ASSIGNMENT OF LEASES AND RENTS

            THIS ASSIGNMENT, dated this 1 day of May, 1998, made by IVC
INDUSTRIES, INC. ("Assignor"), a New Jersey corporation having an address at 500
Halls Mill Road, Freehold, New Jersey 07728, to THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as
Agent under the Term Loan Agreement hereinafter referred to (which, together
with its successors in that capacity, will be called herein the "Assignee"),
having an address at One Riverfront Plaza, Newark, New Jersey 07102.

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

            THAT, as part consideration for the credit extended by the Banks to
Assignor pursuant to the Term Loan Agreement (as such capitalized terms are
hereinafter defined), and for ten dollars and other good and valuable
consideration (the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged),

            THE ASSIGNOR hereby assigns, grants and transfers to Assignee the
entire lessor's interest in and to (a) all leases and other agreements, now
existing or hereafter entered into, affecting the use or occupancy of all or any
part of the real property described on Exhibit A hereto (such real property
being called herein the "Premises"); (b) all guarantees of any lessee's
obligations thereunder; and (c) all extensions, renewals and modifications of
the foregoing (all of the foregoing being called herein collectively the
"Leases");

            TOGETHER WITH the immediate and continuing right to collect and
receive all of the rents, income, issues and profits arising from the Leases or
otherwise from the use or occupancy of the Premises, now or hereafter due
(herein called collectively the "Rents"), including (without limitation) base
rents, minimum rents, additional rents, percentage rents; charges for parking,
maintenance, taxes and insurance; deficiency rents and damages following
default; the premium payable by any lessee upon the exercise of a cancellation
privilege originally provided in any Lease; all proceeds payable under any
policy of insurance covering loss of rent resulting from any destruction or
damage to the Premises; and all other rights and claims of any kind which
Assignor may have against any lessee or any other occupant of the Premises in
respect of the Premises.

            THIS ASSIGNMENT is an absolute, unconditional and present assignment
by Assignor to Assignee of the Leases and Rents, and not merely the passing of a
security interest. Upon the execution and delivery of this Assignment, title to
the Rents shall vest in Assignee, and no further act shall be required to
effectuate such conveyance.

            THIS ASSIGNMENT is made in connection with the execution and
delivery of the Term Loan Agreement dated the date hereof (which, as the same
may be amended from time to time, will be called herein the "Term Loan
Agreement") among Assignor, the Banks party thereto and the Agent (as agent for
such Banks), pursuant to which a $3,500,000 term loan is this day being made to
Assignor.
<PAGE>

            All capitalized terms used herein and not defined shall have the
meanings ascribed to them in the Term Loan Agreement. All amounts at any time
owing to the Banks or Assignee under the Term Loan Documents will be called
herein the "Debt".

            THIS ASSIGNMENT is made on the following terms, covenants and
conditions:

            1. Representations and Warranties. Assignor represents and warrants,
as to the Leases now existing, that (a) Assignor is the sole owner of the entire
lessor's interest in the Leases; (b) the Leases are valid and enforceable and
have not been altered or amended in any manner whatsoever, except for such
amendments as have been delivered to Assignee; (c) none of the Rents has been
assigned or otherwise pledged or hypothecated; (d) none of the Rents has been
collected for more than one (1) month in advance; (e) the premises demised under
the Leases have been completed and the tenants under the Leases have accepted
the same and have taken possession of the same on a rent-paying basis; (f) there
exists no offset or defense to the payment of any portion of the Rents; and (g)
Assignor has the power to execute and deliver, and hereby does voluntarily
execute and deliver, this Assignment.

            2. Certain Covenants. Assignor shall perform and observe all the
covenants contained in the Mortgage relating to the Leases and the Rents.

