The story of Biotics Research begins with a case of personal need. The DeLuca family, the founders of Biotics Research Corporation, wanted to help a family member who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness.

After researching the situation, it was believed that nutrition and dietary supplements would greatly improve and prolong the life of this individual. At the time, many nutrients were not available in supplement form in the United States, the DeLucas and the other founder were determined to manufacture and supply these products here in the U.S.

Denis DeLuca, president of Biotics Research, explains further: “Although there were dietary supplements on the market at that time, many were of little value. In 1975, the passing of the Proxmire Amendment allowed for higher doses of nutrients in supplements; but prior to that, there were very few clinically relevant dietary supplements on the market and even fewer available in the United States. We began our quest to make these products readily available to healthcare professionals and their patients here in the U.S.”

The company offers a wide variety of both purified and botanically based and biologically active whole-food products. “Nature teaches incredible lessons,” DeLuca says. “We strive to create products that are the best of science and nature.” With this mindset, the founders focused initially on developing innovative products and delivery systems that would be unique to the marketplace and beneficial.

As a result, Biotics Research led the market with a number of introductions in the U.S., including Coenzyme Q10, purified chondroitin sulfates, neonatal glandulars, vegetable culture (whole-food sourced) trace minerals, and micro-emulsified oily nutrients (A, D, E, etc.).

“It is important to note that Biotics Research Corporation is in no way, shape, or form a spinoff of any other company. Our unique delivery systems, including our whole food vegetable concentrates, are our original art,” DeLuca says.

“Since our inception over 35 years ago, chiropractors have been one of the most receptive branches of healthcare providers to nutritional science, and so Biotics Research has focused significant research and educational commitments into this key area of healthcare. Chiropractors have healing hands and are holistic by nature,” DeLuca says.

Today the company still works very closely with the chiropractic community and other healthcare professionals who play a key role in educating their patient base and the public about the health benefits of dietary supplements in clinical nutrition.

From the outset, Biotics Research would distinguish itself by focusing on the science of nutrition. “Research and development has always been a major part of our focus,” says DeLuca. “Our first in-house labs opened in the 1970s, and from there we have developed exciting new products, some of which we’ve patented. There are probably few nutritional companies that haven’t benefited in some way from our in-house research and development efforts.”

 

Clearing the way

As the company began to grow into the 1970s, these

pioneers had to confront an undeveloped marketplace that wasn’t quite certain where dietary supplements fit into the healthcare picture. “The laws were different back then,” DeLuca says. “There were regulatory challenges and hurdles, questions about health claims, and the laws relating to what chiropractors could do with respect to dietary supplements varied dramatically from state to state. Some of these challenges still exist today.”

In fact, Biotics Research worked at helping lay the groundwork for today’s improved environment for the dietary supplement industry. “We were literally knocking on the doors of legislators, working with lawmakers to clarify regulations,” DeLuca says. He recalls personally flying to Washington, D.C., to meet with members of congress during the debate of legislation affecting the nutrition industry.

 

Teaching the science

“We’ve always known it is important to help educate doctors about nutritional products, and how they can be used clinically,” DeLuca says. “We’ve always been in the information business. We disseminate nutritional data through published research, online education via electronic media, webinars, and seminars and symposiums. We’ve sponsored speakers around the globe who speak to healthcare professionals about nutritional science and its clinical applications.”

Biotics Research is also market driven: “We talk to those in the trenches and on the front lines of healthcare,” DeLuca says. “We listen to what practitioners are saying and develop products and tools that will help them grow their practice and meet the needs of their patients.”

Looking ahead, the future is bright for the nutrition industry. Interest in dietary supplements, vitamins, minerals, botanicals, and nutraceuticals continues to grow, and so does Biotics Research: DeLuca says they are currently expanding and doubling the size of their production and testing facilities to meet the continued and projected demand for their products and services.

“We’ve recently announced our first research partnership with the Florida Chiropractic Association, and are working closely with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine to conduct clinical studies to prove effectiveness and reliability of nutrients in clinical practice,” DeLuca says. He and the other founders hope that their children will also enter the family business and continue the mission started over 35 years ago.

“Every single day,” DeLuca says, “people around the world are taking our products to improve their health and their lives, and that improves the lives of those around them, and that makes us feel really good about what we do.”

Daniel Sosnoski is the editor of Chiropractic Economics. He can be reached at 904-567-1539, dsosnoski@chiroeco.com, or through www.ChiroEco.com.

 

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