People deficient in the trace mineral selenium may be less able to
fight off disease, suggests new UK research, which found that
subjects lacking the nutrient had lower resistance to a polio
virus.
Mothers taking probiotic supplements appear to have higher levels
of an anti-inflammatory molecule in their breast milk, which could
offer their babies better protection against allergy and other
diseases, according to new findings.
Probiotic bacteria appear to tackle the HIV virus and may even stop
it from being transferred from a mother to her children, said
researchers at the American Society for Microbiology general
meeting this week.
Netherlands-based Pharming has increased its stake in Australian
company ProBio and is now hoping to accelerate the
commercialisation of recombinant human lactoferrin in Asia,
writes Phil Taylor.
Baywood International has entered into a letter of intent to
acquire Aidan Products, a firm that specialises in immunology and
angiogenesis products sold through healthcare practitioner
channels.
The medicinal mushroom extract maitake is to be investigated for
its potential as a breast cancer drug in a three-year human trial,
writes Wai Lang Chu.
Belgian group Cosucra Warcoing is significantly increasing its
inulin and oligofructose production capacity by converting a former
sugar plant to chicory processing, as it aims to meet growing
demand for the ingredients.
Quality of Life Labs (QOL), the exclusive US distributor of Active
HexoseCorrelated Compound (AHCC), is aiming for a 200 per cent
increase in sales of the medicinal mushroom this year as licence
partners see strong growth in their...
Vitamin D intake appears to be inversely associated with rheumatoid
arthritis, according to a new study that investigates the link
between the vitamin and reduced risk of the disease in
postmenopausal women.
The proprietary mushroom extract MaitakeGold 404 is a highly active
immunomodulator even in very low doses, reports its US-based
marketer The Tradeworks Group, following new tests on the product.
A syrup made with the popular herb echinacea reduced the number of
respiratory tract infections in children but did not reduce the
severity or duration of infections, report authors of a new
clinical trial in today's Journal...
Japan's Yukiguni Maitake Company has received a US patent for the
drying process of the maitake mushroom, which produces an extract
said to scavenge the 'active oxygen' leading to cell degeneration
The herbal extract aloe vera is increasingly being added to foods,
with the latest innovation from German dairy company Onken in the
form of an aloe vera-enriched low-fat yoghurt.
The herbal extract aloe vera, more commonly used in cosmetics, is
increasingly being added to foods, with the latest innovation from
German dairy company Onken in the form of an aloe vera-enriched
low-fat yoghurt.
Quality of Life Labs, the sole US distributor of the Kinoko brand
AHCC ingredient, is adding ImmunoComplex, a supplement containing
the mushroom ingredient to help maintain healthy immune function.
A small trial by ARS scientists has found that people with high
cholesterol levels who followed a low-fat and low-calorie diet not
only lost weight, but also significantly enhanced their immune
response.
A green algae supplement has been shown to boost the immune
system's response to the flu vaccine in people aged 50-55 years
old, although the findings, published in the Canadian Medical
Association Journal, were not consistent...
Canadian company Advitech Solutions has entered into an agreement
with French firm Pierre Jouan Biotechnologie, giving it exclusive
rights to technology for an innovative psoriasis treatment.
Insure Your Health, producer of Cran-max, has announced the launch
of its latest product Anti-max, a blend of elderberry, green tea,
ginger and nigella sativa, designed to boost the immune
system.
The first so-called skincare beverage is to launch in New York this
summer, to rehydrate skin in the warm weather. It contains oxygen,
purified water and a blend of zinc and vitamins E and C.
Dutch firm Loders Croklaan Lipid Nutrition says a study on its
Clarinol conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) found that it improves
weight reduction and decreases the negative effects normally seen
in people on low-calorie diets.
Natural Organics has introduced a new Nature's Plus supplement to
boost respiratory health and the immune system.Other introductions
this month include Source of Life multivitamins for men and women,
and a concentrated CLA.
Around 350 medical doctors from around the world are expected to
attend this year's International AHCC and GCP Research Associations
Symposium in July in Sapporo, Japan.
The Food and Drug Administration says that Nature's Youth has
completed destruction of approximately 5700 boxes its 'Nature's
Youth hGH', after the product was found to carry misleading
labeling and health claims.
Drinking tea appears to prime the immune system to fight infection
and chronic disease, according to US researchers, who report on
both laboratory and in vivo studies this week.
Proliant sister company American Protein Corporation says that
bovine immunoglobulin could be an effective way of broadening
immunity in humans, and helping to fight the SARS virus.
With sales of probiotic drink Yakult boosted by rumours that it
could help prevent people catching the SARS virus, Quality of Life
Labs is perhaps hoping to see the same, and is donating bottles of
its AHCC to Hong Kong residents...
Why can vitamin A help immune systems to fight back when under
attack by some food-poisoning organisms but not, for example, the
common cold? Researchers in the US try to unravel the mystery.
Linnea, the Swiss manufacturer and distributor of botanical
extracts for the dietary supplement, pharmaceutical and cosmetics
industries, has extended the range of products available to
customers in the US.
Fish oil has been found to greatly reduce the symptoms of lupus
disease, offering hope to millions of sufferers with little
alternative to steroid treatment.
Quality of Life Labs, which makes the ingredient AHCC (Active
Hexose Correlated Compound), has signed on eight new distributors
for the Kinoko brand AHCC.
Researchers are advising pregnant mothers not to eat soya after an
animal study found that genistein, a phytoestrogen present in soy,
severely damaged the sexual development of infant rats. A report on
the findings in this week's...
Innovative Technology Acquisition said this week it will begin
marketing and distributing the first dietary supplement developed
by its subsidiary BioSource Therapeutics, during the first quarter
of 2003. Nutraplete is designed to...
A nine-year study on AHCC, the nutraceutical developed from
different species of mushrooms cultivated in Japan, has found that
it has a positive influence on immune function, and that it can
improve the prognosis for postoperative...
Anglo-Dutch consumer products group Unilever said today it would
sell its edible oils unit Loders Croklaan Group to Malaysia's IOI
Corporation for €217 million in cash.
A survey by Mera Pharmaceuticals has found that its
microalgae-derived supplement, AstaFactor, could act as an
anti-inflammatory agent. The primary ingredient, astaxanthin, is
also a powerful antioxidant.
Danisco has launched the first of two new probiotic bacteria
cultures - called HOWARU - which it claims can help boost the human
immune system. The culture is the first product to be launched
following the Danish group's acquisition...
BotanicLab, already facing censure over its PC-SPES supplements,
sees seven more herbal products withdrawn from sale in Canada for
containing undeclared drugs.
The Dr Enuf energy drink range has been extended with the addition
of a new herbal variant, Herbal Dr Enuf, a cherry-flavoured drink
containing ginseng and guarana.
Evidence suggesting that soya-based infant formulas could damage
infants' abilities to fight off disease has been published this
week. Research from the US suggests that some chemicals contained
in soya can suppress the immune...
Research shows that daily supplements of a form of yeast
beta1,3-glucan may stimulate the immune system of mice to
significantly reduce mortality from a lethal anthrax spore
infection.
Thymic protein A can be effective at fighting the symptoms of
Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS), according
to a recent study. CFIDS is characterised by unexplained,
persistent fatigue that interferes with the...
A compound found in the spice turmeric could help slow the
progression of the debilitating disease multiple sclerosis (MS),
according to preliminary studies on rats.
New Zealand's biggest company, the dairy foods processor Fonterra,
is backing a medical consortium to develop milk-based "bioactives",
in the aim of gaining a share in the global functional foods
market, reported the...