            3. License to Collect. This Assignment constitutes a present,
absolute assignment of the Leases and the Rents. Nevertheless, subject to the
terms of this Section 3, Assignee grants to Assignor a revocable license to
collect (but not prior to accrual) the Rents. Assignor shall hold the Rents, or
a portion thereof sufficient to discharge all sums due currently from time to
time under the Term Loan Documents, in trust for Assignee for the payment of
such sums. Upon or at any time after an Event of Default, the license granted to
Assignor herein shall, at the election of Assignee, be automatically revoked.

            4. Remedies of Assignee. Upon or at any time after an Event of
Default, Assignee may, at its option, without waiving such Event of Default,
without notice and without regard to the adequacy of the security for the Debt,
either in person or by agent, with or without bringing any action or proceeding,
or by a receiver appointed by a court, take any or all of the following actions:

                  (a) revoke the license granted in the immediately preceding
            Section of this Assignment;

                  (b) take possession of the Premises and have, hold, manage,
            lease and operate the Premises on such terms and for such period of
            time as Assignee may deem proper, with full power to make from time
            to time all alterations, renovations, repairs or replacements
            thereto or thereof as may seem proper to Assignee;

                  (c) either with or without taking possession of the Premises,
            and either in its own name or in the name of Assignor, demand, sue
            for and 
<PAGE>

            otherwise collect and receive all Rents, including those past due
            and unpaid, and may apply the Rents to the payment of the following
            in such order and proportion as Assignee in its sole discretion may
            determine, any law, custom or use to the contrary notwithstanding:
            (i) all expenses of managing and securing the Premises, including
            (without limitation) the salaries, fees and wages of a managing
            agent and such other employees or agents as Assignee may deem
            necessary or desirable, and all expenses of operating and
            maintaining the Premises, including (without limitation) all taxes,
            charges, claims, assessments, water charges, sewer rents, and
            premiums for all insurance which Assignee may deem necessary or
            desirable, and the cost of all alterations, renovations, repairs or
            replacements, and all expenses incident to taking and retaining
            possession of the Premises; and (ii) the Debt, including (without
            limitation) all costs and attorneys' fees.

                  In addition to the rights which Assignee may have herein upon
the occurrence of an Event of Default, Assignee, at its option, either may
require Assignor to pay monthly in advance to Assignee, or any receiver
appointed to collect the Rents, the fair and reasonable rental value for the use
and occupation of such part of the Premises as may be in possession of Assignor,
or may require Assignor to vacate and surrender possession of the Premises to
Assignee or to such receiver and, in default thereof, Assignor may be evicted by
summary proceedings or otherwise.

                  For purposes of this Section 4, Assignor grants to Assignee
its irrevocable power of attorney, coupled with an interest, to take any and all
of the aforementioned actions and any or all other actions designated by
Assignee for the proper management and preservation of the Premises including
(without limitation) the endorsement of checks made payable to Assignor in
respect of rent payments by tenants. The exercise by Assignee of the remedies
granted it in this Section 4 and the collection of the Rents and the application
thereof as herein provided shall not be considered a waiver of any Event of
Default.

            5. No Liability of Assignee. Assignee shall not be liable for any
loss sustained by Assignor resulting from Assignee's failure to let the Premises
after an Event of Default or from any other act or omission of Assignee in
managing the Premises after an Event of Default, unless such loss is caused by
the willful misconduct and bad faith of Assignee. Assignee shall not be
obligated to perform or discharge any obligation, duty or liability under the
Leases or under or by reason of this Assignment. Without limiting the generality
of the immediately preceding sentence, Assignee shall not be bound by or liable
under any covenant of quiet enjoyment contained in any Lease in the event that
the lessee thereunder is joined as a party defendant in any action to foreclose
the Mortgage and is barred and foreclosed thereby of its interest in the
Premises. Assignor shall indemnify Assignee and hold Assignee harmless from and
against any and all liability, loss or damage which may or might be incurred
under the Leases or under or by reason of this Assignment and from any and all
claims and demands whatsoever, including the defense of any such claims or
demands which may be asserted against Assignee by reason of any alleged
obligations and undertakings on its part to perform or discharge any of the
terms, covenants or agreements contained in the Leases. Should Assignee incur
any such liability, loss or damage, the amount thereof, including costs,
expenses and reasonable 
<PAGE>

