EpiCor The Revolutionary New Product Discovered In Animal Feed That Helps Provide Vital Immune Defence

As regular readers of HSI will know, were committed to bringing you information on the very latest natural products that have proven health benefits. EpiCor a brand new and unique yeast-based dietary supplement that has been found to bolster immunity is certainly no exception.

Because it is such a new product, only one study has been published on its immune-boosting properties to date. The rest of the research is currently ongoing with researchers expected to submit five manuscripts to peer-reviewed journals within the next six months.

However, the preliminary results of these studies and the findings of the already published study look so promising that we didnt want to leave it another six months until we told you about this incredible immune-boosting formula, which is why were rushing to get this report to you straight away.

How an ingredient in animal feed led to the development of the formula

The discovery of EpiCor began when a health insurance company noticed that employees of a leading US manufacturer of animal nutrition products, experienced unusually low sick leave rates and filed significantly fewer claims than employees of similarly sized companies. In fact, while 2004 annual insurance premiums increased an average of 11.2 percent nationally, this companys 2004 premiums didnt increase at all.

The owners suspected this low illness rate was due to a fermented yeast culture the company manufactured for its animals, since the workers who came into contact with this fermented yeast culture through airborne particles experienced an unusual lack of illnesses.

Consequently, the company commissioned a research group to perform a series of studies investigating the yeasts effects, its safety and whether it was the agent responsible for the enhanced immunity at the companys production facility plant.

Prior to conducting these studies, the research group visited the manufacturing facility and interviewed the employees. They began with the plant manager, who had previously worked at another company for more than 20 years. His wife was an emergency room nurse and often caught viral infections while on the job. While working at the other company, the plant manager and his children contracted 3 to 5 colds or flu on average per year. However, he had now worked with the fermented yeast product for 9 years and had not had a cold or flu for at least the last 7 years, while his wife and children continued to contract a number of illnesses every year.

After hearing similar stories from other members of the production facility staff, the researchers were intrigued. Especially as in the administrative building, where employees rarely came in contact with the fermented yeast product, there was a greater incidence of colds and flu.

The yeast in EpiCor is packed full of health-giving nutrients

There definitely seemed to be a reason to investigate this product. The ingredient of interest was an end product of fermentation of bakers yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The company has produced this product for 63 years as an additive to animal feed products and they distribute it worldwide. The process used to manufacture the product, while not patented, is a trade secret that other large companies have failed to replicate.

First, the team of researchers broke down EpiCors composition to help determine why it might have an immune-enhancing effect. In doing this, they found that EpiCor had an excellent profile of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids.

In addition, all of the essential vitamins and minerals were in the product as well as trace elements. Interestingly, they also found it contained compounds known to exert free radical fighting activity such as phytosterols and phenolics, including catechins and trans resveratrol.

 The researchers were also surprised to find compounds such as squalene, which is found in sharks and only a very few plant species.
Given this list of high profile substances that are known to exert antioxidant activity and fight harmful free radicals the researchers decided to subject EpiCor to studies to further investigate its antioxidant potential.

In studies, such as the ORAC test a measure of total antioxidant activity, often conducted on fruits and vegetables EpiCor was found to display greater antioxidant activity than blueberries which are renowned for their high levels (Ref. 1).

EpiCor could play a vital role in the fight against cancer

Another area where EpiCor is generating excitement is in bolstering the immune-system against chronic diseases such as cancer. To understand how it works in this respect it is necessary to first understand how the immune system helps protect against the disease.

A special type of white blood cell called natural killer cells, which are present in your blood and lymphatic tissue, are able to identify tumour cells by the changes in their surface membrane. Other helper cells then assist the killer cells to multiply, and when there are sufficient numbers, the natural killer cells can bond to tumours and also viral-invaded cells and release cytotoxins that kill the infected cells.

CD4 helper cells play an important part in orchestrating this immune response by activating other immune cells and stimulating the production of antibodies by other white blood cells. CD8 suppressor cells then suppress killer cells by signalling the termination of an attack.

EpiCor appears to be able to decrease the number of CD8 suppressor cells in relation to the number of CD4 helper cells, thus improving the CD4/CD8 ratio, and so strengthening the immune systems ability to defend against viral, bacterial, and parasitical invaders.

In a randomised placebo-controlled double blind trial in 15 humans exposed to EpiCor for 28 days it was found that blood samples showed a significant decrease in levels of CD8 suppressor cells, resulting in an improvement in the CD4/CD8 ratio. The CD4/CD8 ratio suggested that these EpiCor-exposed individuals had at least two to three times the natural killing activity against viruses, bacteria and cancer cells (Ref. 1). 

EpiCor helps defend your immune system in a number of ways

The study also revealed that EpiCor-exposed subjects experienced a significant inhibition of interferon gamma production, which indicates that EpiCor has anti-inflammatory abilities. This is important as inflammation has been linked to a number of chronic diseases, including heart disease.

Additionally, it was determined that EpiCor promotes the activity of Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NFK-B). NFK-B also plays an important role in fighting inflammation and helps strengthen immunity and autoimmune responses.

The researchers also found that EpiCor helps defend the immune system in another way, by increasing levels of total salivary secretory IgA. IgA is important in protecting mucosal surfaces from invasion by pathogenic bacteria and viruses.

Furthermore, microbial studies showed that EpiCor is able to dramatically reduce the growth of E. Coli bacteria and Candida Tropicalis. The researchers concluded that EpiCor may therefore provide protection against infection with coliform bacteria (a common cause of food poisoning) and candida. The results also indicated that EpiCor may support the growth of desirable mucosal flora in the intestinal tract.

What to take for best results

The recommended dosage amount for EpiCor is 500mg once a day. Tests have shown EpiCor to be safe and there are no known contraindications.

References:

1. Schauss AG, Vojdani A. Discovery of an edible fermentation product with unusual immune enhancing properties in humans. FASEB J. 2006;20(4):A143.