A
competent immune system is critical to good health. However
studies have proven that stress, smoking, genetics poor nutrition,
travel, disease, medical therapies, strenuous athletic training
and growing older all contribute to reduce immunity.
A
great majority of infections enter the body through mucosa
tissues primarily the intestinal tract and the lungs. Immune
cells in the gut produce large quantities of immunoglobulins
to prevent and destroy infections arising from pathogenic
organisms. This is a constant battleground and the overall
wellness is the result of how well a person's immune system
can fight such battles. Therefore the transfer of immunity
through oral supplementation is a natural, logical and effective
process. Thus, supplementation with immunoglobulins reduces
the demand in the gut for naturally produced antibodies allowing
more resources to be available wherever else needed.
ImmPower
offers an excellent source of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgGF,
lactoferrin, IgA and IgM) through the use of specially treated
colostrum and whey protein.
Colostrum contains both immune stimulatory and immune suppressive
immunoglobulins that are rich in proline that calm an overactive
immune system and stimulates it when under active. Colostrum
antibodies remain in the intestinal tract after ingestion
fighting intruders. An important part of colostrum is its
fat content that has been shown that colostral lipids modulate
the capability of adhesion expressing pathogens with their
target tissue (18).
Whey protein is by far the best protein for muscle growth
and tissue repair having an amino acid profile most like that
of the muscle. Additionally, all whey proteins are rich in
various types of albumins containing aminoacid sequences with
cisteine and glutamate that serve as precursors of glutathione
a potent antioxidant, which is needed in great quantities
during stress. Aminoacid sequences are readily absorbed by
white blood cells increasing their numbers, increasing glutathione
laves and antioxidant activity in immune compromised people.
Depending how the whey is purified it is also an excellent
source of immunoglobulins (19). Two methods are used for whey
purification: Microfiltration and ion exchange separation.
The former is the preferred method since it preserves glycomacropeptid
a hydrophilic peptide that keeps casein on solution. This
peptide stimulates the secretion of cholecystokinin a hormone
responsible for the release of pancreatic enzymes and the
emptying of the bladder/hepatic bile duct. This later function
is not only responsible for a healthy digestion but also for
the elimination of toxins. ImmPower incorporates both whey
and colostrum synergistically acting for immune support. Both
are present in sufficient amounts to provide necessary protection
against stress, toxins and diseases that undermine a person's
immune system in a challenging environment of the present
times.
Fermentation of the AG by gut microflora produces short chain
fatty acids and in particular butyrate an important energy
source for the colon epithelium. AG has been shown to be beneficial
to individuals susceptible to food allergies. This is due
to the AG's immune modulating properties enhancing natural
killer lymphocyte cytotoxicity activity through activation
of cytokines resulting in enhanced phagocytosis (15).
Lastly, lactoferrin is used in the product acting as a multi
task protein showing anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and immune
modulation activity (it promotes the growth and differentiation
of white blood cells) (6). Lactoferrin has a strong tendency
to bind iron essential to the support and growth of pathogenic
bacteria and it inhibits their attachment to the intestinal
wall (5).
As
with the rest of the Vibrant Health System Nutrients the design
of ImmPower is a complete and balanced product. It was mentioned
earlier that stress and particular stress due to free radicals
(from poor nutrition and toxic environments) could compromise
any healthy immune system. For this reason several anti-oxidants
were incorporated into the product.
Lastly,
lactoferrin is used in the product acting as a multi task
protein showing anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and immune
modulation activity (it promotes the growth and differentiation
of white blood cells) (6). Lactoferrin has a strong tendency
to bind iron essential to the support and growth of pathogenic
bacteria and it inhibits their attachment to the intestinal
wall (5).
As
with the rest of the Vibrant Health System Nutrients the design
of ImmPower is a complete and balanced product. It was mentioned
earlier that stress and particular stress due to free radicals
(from poor nutrition and toxic environments) could compromise
any healthy immune system. For this reason several anti-oxidants
were incorporated into the product.
