PharmaNutrients awarded new CLA patent
property store, on the use of CLA One to prevent or minimize the
onset of stress catabolic response in patients who have undergone
surgery or suffer from auto-immune disorders and infections.
The only CLA product produced in the United States, according to the company, CLA One is derived from natural safflower oil and has an action similar to that of omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil.
"During the course of our research at Penn State, we discovered CLA One could reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines," said Dr Susie Rockway, director of research and development at PharmaNutrients.
By modulating specific hormones and inflammatory molecules such as cytokines and eicosanoids before or at time that stress occurs, CLA One has been shown to minimize the stimulation or propagation of the stress response that can be triggered by acute or chronic illnesses, trauma, obesity, cancer, transfusions, surgery, immunological disorders and infections.
Individuals in a catabolic state are unable to overcome the physiological effects of catabolic agents such as cortisol, glucagon, adrenocorticotropic hormones and cytokines. Obese patients, for example, may find it impossible to lose weight despite dietary and medical interventions.
In patients who have undergone cardiac bypass surgery, metabolic stress can be a delayed response occurring up to two years afterwards. It may significantly influence morbidity and mortality.
Metabolic stress can also be associated with cachexia, a disease that causes a dramatic loss of fatty tissue, muscle tissue and bone and eventually affects the major organs, causing death. Cachexia affects around 25 percent of AIDS patients and 90 percent of advanced cancer patients.
The company is particularly positive about the prospects for CLA One since steroids, which may moderately suppress the symptoms of stress response, have been linked to dangerous side effects and long-term consequences.
PharmaNutrients initially identified the role of CLA in body composition, and filed its first structure-function claims for the benefits of CLA One in this area in February - that it reduces body fat, maintains lean body mass and increases lean body mass.
In the same month it was granted a patent for its combination of CLA with glucosamine and ascorbic acid, used to address inflammation-related disorders. Two other patents have been filed, on diabetes and syndrome X.
The company has also amassed a body of research into other applications - for cardiovascular health, to maintain healthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels and for its anti-oxidant and anti-atherogenic properties.
