The Vitamin Shoppe adds testosterone replacement therapy to telehealth service
Partnering with Marius Pharmaceuticals, the platform now provides access to Kyzatrex (testosterone undecanoate) CIII capsules, a medication developed for men with low or no testosterone stemming from certain medical conditions.
“Men’s health and testosterone support has been a category of growing interest to our customers, so we’re especially pleased to now offer the highly effective and easy-to-use Kyzatrex prescription medication as our exclusive option for Whole Health Rx patients who can benefit from TRT,” said Lee Wright, CEO at The Vitamin Shoppe.
This is the company’s second Whole Health Rx offering, following the platform’s May launch with GLP-1 weight loss medications.
The Whole Health Rx wingmen
Whole Health Rx was developed as a holistic solution that conjoins prescription medications, dietary supplements and professional health guidance.
Powered by the WellSync virtual platform, it connects patients with licensed healthcare providers in real time to deliver not only prescriptions fulfilled through partner pharmacies but access to education about lifestyle changes and proper nutrition to promote whole-body health.
The Vitamin Shoppe notes that many potential patients looking into TRT share common factors, from diet and sleep issues to strength training and longevity goals. As such, it provides a nutritionist-approved assortment of companion supplements to support the TRT journey, which are introduced as TRT’s wingmen.
These include protein powders to deliver the amino acids needed to build and repair muscles, multivitamins to fill nutritional gaps and boost energy, blends for prostate support and creatine to benefit exercise performance, muscle growth and cognition.
"Testosterone boosters continue to lead the men’s health supplements category at TVS, specifically with top brands within our sports nutrition assortment entering into the men’s health space, such as Gorilla Mind and Bucked Up," a spokesperson from The Vitamin Shoppe told NutraIngredients-USA. "Most of the newness that vendors present to us for men’s health continues to be focused on testosterone support."
TRT as easy as one-two-three
Millions of American men experience testosterone deficiency (also known as hypogonadism). According to recent Endocrine Society estimates, approximately 35% of men over the age of 45 and 30% to 50% of men with obesity type 2 diabetes are hypogonadal.
The Vitamin Shoppe highlights that testosterone deficiency and metabolic diseases are bi-directional and that low testosterone levels can contribute to fatigue, decreased bone density, weight gain, difficulty sleeping, low sex drive, depression, lower muscle mass and anxiety.
“Testosterone Replacement Therapy can significantly improve energy levels, muscle mass and libido in males with a diagnosed deficiency in their testosterone levels,” said Mutahir Farhan, MD, a member of The Vitamin Shoppe Wellness Council. “It helps enhance mood, cognitive function and overall well-being. Additionally, TRT can aid in reducing the risks of cardiovascular diseases by maintaining optimal hormone levels.”
While TRT has traditionally been administered as injections, implanted pellets, patches or gels, Kyzatrex treatment consists of a twice-daily softgel capsule, which is absorbed via the lymphatic system, bypassing the liver to help avoid toxicity.
“The data demonstrates that Kyzatrex not only provides a safe and effective form of testosterone replacement therapy but also decreases sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and increases free testosterone levels in the body,” said Shalin Shah, CEO of Marius Pharmaceuticals.
“By combining the convenience of our oral delivery system with the benefits of testosterone undecanoate, we believe Kyzatrex can be transformative for men suffering from testosterone deficiency, addressing the significant drop in testosterone levels among men in the United States over the past few decades.”