attorneys' fees, together with interest thereon at the Default Rate (as defined
in the Mortgage), shall be secured hereby and by the Mortgage, and Assignor
shall pay Assignee therefor immediately upon demand and upon the failure of
Assignor so to do Assignee may, at its option, declare the Note and all other
sums secured by the Mortgage immediately due and payable. This Assignment shall
not operate to place any obligation or liability for the control, care,
management or repair of the Premises upon Assignee, nor for the carrying out of
any of the terms and conditions of the Leases; nor shall it operate to make
Assignee responsible or liable for any waste committed on the Premises by the
tenants or any other parties, or for any dangerous or defective condition of the
Premises, including without limitation the presence of any Hazardous Materials
(as defined in the Mortgage), or for any negligence in the management, upkeep,
repair or control of the Premises resulting in loss or injury or death to any
tenant, licensee, employee or stranger.

            6. Notice to Lessees. Assignor hereby irrevocably authorizes and
directs the lessees and other occupants under the Leases, upon receipt from
Assignee of written notice, to pay over to Assignee all Rents and to continue so
to do until otherwise notified by Assignee. Assignor agrees that lessees shall
have the right to rely upon any such notice from Assignee, and that lessees
shall pay the Rents to Assignee without any obligation and without any right to
inquire as to whether an Event of Default has occurred, notwithstanding any
claim of Assignor to the contrary. Assignor shall have no claim against lessees
for any Rents paid by them to Assignee.

            7. Future Leases. This Assignment is and shall be automatically
effective as to each and every Lease entered into after the date hereof, without
any necessity of any further or supplemental assignment.

            8. Release of Security. Assignee may take or release security for
the payment of the Debt, may release any party primarily or secondarily liable
therefor and may apply any security held by it to the reduction or satisfaction
of the Debt without prejudice to any of its rights under this Assignment.

            9. Other Remedies. Nothing contained in this Assignment and no act
done or omitted by Assignee pursuant to the powers and rights granted to
Assignee hereunder shall be deemed to be a waiver by Assignee of its rights and
remedies under any of the Term Loan Documents, and this Assignment is made and
accepted without prejudice to any of the rights and remedies possessed by
Assignee under the terms thereof. The right of Assignee to collect the Debt and
to enforce any other security therefor held by it may be exercised by Assignee
either prior to, simultaneously with, or subsequent to any action taken by it
hereunder.

            10. No Mortgagee in Possession. Nothing herein contained shall be
construed as constituting Assignee a "mortgagee in possession" in the absence of
the taking of actual possession of the Premises by Assignee. In the exercise of
the powers herein granted to Assignee, no liability shall be asserted or
enforced against Assignee, all such liability being expressly waived and
released by Assignor.

            11. No Oral Changes. This Assignment and any provisions hereof may
not be modified, amended, waived, extended, changed, discharged or terminated
orally, or 
<PAGE>

by any act or failure to act on the part of Assignor or Assignee, but only by an
agreement in writing signed by the party against whom the enforcement of any
modification, amendment, waiver, extension, change, discharge or termination is
sought.

            12. No Impairment. (a) The failure of Assignee to insist upon strict
performance of any term hereof shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any term of
this Assignment.

                  (b) Assignor shall not be relieved of Assignor's obligations
hereunder or in respect of the Debt by reason of any or all of the following:

                        (i) the failure of Assignee to comply with any request
            of Assignor or any guarantor to take any action to realize upon this
            Assignment or otherwise enforce any of the provisions hereof or of
            the Debt; or

                        (ii) the release, regardless of consideration, of the
            whole or any part of the Premises or any other security for the
            Debt, or of any person liable for the Debt or any portion thereof;
            or

                        (iii) any agreement or stipulation by Assignee with
            Assignor or (without any necessity of notice to or consent by
            Assignor) with any subsequent owner of the Premises, extending the
            time of payment or otherwise modifying or supplementing the terms of
            the Debt, this Assignment or of any instrument or agreement executed
            in connection herewith;

any and all of which may be done by Assignee without any necessity of notice to
or consent by the holder of any subordinate lien or encumbrance or any other
person, and without in any manner impairing this Assignment or its priority.

