1


                                                                      EXHIBIT 99



REXALL SUNDOWN COMPLETES MERGER WITH RICHARDSON LABS
AT THE COMPANY:
Geary Cotton, Chief Financial Officer
(561) 241-9400

AT THE FINANCIAL RELATIONS BOARD:
Karen Griffiths, General Information
Lynn Sawyer-Landau, Analyst Information
(212) 661-8030

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Boca Raton, Florida -- January 29, 1998 -- Rexall Sundown, Inc. (Nasdaq: RXSD)
today announced that it has completed its previously announced merger with
Richardson Labs, Inc., a leader in the diet and weight management supplement
category.

To consummate the transaction, Rexall Sundown issued 2,884,616 shares of its
common stock to Richardson Labs' stockholders. The transaction was structured as
a pooling of interests and is expected to be accretive to Rexall Sundown's
earnings in the current fiscal year. Based in Boise, Idaho, Richardson Labs is
best known for its leading diet supplement Chroma Slim(R). Richardson Labs will
continue to be operated by its current management as a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Rexall Sundown.

Chris Nast, Rexall Sundown's President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We
believe that science-based products represent a significant market opportunity
as consumers, especially aging baby boomers, are increasingly turning to
alternative, natural products with documented benefits. As a proven innovator in
this arena, we are pleased to welcome Richardson Labs to the Rexall Sundown
family."

Mr. Nast continued, "We expect the combination of Richardson Labs' product
development strength and Rexall Sundown's multiple distribution channels to
benefit revenue and earnings this year and in the years to come. This merger is
consistent with our strategy to be the nation's leading supplier of vitamins and
nutritional supplements. Over the longer term, we believe that opportunities for
cost synergies and revenue enhancements will further increase the value of
Richardson Labs to our company.

"We have the financial resources and flexibility to continue to pursue
additional acquisitions and we will remain active in evaluating candidates that
are consistent with our strategic goals," Mr. Nast concluded. John Priddy,
President of Richardson Labs, stated, "We are extremely excited about the
consummation of the merger with Rexall Sundown. As we have said before, this
will give us the opportunity to leverage our proprietary, science-based products
to Rexall Sundown's multiple channels of distribution."






   2

Rexall Sundown, Inc. develops, manufactures and distributes vitamins,
nutritional supplements and consumer health products worldwide. Visit
the company's web sites at www.rexallsundown.com and
www.rexallshowcase.com.

# # #


Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which
are detailed in Rexall Sundown's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

To receive additional information on Rexall Sundown, Inc., via fax, at no
charge, dial 1-800-PRO-INFO and enter code RXSD.