GNC Comments on Military Panel's Two-Year Review of DMAA Products

PITTSBURGH, Aug. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- GNC Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: GNC) today commented on the findings of a military panel that spent nearly two years investigating the possible role of products containing DMAA in the deaths of soldiers who had been exercising rigorously while on duty. After an exhaustive review, the panel finally issued its report and concluded that: "The existing evidence does not conclusively establish that DMAA containing substances are causally associated with adverse medical events." 

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The panel's work began when the Assistant Secretary of Defense of Health Affairs asked the Army Surgeon General to lead a review of the available scientific evidence and adverse event data to better understand any potential relationship between DMAA and a series of adverse events suffered by members of our military. The panel, which included representatives from all three Services, Health Affairs, and Army Public Health Command, was tasked with evaluating the safety of DMAA-containing products often used by military personnel.

Consumers can access the panel's full report and its full findings at http://hprc-online.org/dietary-supplements/policies-standards-and-reports/files/ReportoftheDoDDMAASafetyReviewPanel2013.pdf. 

Joseph Fortunato, Chairman, President and CEO of GNC, commented, "At GNC, safety is our number one priority. GNC is delighted that the military's review of DMAA products validated what we already knew; namely, that products containing DMAA do not cause adverse medical events. This is a perfect example of how unjustified criticism of dietary supplements is simply not supported by sound science."

About Us
GNC Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, is a leading global specialty retailer of health and wellness products, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplement products, sports nutrition products and diet products, and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "GNC."

As of June 30, 2013, GNC has more than 8,300 locations, of which more than 6,200 retail locations are in the United States (including 969 franchise and 2,189 Rite Aid franchise store-within-a-store locations) and franchise operations in 55 countries (including distribution centers where retail sales are made).  The Company – which is dedicated to helping consumers Live Well – has a diversified, multi-channel business model and derives revenue from product sales through company-owned retail stores, domestic and international franchise activities, third party contract manufacturing, e-commerce and corporate partnerships.  GNC's broad and deep product mix, which is focused on high-margin, premium, value-added nutritional products, is sold under GNC proprietary brands, including Mega Men®, Ultra Mega®, Total Lean™, Pro Performance®, Pro Performance® AMP, Beyond Raw®, and under nationally recognized third party brands.  

Web:
GNC.com l Twitter: @GNCLiveWell l Facebook: facebook.com/GNCLiveWell

Media Contact:
Laura Brophy
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[email protected]

SOURCE GNC Holdings, Inc.