EpiCor® is a nutritive dried yeast fermentate of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (often used in baking and brewing) that supports cellular metabolism and modulates immune function.* In vitro laboratory data has shown that EpiCor® activates Natural Killer (NK) cells.*
EpiCor® is a unique and novel dietary supplement used for support of immune health, with a fascinating history of discovery. In 1943, a company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa began manufacturing and selling a fermentation product from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the same yeast used in bread and beer making. The product was and still is used as an additive for animal feed to help improve digestion as well as overall health in animals. It has been on the market for over 60 years.
Interestingly, when the company became self-insured, they became aware of unusually low rates of illness in employees that worked in the manufacturing plant for this animal product. This led to very low increases in their insurance premiums over the years compared to other companies, saving them quite a lot of money. Hence they began to investigate what might be the cause of the “healthfulness” of the employees at the fermentation plant. This investigation and subsequent research studies led to the production of EpiCor® as a supplement for humans to support immune system health.1
A comparison study was performed on blood from 10 fermentation plant workers compared to that from 10 age- and gender-matched controls. The fermentation plant workers had several immune cell parameters that appeared superior to the control group. These included decreased levels of CD8 cells resulting in significantly increased CD4 to CD8 ratios, significantly improved cytotoxic natural killer (NK) cell activity even though total NK cells were decreased in number, higher killing efficiency of NK cells, significantly increased levels of secretory IgA, increased numbers of EpiCor® specific antibodies, higher levels of red blood cell intracellular glutathione, and significantly lower levels of immune complexes. These results represent benefits on various cellular players of both the specific and innate parts of the immune system.1,3,4
NK cells are one of the first lines of defense used by the immune system. An in vitro study performed on human cells showed that NK cells were activated after incubation with EpiCor®, as evaluated by expression of the CD69 activation marker. The CD25 marker (IL-2 receptor) was also induced in the NK cells, although to a lesser degree.1,2 B cell activation was also noted through increased expression of CD80 and CD86 markers.2 Immediate increases in calcium levels were evident in peripheral blood mononuclear cells after exposure to EpiCor®, suggesting increased activation through calcium regulation.2
Emed-OLE™ is a premier extract of olive leaf that has a high concentration of oleuropein, a powerful phyto-antioxidant that has shown an ability to regulate immune function.*
The bitter secoiridoid oleuropein is the major phenol component found in olive leaves, and is known for its antioxidant effects. The concentration of oleuropein in leaves by weight ranges from 9.04 to 14.32%.6 Other important constituents in the plant include oleuroside, ligstroside, demethyoleuropein, oleacin, kaempferol, quercitin, caffeic acid, erythrodiol, rutin, verbascoside, luteolin 7-glucoside, and apigenin 7-glucoside.6,7 A number of in vitro studies have established the antioxidant effects of oleuropein.8 In an in vivo model, rabbits fed oleuropein were found to have significantly lower levels of the oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde (MDA) in both plasma and in erythrocytes when compared to control rabbits.9 Additionally, a human study found that oral intake of increasing amounts of oleuropein and its hydrolysis derivative hydroxytyrosol led to significant dose-dependant decreases of the oxidative stress marker isoprostane in the urine of the subjects.10
Emed-OLETM is produced by Euromed from Olea europaea (Olive) trees found in the Andalusia region of southern Spain, which have been cultivated there since Roman times. The trees are grown under good agricultural practice (GAP) requirements prohibiting the use of herbicides, pesticides and fungicides on the tree during cultivation. The production utilizes a standardized method of water/ethanol extraction resulting in a full complement of fat and water-soluble olive phytochemicals. Extracts are carefully monitored to ensure the absence of contaminants as well as accurate and consistent levels of oleuropein in every batch. The drying process is performed in such a way to ensure that antioxidant activity is preserved. Emed-OLETM satisfies international monograph requirements for quality and safety. 11
Immunolin® is a high quality purified protein isolate high in immunoglobulins and beneficial growth factors that are known to support immune system wellness.*
Immunolin® is a concentrated source of bovine immunoglobulins or antibodies, which are proteins that function as an important part of the adaptive immune system. Immunolin® is especially rich in particular classes of immunoglobulins, namely IgG, IgM, and IgA. When taken orally Immunolin® is intended to support and supplement the body’s healthy immune system. In addition to immunoglobulins, Immunolin® also contains a number of other supportive constituents including transferrin, cytokines, endotoxin-binding proteins, and acute phase proteins.12
Plasma protein from which Immunolin® is derived has been commonly added to diets of early-weaned pigs in a spray-dried form in place of soy protein because it has been found to increase growth rate and food intake in these young and vulnerable animals in numerous studies. In one such study, a diet containing spray-dried animal plasma was compared to a control diet in newly-weaned pigs and it was found that, although the mean daily protein intake did not differ between groups, the rate of weight gain and dietary protein conversion efficiency, as well as utilization for lean tissue growth, was significantly higher in the animals eating the plasma diet.13 Similarly, gain-to-feed ratios increased linearly in male newly-weaned mice fed diets with similar nutrient concentrations and increasing amounts of plasma protein.14
