Berkeley Premium Nutraceuticals, Inc., the country's leading developer of nutraceuticals, announced the launch of Rovicid, the once-daily, gentle dietary supplement to help support improved cardiovascular health by lowering cholesterol.

The primary ingredient in Rovicid, phytosterol (plant sterols) has been clinically proven to lower LDL or "bad" cholesterol. Plant sterols work by blocking the absorption of cholesterol in the body, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease. Rovicid is a proprietary blend of natural ingredients that also includes Vitamin E (may be effective at lowering the risk of heart disease, stimulating the immune system in older people and reducing premature aging), Niacin (useful in lowering triglycerides and "bad" cholesterol while increasing "HDL" or good cholesterol), folic acid, calcium, zinc and selenium.

"Rovicid offers a simple, once-daily alternative for men and women looking to lower their cholesterol," said Steve Warshak, CEO of Berkeley Premium Pharmaceuticals. "This innovative blend of ingredients is also designed to promote overall health and help people stay healthy and vital."

According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the number one killer in America, claiming more lives than any other cause of death, including stroke, cancer, AIDS and Alzheimer's disease. In 2001 alone, more than 900,000 Americans died of CVD. A high level of cholesterol in the blood is one of the risk factors for CVD and currently, 105 million Americans have a cholesterol level that puts them at cardiovascular risk.