Carnosine
a de-peptide found in the muscles helps to maintain homeostatic
equilibrium prolonging the life of cells (1). It has a multifunctional
activity being anti-oxidant, heavy metal binder, reversing
protein glycation (cross-linking) and modulates enzymatic
activities. As a result carosine has a remarkable ability
to throttle down bodily processes that are a state of excess
and to ramp up those that are under expressed and indeed that
is the case for its effect on the immune system. Aloe
Vera also a part of the anti-oxidant system used in this
product that works concomitantly with carnosine. The anti-oxidant
and radical scavenging effect of aloe originates from a large
number of substances in it by the synergistic action of sterols,
saponins, flavonoids and anthraquinones (2). Aloe also has
the ability through the activity of its polysaccharide acemannan
to stimulate the immune system causing macrophage activation
in terms of cell proliferation and expression of cytokines
(3). Polyphenols the major components of green tea have been
proven to be effective in preventing the development of malignant
tumor (4). This is done via an anti-oxidant mechanism involving
the scavenging of hydroxyl radicals the attacking agents to
the DNA chain triggering carcinogenesis. The interesting characteristic
of green tea is its function as an ant-oxidant for both water
soluble and oil soluble systems thus showing synergistic action
with tocopherol and vitamin C. It is an important component
for providing a continuous anti-oxidant effect both for protecting
lipid cell membranes and in body fluids.
The
final consideration for a balanced product such as the ImmPower
is to have a source of energy to supplement its immune boosting
activity. Three ingredients were selected for this purpose:
a) Medium chain triglycerides, b) creatine and c) carnitine.
Medium chain triglycerides are a unique class of lipids that
contain fatty acids that are metabolized like carbohydrates.
They are hydrolyzed quickly and completely then absorbed rapidly.
They travel directly to the liver and are burned for energy
and as a result these are not stored in body tissues. Medium
chain triglycerides are used as quick energy source(8). Creatine
is another energy generating ingredient especially during
anaerobic exercise. Creatine is phosphorilated in the body
to phosphocreatine by the enzyme creatine kinase. These three
components in the body constitute an intricate cellular energy
buffering system that connects energy production in the mitochondria
to the sites of energy consumption in the muscle (9). Creatine
supports the immune system as well inhibiting a broad range
of tumors as shown to be the case with rats (10). Supplementation
with creatine spares the precursor arginine making it more
available for the increase of nitric oxide, which is a factor
of macrophage activation. The third component for energy production
of ImmPower is carnitine that facilitates the burning of fatty
acids for metabolic energy (11). There is a growing evidence
that carnitine is also important for the carbohydrate metabolism.
There is a strong correlation between muscle carnitine and
activity of carbohydrate metabolism. Carnitine levels are
also related to the concentration of muscle glycogen. There
is a sparing glycogen effect with carnitine attributable to
improved energy production from fats, which effectively reduces
the need to burn glycogen (12). Although a direct immune modulating
activity of carnitine is to be determined a compromised immune
system, as in AIDS patients, was found to have a marked decrease
in carnitine increasing the risk for alteration in fatty acid
oxidation and energy supply (13). The combination of all the
above ingredients in the ImmPower product make this product
original with a broad range of use during situations that
result in a compromised immune system.
1.
Quinn P.L, et al, Mol. Aspects Mod. 13(5): 379 (1992)
2. Malterned K.E, et al Pharmacology 47(1): 77-85 (1993)
3. Zhang, et al, Immunopharmacol. 35(2):119 -128 (1996)
4. Hara Y, et al, Nippon Eiyo Shokurryo Gakkaishi 42:39 (1989)
5. Trumpler U, et al Eur. J Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis.
8:310(1989)
6. Adamik B, et al Aech. Immunol. Ther. Exp. 46:169 (1998)
7. Heydinger J, et al J. Food lipids 3:251-57 (1996)
8. Tappia P.S, et al Clinical Science 87: 173-78 (1994)
9. Greenhoff P.L, Int. J. Sport Nutr. 5:S100 (1995)
10. Miller E, et al Proc. Natl. Accad. Sci. 90:3304 (1993)
11. Leibovitz B.E, Lonza publication (1993)
12. Cerretelli P, et al Int. J Sports Medicine 11:1 (1990)
13. Simone C, et al AIDS 6:203 (1992)
14. Majeed M, et al "Lactospore the effective probiotic"
first edition, pages 19-24, Nutriscience Publishers, NJ (1998)
15. Papadimitriou D, Nutraceutical World 4(9):60 (2001)
16. Jacob S, et al "The miracle of MSM" pg. 168,
Putman's Sons (1999)
17. Stoff J.A, et al "The prostate miracle" pg.
114, Kensington Publishing, NY (2000)
18. Bitzman M.M, et al J. Infect. Dis. 177(4):955 (1998)
19. Bell J.S, J. of Medicinal Food 3(1):1 (2000)
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