U.S. lawmakers are investigating advertising claims that Wyeth Consumer Healthcare, Madison, NJ, has made for its Centrum Cardio product, which is marketed as a “cholesterol-lowering” multivitamin that contains 800 mg of phytosterols.
The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce and its Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations—chaired by Michigan Reps. John Dingell and Bart Stupak, respectively—sent Wyeth president and CEO Bernard Poussot a letter dated Sept. 12, asking the company to substantiate its claims.
A television commercial advertises Centrum Cardio—which launched in October 2007—as the “First and only complete multivitamin that lowers cholesterol.” The company’s website also claims its product can lower cholesterol within one month. It cites a 2000 FDA interim rule that allows dietary supplements or foods that provide 800 mg of free phytosterols to claim a possible reduction in heart disease. A daily serving of Centrum Cardio, or 2 tablets, contains 800 mg of phytosterols.
“We are concerned that these statements may be misleading to the general public and that patients with high cholesterol may erroneously substitute Centrum Cardio for a treatment plan prescribed by their physicians,” the Sept. 12 letter states.
In addition to documentation related to claims made for the product, the lawmakers requested copies of all direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertisements within two weeks of receiving the letter.
The House Democrats say their committees are continuing to investigate DTC advertising for pharmaceutical products.
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