To determine which component of the plasma protein provides its beneficial effects on growth performance, various molecular weight extracts of the plasma were compared. Pigs fed fractions especially rich in IgG produced similar beneficial results on growth and food intake increases as the plasma protein when compared to control diets. However, neither albumin-rich nor low molecular weight fractions produced such effects, suggesting that the IgG-rich fraction may be the important component from the plasma for the noted growth benefit.18 It has been hypothesized based on results discussed below that this benefit on growth may be due to a supportive effect on the immune system of these animals.18
A number of animal studies have been performed using oral supplementation of plasma protein in healthy animals before and during immune system challenges. Findings show that healthy newly-weaned pigs fed spray dried plasma had improved growth performance, decreased IgA secretion, enhanced intestinal mucosal function, and decreased levels of certain cytokines including TNF-alpha and IL-8 after challenge compared to those fed a control diet.15 In addition to an increase in healthy weight gain and gain to feed ratios, non-challenged pigs fed spray dried plasma protein had significantly lower percentages of macrophages, B lymphocytes, and gamma delta TCR positive lymphocytes in their lymph nodes and significantly lower percentage of macrophages in the Peyer’s patches (important lymphoid components of the intestinal immune system) compared to controls.17
An additional study looked at the effects of both animal plasma as well as concentrated immunoglobulins on the barrier function of the intestines in rats. Newly-weaned Wistar Lewis rats were fed either a control diet, a spray dried animal plasma enriched diet, or an immunoglobulin concentrate enriched diet. After challenge, the rats fed the control diet exhibited an increased permeability of the intestinal tract, while this was not seen in rats fed either the plasma protein or the immunoglobulin supplemented diets, suggesting a supportive role for these diets.19 Spray dried animal plasma also appears to have a positive effect on the growth of the beneficial bacteria Lactobacilli species in the intestinal tract of challenged pigs.16
The production of Immunolin® for support of the immune system utilizes cold processing and low temperature drying of serum to ensure high quality and prevent any degradation of protein during the manufacturing process.12
References
1. Embria Health Sciences (www.embriahealth.com/EpiCor™ _consumers.html)
2. Hart et al. A new Saccharomyces cerevisiae based product has anti-inflammatory effects while specifically activating human NK and B lymphocyte subsets. Unpublished study, personal communication.
3. Schauss AG, Jensen G, Vojdani A, Financsek I. After decades of ingestion by farm animals, the discovery of a yeast fermentate with unexpected significant immune modulatory activity when consumed by humans. [abstract] Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 2006; 25(5): 465.
4. Schauss AG, Vodjani A. Discovery of an edible fermentation product with unusual immune enhancing properties in humans. [abstract] FASEB J, 2006; 20(4): A143.
6. Savournin C, Baghdikian B, Elias R, Dargouth-Kesraoui F, Boukef K, Balansard G. Rapid high-performance liquid chromatography analysis for the quantitative determination of oleuropein in Olea europaea leaves. J Agric Food Chem 2001; 49(2):618-21.
7. Zheng, Q. Y., He, K. and Yang, X. Y. OlePure: Pharmacological effects, chemistry and process of olive leaf extract. Madis Botanicals, Inc., Hackensack, NJ.
8. Visioli F, Poli A, Gall C. Antioxidant and other biological activities of phenols from olives and olive oil. Med Res Rev 2002; 22(1):65-75.
9. Al-Azzawie HF, Alhamdani MS. Hypoglycemic and antioxidant effect of oleuropein in alloxan-diabetic rabbits. Life Sci 2006; 78(12):1371-7.
10. Visioli F, Caruso D, Galli C, Viappiani S, Galli G, Sala A. Olive oils rich in natural catecholic phenols decrease isoprostane excretion in humans. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2000; 278(3):797-9.
11. Euromed (www.euromed.es) Personal communication.
12. Proliant Biologicals (www.proliantinc.com/health/products/ImmunoLin.asp)
13. Jiang R, Chang X, Stoll B, Ellis KJ, Shypailo RJ, Weaver E, Campbell J,
Burrin DG. Dietary plasma protein is used more efficiently than extruded soy protein for lean tissue growth in early-weaned pigs. J Nutr 2000;130(8):2016-9.
14. Thomson JE, Jones EE, Eisen EJ. Effect of spray-dried porcine plasma protein on feed intake, growth rate, and efficiency of gain in mice. J Anim Sci 1994;72(10):2690.
15. Bosi P, Casini L, Finamore A, Cremokolini C, Merialdi G, Trevisi P, Nobili
F, Mengheri E. Spray-dried plasma improves growth performance and reduces inflammatory status of weaned pigs challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88. J Anim Sci 2004; 82(6):1764-72.
16. Torrallardona D, Conde MR, Badiola I, Polo J, Brufau J. Effect of fishmeal replacement with spray-dried animal plasma and colistin on intestinal structure, intestinal microbiology, and performance of weanling pigs challenged with Escherichia coli K99. J Anim Sci 2003; 81(5):1220-6.
17. Nofrarias M, Manzanilla EG, Pujols J, Gibert X, Majo N, Segales J, Gasa J. Effects of spray-dried porcine plasma and plant extracts on intestinal morphology and on leukocyte cell subsets of weaned pigs. J Anim Sci 2006; 84(10):2735-42.
18. Pierce JL, Cromwell GL, Lindemann MD, Russell LE, Weaver EM. Effects of spray-dried animal plasma and immunoglobulins on performance of early weaned pigs. J Anim Sci. 2005; 83(12):2876-85.
19. Perez-Bosque A, Amat C, Polo J, Campbell JM, Crenshaw J, Russell L, Moreto
M. Spray-dried animal plasma prevents the effects of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B on intestinal barrier function in weaned rats. J Nutr. 2006; 136(11):2838-43. |
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