective in seniors as compared to the general population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report" published Friday. Overall effectiveness of the vaccine was 56%, similar to an earlier interim estimate of 62%. 

The adjusted, age-stratified vaccine effectiveness point estimates were 58% for children, 46% for adults younger than 50, 50% for men and women between the ages of 50 years and 64 years and 9% for seniors. 

The YMCA is offering a demonstration project to show that its YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program — part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's broader National Diabetes Prevention Program — can lower the incidence of Type 2 diabetes and reduce medical costs incurred by Medicare.