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EpiCor®EpiCor® is a nutritive dried yeast fermentate that modulates immune function, helping the body to balance the immune system and function properly. It is supported by eight human clinical trials that have found that it may shorten the duration of an illness, may reduce the severity of an illness, may reduce allergy symptoms, may have an anti-inflammatory effect, and begins working very quickly. In short these trials show that EpiCor helps balance the immune system for optimal performance.When you look at what each of these eight trials tell us, it is quite impressive. The first two trials studied EpiCor's effect on supporting immune health to reduce potential cold and "flu-like" symptoms. The studies were conducted between January and March, 2007. One of the trials was on people who had been vaccinated against the flu, while the other studied people who had not been vaccinated. Both trials showed a 26% reduction in total days of sickness in the subjects taking EpiCor compared to those not taking EpiCor, regardless of vaccination (Moyad et al., 2008). The third trial investigated the effects of EpiCor on an essential part of the immune system, secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA). Secretory immunoglobulin A is the main immunoglobulin (antibody) found in mucousal secretions, including nasal mucous, tears and saliva, making it quite literally the body's first line of defense. It is also one of the body's most important. In this study, 22 people were given EpiCor for 60 days. Samples taken at 30 and 60 days showed increases in sIgA at both intervals, compared to samples taken at baseline (Jensen et al., 2008). The fourth trial built on what was learned in the third and examined how EpiCor balances the immune system. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, subjects were given either 500mg of EpiCor or a placebo for five weeks. At the end of the study, the salivary sIgA increased while blood levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE) decreased, when compared to the placebo. Elevated levels of IgE are associated with an allergic response. This study was conducted in the spring when allergies are a common problem. The researchers also noted balancing in cytokine profiles between T-helper 1 (pro-inflammatory) and T-helper 2 (pro-adaptive). This balancing effect appears to be related to reduced allergy symptoms in trial participants taking EpiCor (Jensen et al., 2008). Previous studies had shown that the potential benefits of EpiCor may require two to four weeks to take full effect. However, the fifth trial demonstrated that at least some of the responses to EpiCor can be measured in a very short timeframe. After just 2 hours the EpiCor group had statistically significant higher antioxidant levels than the placebo group. Additionally, natural Killer Cell (NK) activities increased in the same time frame (Jensen et al., 2011). The sixth trial was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group study that evaluated the effects of a daily 500mg supplement of EpiCor on allergy symptoms. The trial was conducted in South Dakota during the 2008 spring allergy season. Eighty healthy subjects who tested positive for seasonal allergies were randomized to receive either a once-daily 500mg EpiCor or a placebo for twelve weeks. EpiCor demonstrated the greatest reductions in symptom severity when total pollen counts were highest, as would be expected. The greatest impact of EpiCor on allergy symptoms was its reduction of nasal congestion, but runny nose and severity were also significantly reduced. There was also a non-significant reduction in itchy eyes and sneezing. It is important to note that the immune system was not being suppressed, as occurs with antihistamines. With EpiCor, the immune system was modulated as demonstrated by the fact that people taking EpiCor had higher levels of sIgA, a marker of improved immune defense and a trend towards reduced IgA, demonstrating a reduction in immune response (Moyad et al., 2009). The seventh and eighth trials were less important in terms of their effects on modulating the immune system, but they do demonstrate its anti-inflammatory effect. The seventh trial was designed to determine if EpiCor may provide a benefit if applied topically. While it did demonstrate anti-inflammatory and anti-histamine effects of EpiCor, it is currently not recommended for topical use. The last of the human trials on EpiCor was a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted at Iowa State University on the effects of EpiCor on exercise-induced inflammation. Once again the results were positive, there were statistically significant decreases in levels of pro-inflammatory markers in the EpiCor group as compared to the placebo group (Thompson et al., 2009). Elderberry ExtractElderberry extract, also known as black elderberry extract, is a Traditional Medicine that has been used in both Europe and North America for centuries to treat a number of maladies and symptoms, including colds, flu and flu-like illness. Its use for these purposes (and more) date back all the way to Hippocrates, "the father of medicine," who chronicled his use of elderberry in his writings. (To be clear, we only mean this as a factual statement; that is, elderberry extract has been used for these purposes in Traditional Medicine, whether or not such use was