Lonza Presents New Immunomodulatory Research Results for Larch Arabinogalactan-based ResistAid

The study was designed to test the hypothesis that ingestion of ResistAid would selec-tively enhance the antibody response to the pneumoccocal (pneumonia) vaccine in healthy adults.

14 Oct 2009 --- A new study sponsored by Lonza demonstrated a positive immune response by the Larch Arabinogalactan (LAG)-based ResistAid. Pre-sented at the 50th Annual Meeting of the American College of Nutrition in Orlando, Florida, the results of the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study showed that ResistAid increased the antibody (Ab) response to the 23-valent pneu-mococcal (pneumonia) vaccine.

“This study broadens our understanding about the beneficial impact of ResistAid on the immune system. To date, research has shown a non-specific, cellular response in healthy populations. Based on the study results, we now see that the immune benefits are broadened to include the adaptive immune response, which is a response to spe-cific antigens. The study further showed that ResistAid had an immunomodulatory effect, meaning that ResistAid enhanced the appropriate response to the antigen without indiscriminately enhancing other arms of the immune system that would not be expected to respond” said Bryan Rodriguez, Technical Marketing & Scientific Affairs Manager at Lonza. “Combined with its ability to increase beneficial immune cell popula-tions while supporting natural killer cells, cytokines, macrophages and white blood cells, ResistAid supplies companies with a science-backed ingredient that can be incorpo-rated into a variety of delivery forms for end-use products.”

The study was designed to test the hypothesis that ingestion of ResistAid would selec-tively enhance the antibody response to the pneumoccocal (pneumonia) vaccine in healthy adults. Such vaccination studies serve as a model to study the effect of nutraceutical supplementation on the overall immune function. The use of this research model is not intended to suggest the use of ResistAid in conjunction with any vaccine, or that the product helps prevent, cure or mitigate pneumonia or any other disease. Rather, it provides additions to the body of research that suggests dietary intake of ResistAid may help support healthy immune function. The 72-day trial showed ResistAid positively modulated immune function by increasing the antibody response in healthy volunteers without increasing the non-specific innate immune response. Spe-cifically, the group that ingested ResistAid demonstrated a higher IgG Ab response to the vaccine than the placebo group in two Ab subtypes (18C and 23F) at both day 51 (p=0.006 and p=0.002 respectively) and at day 72 (p=0.008 and p=0.003). There was no effect from the vaccine or LAG on salivary IgA, white blood cell count, inflammatory cytokines or complement.

Launched in October 2008, ResistAid is an all-natural immune health ingredient. Boasting a potent combination of LAG and bioactive flavonoids, it provides both a hu-moral and cellular immune response. Benefiting from a patented, water-based extrac-tion process from U.S. Larch trees, ResistAid is manufactured according to HACCP. It is GMP-audited by the American Institute of Baking, is Kosher certified by the United Mehadrin and is GMO free. ResistAid has a monograph in the Food Chemicals Codex FCC.