Nutritional supplement

Composition

One capsule contains: 

• Beta glucan                                        100 mg,
• Cordyceps (Cordyceps sinensis) extract   100 mg,
• Vitamin C                                             60 mg.

Recommendations for use:

• for strong immunity,
• to reduce cholesterol and sugar blood levels,
• for strong immunity and healthy skin,
• to improve wound healing.

Action of active substances

Beta glucans

Beta glucan, as a natural polysaccharide, is mostly found in medicinal Japanese mushrooms Shiitake, Maitake, Reishi, yeast, algae and barley. Beta glucan has a versatile action including its ability to effectively and safely reduce cholesterol and LDL (low density lipoproteins) levels in blood and combat progress of atherosclerosis. There are clinical researches indicating that intake of Beta glucans reduces total cholesterol levels in blood by 8-10 percent. Beta glucan has also ability to reduce assimilation of carbohydrates, improve sensitivity of tissues to insulin, improve metabolic processes, and reduce glucose concentration in blood. Beta glucans enhance immunity, have strong anti-tumor action, stimulate post-surgery and post-injury wound and bedsore healing, and induce skin renewal. In combination with cytostatics, Beta glucans reinforce the effect of cytostatics and reduce their negative action on immune system. In addition to the above, Beta glucans have a radioprotective effect and therefore intake of Beta glucans is strongly recommended for radiotherapy or post-radiotherapy patients.

ScientificresearchesevidencingeffectofBetaglucans

* In 1991, Kochi (Japan) Medical School carried out double blind placebo controlled research involving 120 throat carcinoma patients. The influenceofBetaglucansongrowthofthenumberofkillersandimmunesystem was observed. The number of killers within one and three weeks increased by 34% and 46% respectively. Moreover, the group treated by Beta glucans showed increased activity of killers (p<0.05). Intake of Beta glucans increases the number of killers and enhances their activity in addition to its action as immunity booster. (Clin.Exp.Immunolog.1991;86(2): 229 – 35 Yoneda K., Osaki T., Departament of Oral Surgery, Kochi Medical Shool,Japan)
* In order to determine the effect of Beta glucans on skin damages resulting from radiotherapy treatment, the US Cancer Research Institute performed double blind placebo controlled research involving 180 breast cancer female patients in 1996. One group of patients was treated by radiotherapy and another-by radiotherapy in combination with Beta glucans. Within 6 months, the combined treatment group showed 30% less skin damages than the radiotherapy group. Within 11 months, the combined treatment group showed 45% less skin damages than the radiotherapy group. It became evident that intake of Beta glucans reduces side effects of radiotherapy.
* In 2003, Helwan University (Cairo) carried out double blind randomized placebo controlled research involving 514 stomach cancer patients. One group of patients was treated by cytostatics in combination with Beta glucans and the other- by cytostatics only. Combination of cytostatics and Beta glucans proved to stop reduction of the number of lymphocytes and enhance immunity within 4 months. While patients undergoing treatment by cytostatics showed constantly decreasing number of lymphocytes and failing immune system ( Mutat Res.2003 Nov10 ;541(1 – 2): 45 – 53. Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt).

Cordyceps (Cordyceps sinensis)

Cordyceps (Cordyceps sinensis) is one of the medicinal fungi well known both, in traditional and modern Chinese medicine as a body strengthening substance. It is also known as “a winter caterpillar or summer grass or caterpillar fungus”. Cordyceps sinesis is mostly found in China mountains, Tibet and Nepal. Pharmacological effect is determined by bioactive polysaccharides, modifiednucleosides andmetabolitessimilartocyclosporine present in Cordyceps sinesis. The greatest interest in Cordyceps sinesis qualities arose in 1993, when a group of Chinese long distance runners achieved 9 world records. It emerged that these sportsmen used Cordyceps sinesis extract as a tonifying substance and energy and endurance booster. Numerous scientificstudiesevidenced that Cordyceps sinesis extract is an excellent immunostimulant, appetite enhancer and blood production promoter. It is also beneficialforpeoplepronetochill,allergicrhinitis,chronicbronchitis,asthmaornightperspiration. Positive effect of Cordyceps sinensis extract on insufficientrenalfunction,hypertensionorinthepresentsof high levels of blood lipids has also been revealed.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C or L-ascorbic acid or L-ascorbate is an essential nutrient for humans and certain other animal species, in which it functions as a vitamin.
In living organisms, ascorbate is an anti-oxidant, since it protects the body against oxidative stress.
Revered as an immune-booster vitamin C also aids in wound healing and is an antioxidant that protects against free radical damage to the body. Vitamin C is also needed to build collagen, the substance that attaches the skeleton together, linking bones to muscles and keeping organs in place. Collagen is also responsible for keeping the skin smooth and wrinkle-free. Vitamin C helps with the absorption of other nutrients like calcium and iron.