justified.)Elderberry extract is made from the berries of Sambucus nigra, commonly called elder, elderberry, or black elderberry. It is a flowering shrub or small tree that is common throughout much of North America and Europe. Both the berries and the flowers of elderberry are rich in flavonoids and other antioxidants (Acuna et al, 2002). Several clinical studies have found that the antioxidant flavonoids in elderberries may support the immune system. Other studies have supported the traditional use of elderberry, in that elderberry seems to have antiviral and antibacterial properties (Krawitz et al, 2011). Unfortunately, the research done in this area, while promising, has not been definitive. Much of this research has been on in vitro ("test tube") systems, looking at elderberry's effects on particular flu strains. One such study found that elderberry flavonoids bound to a particular flu stain virions (virus particles) and inhibited the virus' ability to infect the cells of its host organism (Roschek et al., 2009). However, to our knowledge, this has not been demonstrated in human clinical trials. Further, human clinical trials have limitations. Most studies evaluate the effects of elderberry extract on people with "cold and flu-like" symptoms. While these results been positive, showing faster recover among those taking elderberry extract, they are limited by not knowing what the source of the illness/symptoms was (Zakay-Rones et al., 2004). Despite the lack of research demonstrating a definitive effect on colds and other illnesses, elderberry is an excellent antioxidant with a good safety profile and a long history of use. Therefore we included it in this product; if nothing else, it may help reduce inflammation and oxidation. Saccharomyces boulardiiSaccharomyces boulardii was first discovered in 1923 by Henri Boulard, a french microbiologist and explorer. Boulard was searching Southeast Asia for a new strain of yeast that could be used in wine making. While there Boulard noticed that locals drank a tea that effectively stopped choleric diarrhea. They made the tea by steeping the skins of lychee and mangosteen fruit in hot water. Boulard determined that the beneficial effect was due to the new heat-resistant strain of Saccharomyces yeast that survived this process. He isolated this strain growing on the fruits, and named that yeast after himself. Nearly 90 years later, Saccharomyces boulardii has been successfully researched and tested in many countries worldwide for decades and its ability to reduce the incidence of many types of diarrhea is well documented (Czerucka, et al. 2000).Saccharomyces boulardii acts as a temporary intestinal flora to protect the intestinal tract and keep the intestines functioning well. Saccharomyces boulardii does not colonize the intestine, hence its temporary characteristic. It works with the body to re-establish the micro-flora, thereby maintaining a digestive balance. Saccharomyces boulardii is closely related to baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Like baker's and brewer's yeast, Saccharomyces boulardii is not related to yeasts of the Candida genus, the yeasts that cause "yeast infections." Saccharomyces boulardii is a unique, non-pathogenic, non-colonizing, acid-resistant yeast. Once it is in the digestive tract, it blooms, creating a physical barrier that protects the digestive tract from pathogenic bacteria. And it does this in as little as 3 days! It also produces lactic acid and B vitamins, and creates an environment that is hostile to harmful bacteria and yeast, but is simultaneously beneficial to probiotics, adding in the recovery and colonization of these beneficial probiotics (Czerucka, et al. 2000). Saccharomyces boulardii supports healthy immune response by stimulating the production of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) by the intestinal epithelial cells. Saccharomyces boulardii also releases polyamines which are believed to play a role in the health of the colonic mucosa (Castagliuol et al., 1999). Saccharomyces boulardii has characteristics that make it unique among probiotics. There is no loss of activity due to heat or cold and therefore it does not need to be refrigerated. It is highly acid resistant--80% of colony forming units remained viable after 2.5 hours in simulated gastic juices. Studies have shown it to be resistant to all commonly used antibiotics, with the exception of anti-fungals. Saccharomyces boulardii also provides supportive interaction with the normal gut flora, and helps restore nutrient absorption capacity to the small intestinal mucosa. Saccharomyces boulardii also appears able to detoxify many of the harmful toxins that some pathogenic bacteria produce. It is largely these toxins that bacteria give off that make us sick, not the bacteria themselves. For example, Saccharomyces boulardii seems to be able to detoxify cholera toxin, as well as both enterotoxin A and cytotoxin B produced by Clostridium difficile (Castagliuol et al., 1999). Clostridium difficile is a pathogenic bacterium that is responsible for 95% of cases of pseudomembranous colitis (an infection of the colon), and more than 30% of all antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
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Dietary Restrictions
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 This is a vegetarian product.
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