                  (c) Assignee may resort for the payment of the Debt to any
other security held by Assignee in such order and manner as Assignee, in its
discretion, may elect.

                  (d) Assignee may take action to recover the Debt, or any
portion thereof, without prejudice to the right of Assignee thereafter to
enforce this Assignment.

                  (e) No omission on the part of Assignee to name any tenant as
a defendant in any foreclosure proceeding shall impair in any way whatsoever the
entitlement of Assignee to a deficiency judgment or diminish the amount of the
deficiency.

                  (f) Acceptance of any payment after the occurrence of any
default or Event of Default shall not be deemed a waiver or cure of such default
or Event of Default and shall not impair any acceleration of the maturity of the
Debt or any other right or remedy to enforce the Debt or this Assignment.
Acceptance of any payment less than any amount then due shall be deemed an
acceptance on account only.
<PAGE>

                  (g) The rights of Assignee under this Assignment and under the
Term Loan Documents shall be separate, distinct and cumulative and none shall be
given effect to the exclusion of the others. No act of Assignee shall be
construed as an election to proceed under any one provision hereof or thereof to
the exclusion of any other provision. Assignee shall not be limited exclusively
to the rights and remedies herein or therein stated but shall be entitled to
every right and remedy now or hereafter afforded at law or in equity.

                  (h) The interest granted herein to the Assignee in the Rents,
and the rights of the Assignee hereunder to collect and receive the Rents and to
exercise any of the other rights and powers herein granted to the Assignee,
shall survive the entry of a judgment of foreclosure in respect of the Mortgage.

            13. Inapplicable Provisions. If any term, covenant or condition of
this Assignment is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect,
this Assignment shall be construed without such provision.

            14. Governing Law. This Assignment shall be construed and enforced
in accordance with the laws of the state in which the Premises is located.

            15. Termination of Assignment. This Assignment shall continue to be
effective until payment in full of the Debt and the delivery and recording of a
satisfaction or discharge of the Mortgage duly executed by Assignee, whereupon
this Assignment shall be terminated. The affidavit, certificate, letter or
statement of any officer of Assignee showing any part of the Debt to remain
unpaid shall constitute conclusive evidence of the continuing effectiveness of
this Assignment, and any person is hereby authorized to rely thereon.

            THIS ASSIGNMENT, including the covenants, warranties, powers and
other provisions herein contained, shall inure to the benefit of Assignee and
any subsequent holder of the Mortgage, and shall be binding upon Assignor, its
heirs, successors and assigns, including any subsequent owner of the Premises.

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Assignor has executed this instrument the day
and year first above written.

Attest/Witness:                        IVC INDUSTRIES, INC.


/s/ Martin A. Pickus                   By:   /s/ I. Alan Hirschfeld
-----------------------                      -------------------------
                                             Name:
                                             Title:


--Exhibit A - Property Description
<PAGE>

STATE OF NEW JERSEY
                                         SS.:
COUNTY OF NEW SOMERSET


            On this 1st day of May, 1998, before me, the undersigned, personally
appeared I. Alan Hirschfeld, the Executive Vice President of IVC Industries,
Inc., who, I am satisfied, is the person who signed the foregoing instrument,
and he did acknowledge under oath that he signed and delivered the same in his
capacity as such officer, that he was authorized to execute the same on behalf
of such corporation, and that the foregoing instrument is the voluntary act and
deed of such corporation, made by virtue of the authority of its board of
directors.


                                                /s/ S.A. Denkovic
                                                -----------------