John A. Wise

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John A. Wise, PhD (born c. 1939), is an American scientist and writer, who was the Vice-president of Science and Data Information for United Sciences of America, Inc. (USAI)[1] until 1986, and later became Chief Science Officer for Natural Alternatives International (NAI). USAI was a multi-level marketing company in Dallas, Texas which went bankrupt and was shut down after it was revealed as having fraudulent marketing practices.

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[edit] Biography

Wise graduated with a B.S. in Preventative Medicine and a B.A. in Zoology from the University of Washington in 1963, as well as an M.S. in Microbiology from the University of Minnesota in 1967. He received his Ph.D. in Microbiology from Oregon State University in 1970.[2]

[edit] United Sciences of America

From 1982 to 1986, Wise was Executive Vice President of Research and Development for the nutritional supplement company United Sciences of America, Inc. (USAI).[3] In October 1986, USAI was the subject of an expose produced by NBC, which revealed the company’s use of fraudulent scientific claims and deceptive advertising.[4][5]

The FDA subsequently investigated USAI for pyramid-scheming, the use of false and misleading promotional materials, and for making prohibited disease treatment claims. Attorneys General in California, New York and Texas simultaneously filed lawsuits ordering USAI to change its marketing plan and sales claims. In response, USAI filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations in 1987. USAI’s deceptive sales and marketing tactics were reviewed in several articles published in 1986-1987.[6][7][8][9][10]

[edit] Natural Alternatives International

In 1987, Dr. Wise joined Natural Alternatives International (NAI) as the Director of Science and Technology.[3] He was appointed Vice President of Research and Development in 1992 and served as Chief Scientific Officer from 2002 until June 2007, at which time he retired as an officer, being retained by the company as a consultant. As Chief Scientific Officer Wise was paid an annual salary of $200,000, and now receives $10,000 monthly as a consultant. He currently owns 56,900 shares of NAI stock and holds stock options (59,600 shares) valued at roughly $1 million USD.[2][11] NAI manufactures a nutritional supplement known as Juice Plus+ for National Safety Associates. Several of the research articles published on Juice Plus were co-authored by Wise.[12][13][14][15][16] Some of them received criticism as being poorly designed.[17][18]

[edit] References

  1. ^ United Sciences of America
  2. ^ a b Profile of John A. Wise, PhD. Forbes (2006). Retrieved on 2007-06-07.
  3. ^ a b Natural Alternatives International Inc: DEF 14A (1/8/01) [SEC File 0-15701; Accession Number 1095811-0-4161]. SEC Info. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
  4. ^ Barrett, Stephen. The Rise and Fall of United Sciences of America. MLM Watch. Retrieved on 2007-07-27.
  5. ^ Farley, Dixie (1987). "The eyes of Texas were upon them - and FDA - United Sciences of America Inc". FDA Consumer (October). 
  6. ^ Stare, F.J.; . (1986). "Marketing a nutritional "revolutionary breakthrough". Trading on names.". N Engl J Med 315 (15): 971-3. 
  7. ^ Young, E.A.; Schenker, S., Weser, E. (1987). "United Sciences of America, Incorporated: an "optimal" diet?". Ann Intern Med. 107 (1): 101-3. 
  8. ^ Renner, J.H. (1986). "Science or scam?". N Engl J Med 315 (15): 971. 
  9. ^ Holden, C. (1986). "Scientists get flak over marketing plan". Science 234 (4780): 1063-4. 
  10. ^ "USA: The strange rise and fall of one MLM" (1987). Money (June 1). 
  11. ^ Summary of Natural Alternatives International, Inc. stocks.us.reuters.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
  12. ^ Plotnick, Gary; Corretti MC, Vogel RA, Hesslink, Jr. R, Wise JA. (2003). "Effect of supplemental phytonutrients on impairment of the flow-mediated brachial artery vasoactivity after a single high-fat meal" (pdf). J Am Coll Cardiol 41 (10): 1744-9.
  13. ^ Kiefer I, Prock P, Lawrence C, Wise J, Bieger W, Bayer P, Rathmanner T, Kunze M, Rieder A (2004). "Supplementation with mixed fruit and vegetable juice concentrates increased serum antioxidants and folate in healthy adults" (pdf). J Am Coll Nutr 23 (3): 205-11. 
  14. ^ Smith MJ, Inserra PF, Watson RR, Wise JA, O'Neill KL (1999). "Supplementation with fruit and vegetable extracts may decrease DNA damage in the peripheral lymphocytes of an elderly population". Nutr Res 19 (10): 1507-18. 
  15. ^ Inserra PF, Jiang S, Solkoff D, Lee J, Zhang Z, Xu M, Hesslink R, Wise J, Watson RR (1999). "Immune function in elderly smokers and nonsmokers improves during supplementation with fruit and vegetable extracts". Integr Med 2 (1): 3-10. 
  16. ^ Wise JA, Morin RJ, Sanderson R, Blum K (1996). "Changes in plasma carotenoid, alpha-tocopherol, and lipid peroxide levels in response to supplementation with concentrated fruit and vegetable extracts: A pilot study". Curr Ther Res 57 (6): 445-61. 
  17. ^ Stanton R (2000). "Nutrition: who can you believe?". The Skeptic 20 (4): 23-7. 
  18. ^ Juice Plus+. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Retrieved on 2006-10-15.

[edit] External links