EpiCor
Another standout branded ingredient is EpiCor from Embria Health Sciences, which is used by over three dozen selective US companies including major brands like Herbalife, a spokesperson told us.
EpiCor is a dried product derived from a proprietary multi-stage fermentation process that produces beneficial metabolites containing vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants. EpiCor is claimed to help activate Natural Killer (NK) cells, which play a key role in the innate immune system, the body’s first line of defense against invading pathogens. Research also suggests that EpiCor works when the adaptive immune system kicks in by activating B cells.
EpiCor and Embria were born out of suspicions that the culture could have other uses following farmers' reports that their animals were not getting sick. Moreover, in 2004 insurance adjusters noticed that Diamond V, Embria's parent company, employees had far lower sick rates than other workplaces. The company thought the culture could be boosting the immune systems of workers who handled it.
Consumer awareness of the ingredient is high, said the Embria spokesperson, with data from a consumer survery (n = 1019) revealing that
- Nearly 10% (9.81%) of dietary supplement users have heard of “EpiCor”
- Over 8% (8.44%) of the general population users have heard of “EpiCor”
"That survey also showed that our tag-line “Proven Immune Strength” resonated with consumers as the most effective message for an immune product like EpiCor," said the spokesperson. "Embria was the first immune ingredient to adopt this positioning and it has been our consistent message for years even as other ingredients have tried to attach themselves to it. Supporting digestive health has always been a part of our “Proven Immune Strength” message and it’s been further enhanced by our recent clinical research into EpiCor benefits on gut health. This study helps to confirm that link between the gut and immune system and how EpiCor works in the gut to strengthen the immune system."
Clinical studies on EpiCor link it to a range of immune-related benefits, including a reduction in cold- and flu-like symptoms in non-vaccinated individuals (Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Vol. 16, pp. 213-218), a reduction in the incidence and duration of cold and flu symptoms in subjects who had been vaccinated (Urologic Nursing, Vol. 28, pp. 50-55), and an improvement in allergy symptoms like runny nose (Advances in Therapy, Vol. 26, pp. 795-804).
The company has continued to probe the ingredient’s effects and data supports its role as a potential prebiotic: Data from the SHIME model indicated that EpiCor could boost bifidobacteria levels to a similar extent as inulin, & outperformed inulin in boosting lactobacilli. The ingredient was also associated with increased butyrate levels (Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry, 2013, Vol. 61, pp. 9380−9392).
"Human clinical and in vitro shows that EpiCor has powerful prebiotic effects at dose levels significantly lower than traditional prebiotic fibers," explained the spokesperson. "Those prebiotic effects together with the dose levels make EpiCor a smart choice for new products wanting an effective way to formulate a product consumers are looking for. EpiCor is positioned to the trade as an advanced solution for health and wellness."
In addition, a study in the Journal of Medicinal Food (2015, Vol. 18, pp. 378–384, doi:10.1089/jmf.2013.0158) indicated that the yeast fermentate may offer anti-inflammatory effects. Data using human skin samples indicated that the yeast fermentate may resolve inflammatory responses, and is a good model to show how the immune health ingredient may work in the gut after ingestion.
Image: Embria Health Sciences