Studies evidencing efficiency of the components

* Cordyceps sinensis extract was administered for 25 hepatitis B patients. After 3 month of treatment the patients showed a significantdecreaseofTlymphocytesCD4,CD8count(P<0.05). Itevidencesapositiveeffectof Cordyceps sinesis extract on correction of T lymphocytes count and kidney fibrosis.(GongHY,WangKQ,TangSG. Hunan Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao 2000;25:248-250. [Article in Chinese] )
* There are clinical evidences that Cordyceps sinensis extract is beneficialtohumanimmunesystemandimproves kidney and lung functions. (Zhu, J., et al., The ScientificRediscoveryofanAncientChineseHerbalMedicine: Cordyceps sinensis, Part 1. The Journal of Alt and Comp Med. 1998 (4); 3:289-303. Zhu, J., et al., The ScientificRediscoveryofanAncientChineseHerbalMedicine:Cordycepssinensis,Part2.TheJournalofAlt and Comp Med. 1998 (4); 4:429-57. )
* Cordyceps sinensis extract helps to relieve symptoms of chronic bronchitis and asthma (Reference 2, Chapter “Effects on the Respiratory System”, pages 429-432).
* Several studies showed benefitsofCordycepssinensisextractinarrhythmiaandchronicheartdeficiencypatients (Reference 2, Chapter “Effects on the Cardiovascular System”, pages 436 – 441).
* Cordyceps sinensis extract helps to reduce total cholesterol contents by 10- 21%, triglicerides content by 9-26% and increase good cholesterol contents by 27-30%. (Reference 1, Chapter “Effects on blood lipid metabolism and arteriosclerosis”, pages 299 – 301).
* 51% of patients with chronic renal disorders showed a considerable improvement after one month of treatment with Cordyceps sinensis extract.(Jiang JC, Gao YF. J Administration Traditional Chinese Med 1995;5(suppl):23-24)
* One clinical study showed that Cordyceps sinensis extract considerably increases activity of T lymphocytes killers in Leukemia patients .(Liu C, Lu S, Ji MR, Xie Y. effects of Cordyceps sinensis on in-vitro natural killer cells.)
* Cordyceps sinensis extract increased activity of T lymphocytes killers by 74% in healthy individuals and in leukemia and melanoma patients activity of T lymphocytes killers showed growth by 400%. (Xu RH, Peng XE, Chen GZ, Chen GL. Effects of Cordyceps sinensis on natural killer activity and colony formation of B16 melanoma. Chinese Med J 1992;105(2):97-101)
* Research results revealed that Cordyceps sinensis extract increases contents of sex hormones (Wan F, Guo Y, Deng X. Chinese Traditional Patented Med 1988;9:29-31).
* Clinical study involving 189 patients with reduced libido showed an improvement by 66% . (Wan F, Guo Y, Deng X. Chinese Traditional Patented Med 1988;9:29-31).
* 22 male patients were treated by Corcypecs sinesis for 8 weeks. After treatment 33% of patients demonstrated increased contents of spermatozoids, 29% of patients showed reduced changes in spermatozoids, (Guo YZ. J Modern Diagnostics Therapeutics 1986;(1):60-65)

Dosage

1 capsule 2 to 3 times per day with meals.

Literature:

1. Wasser SP, Weis AL, “Therapeutic effects of substances occurring in higher Basidiomycetes mushrooms: a modern perspective,” Crit Rev Immunol. 1999; 19(1): 65-96.
2. Bousquet M, Escoula L, Peuriere S, et al., “Immunopharmacologic study in mice of 2 beta-1, 3, beta-1, 6 polysaccharides (scleroglucan and PSAT) on the activation of macrophages and T lymphocytes,” Ann Rech Vet. 1989; 20(2): 165-73.
3. Soltys J, Quinn MT, “Modulation of endotoxin- and enterotoxin-induced cytokine release by in vivo treatment with beta- (1,6)-branched beta- (1,3)-glucan,” Infect Immun. 1999 Jan; 67(1): 244-52.
4. Williams DL, Ha T, Li C, et al., “Inhibiting early activation of tissue nuclear factor-kappa B and nuclear factor interleukin 6 with (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan increases long-term survival in polymicrobial sepsis,” Surgery. 1999 Jul; 126(1): 54-65.
5. Miura NN, Ohno N, Aketagawa J, et al., “Blood clearance of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in MRL lpr/lpr mice,” FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 1996 Jan; 13(1): 51-57.