A relatively small company by most accounts, NutriCare International, Springfield, MO, has nonetheless gained a nationwide presence through the work of Dr. Steven Margolis. As the company’s founder, formulator and medical advisor, Dr. Margolis has developed products to treat ailments and improve health, naturally.

Four to five years ago Dr. Margolis was troubled by the treatments his father had to endure as a result of colon cancer. The diagnosis, which led to various therapies, robbed his father’s body of vital nutrients. In order to compensate, Dr. Margolis designed “NutriMune,” a formulation of beta carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, selenium chelate, quercetin, bioflavonoids, green tea extract, garlic, SOD (an enzyme that revitalizes cells and reduces the rate of cell destruction), cat’s claw, grape seed extract and lycopene for an immuno deficiency treatment for immune related diseases, and “NutriHeart,” consisting of thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, vitamin B-12, magnesium chelate, lecithin, hawthorne berry, inositol hexaniancinate, folic acid, bilberry, myrrh gum and guar gum, designed for the prevention of high cholesterol and heart disease.

After formulating the two products Dr. Margolis sought out a manufacturer and NutriCare was born. Daphne Massa, vice president of marketing for NutriCare, explained that although the nutritional products market has become heavily saturated, NutriCare was created in response to something far more important. She said, “The company was created out of a love for a family member, not a booming market,” adding, “We will never be the first to market but we will always bring forth quality products.”

Since the introduction of NutriMune and NutriHeart, several other products have come on to share the spotlight. Those products include “NutriMan TNT” for sexual performance, which consists of tribulus terrestris, yohimbe extract, muira puama powder, velvet antler, suma root, aveena sativa and nettle herb powder, “NutriMan”-for maintaining prostate health and strengthening the reproductive system in males-which contains saw palmetto berry extract, pumpkin seed, pygeum extract, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine H), zinc and uva ursi, “NutriFem,” which is for improving and strengthening the reproductive system in females and includes red clover blossom, dong quai extract, black cohosh extract, licorice root, alfalfa leaf, chastetree berry, false unicorn root, fennel seed extract and boron chelate, “NutriLean” for weight loss, which is comprised of selenium, chromium picolinate, choline, inositol, L-taurine, “Citrimax,” L-methionine, L-carnitine and vanadyl sulfate and “NutriGize” for a subtle energy boost, which consists of calcium carbonate, magnesium aspartate, postassium aspartate, FoTi, cayenne pepper, damiana, sarsparilla root, guarana seed extract, Korean ginseng, American ginseng, Siberian ginseng and octaconsanol. In addition, according to Dr. Margolis, “The dosage of the ingredients remain in therapeutic amounts, which differentiates Nutricare’s products from others on the market.”

For the future Ms. Massa said that four new products have been planned but no release date has been set. For now the company continues to concentrate on supplying quality products and expanding distribution.

-R.M.