Overview

Why take a probiotic with lactoferrin?
Because 70% of your immune system is in your digestive tract.

That means supporting healthy digestion plays a major role in your immune health.† For superior immune protection, you need the right probiotics - PLUS lactoferrin protein - to regulate your digestion and strengthen your body's natural defenses.†

Why Pearls Immune^™†?
It's a unique formula that supports healthy digestion and the immune system.†

Pearls Immune^™† is the only probiotic supplement with Activ-Ferrin™! This unique form of lactoferrin helps strengthen your natural defenses.† Combined with the superior probiotics that help regulate your digestive tract's immune system, Pearls Immune^™† provides dual action support.†

Plus, like our other Pearls supplements, True Delivery™ Technology guarantees these ingredients will arrive in your intestines to provide the ultimate in immune protection!†

Directions

One capsule daily, with water or your favorite beverage. May be taken with or without food. Do not chew or crush.

Pill Size

Interactions and Depletions

Technical Data

Description

Pearls Immune™ Immune Strengthening Probiotics contain powerful probiotic bacteria and lactoferrin, a naturally occurring protein that supports healthy immune responses.^† While the probiotics in Pearls Immune provide maximum control over occasional gas, bloating, and indigestion, the highly concentrated Activ-Ferrin^™ brand lactoferrin in the formula provides maximum support of the immune system.^† Research has shown that lactoferrin enhances immunity by:

• Preventing free radical damage.^†
• Increasing natural killer cell activity.^†
• Restoring natural immune balance.^†
• Strengthening energy reserves.^†

Formulated with patented True Delivery™ Technology, an advanced encapsulation technique, each Pearls Immune capsule remains intact until arrival in the small intestines, where the viable organisms and lactoferrin are released to provide rapid benefits.^† Patented True Delivery Technology ensures the beneficial bacteria stay alive throughout shelf-life.^†

Introduction

Probiotics
In 19o5, Dr Elie Metchnikoff, a Russian scientist working at the famous Institut Pasteur in Paris, was the first to write about the health benefits of probiotics. Dr Metchnikoff, who later won a Nobel Prize for his research on the immune system, wrote that Bulgarian peasants who consumed large amounts of yogurt lived long healthy lives. Examination of the yogurt by Dr Metchnikoff led to his discovery of a unique lactic acid producing bacteria that helped digestion and improved the immune system.^{† 1} The historical association of probiotics with fermented dairy products led to extensive research validating Dr Metchnikoff's early observations. Investigations during the past several decades have demonstrated numerous health supportive properties of probiotics on human health.^†1-4

Lactoferrin
As its name implies, lactoferrin, was first isolated from milk. Lactoferrin is present in very high concentrations in colostrum, the nutrient dense “pre-milk” naturally produced by mammal mothers shortly after giving birth.⁵ Bovine colostrum has been used by Ayurvedic physicians in India for thousands of years. In the early 1950's, researcher Dr Albert Sabin discovered that lactoferrin contained important immune properties and recommended it for children.^†6 Recently, scientists have determined that lactoferrin is present in a variety of bodily fluids including saliva, tears, semen, bronchial and nasal secretions, bile, and pancreatic fluids.^7,8

How Does It Work?

Structurally, the gastrointestinal (GI) or digestive tract is a hollow tube that runs from the mouth to the anus. Mastication (the chewing of food), peristalsis (the movement of food), enzymes, and stomach fluids break down the food into small absorbable molecules. In the lining of the small intestines specialized cells act as a barrier, separating needed nutrients from the molecules. By the time food leaves the small intestine and enters the colon all of the nutrients in food will have entered the bloodstream.⁴ In addition to digestion, the GI tract also provides several important immune response activities. Large numbers of white blood cells (lymphocytes) reside under the tonsils and in the appendix. Clumps of lymphocytes and lymphatic tissues make up Payer's patches, immune system structures located within the small intestine. Within the walls of the large intestine, huge numbers of immune system modulators and regulators reside. ^4,9 Evidence has demonstrated that the health status of the tonsils, appendix, and the small and large intestine have an impact on the health of the immune system.

Probiotics & Immune Defense^†
Numerous strains of friendly microflora reside on the walls of the small intestine (10⁶-10⁸/gram of small intestinal contents); even more are present in the colon (10¹¹-10¹²/gram of colon contents). Intestinal microflora promotes healthy bacterial and yeast balance and stimulates certain immune system components.^†4

Similar to other probiotics, Pearls Immune™ Immune Strengthening Probiotics relieves occasional gas, bloating, and indigestion.^† However, this proprietary probiotic combination was formulated to maintain healthy intestinal walls.^† The probiotics in Pearls Immune™ supports healthy:

• Cell barrier function (crucial to human health).^†
• Mucous production (vital to immune responses).^†
• Cytokine and transcription factor modulation (important immune biochemicals).^†
• Leukocyte production (backbone of the immune system).^†4

Clinical Evidence
A placebo-controlled double-blind study was conducted to determine the effect of three different doses of Bifidobacterium on the intestinal flora of elderly human volunteers. Four groups of 20 were given either the probiotic at different levels (low, medium and high dose groups) or a placebo. The study comprised three stages: a 2-week pre-intervention (without any supplement), followed by 4 weeks of test feeding (dietary intervention) and then a 2-week washout period. The results demonstrated that statistically significant increases in bifidobacteria, lactobacilli and enterococci were observed in the three probiotic groups.^†10

To investigate the effect of long-term consumption of probiotic bacteria on upper respiratory tract health, a randomized, double blind, controlled intervention study was performed during two winter/spring periods.^† Four hundred and seventy-nine healthy adults were supplemented daily with vitamins plus minerals with or without probiotic lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. The intake of the probiotic led to increased support of T cell production and T cell counts.^{† 11}

Lactoferrin & Immune Benefits^†
Pearls Immune^™ contains highly-concentrated Activ-Ferrin^™ brand lactoferrin harvested from cows raised on New Zealand's richest pastures. Research shows supplemental lactoferrin modulates the release of messenger proteins known as essential nutrients, trypsin, and protease inhibitors that protect it from destruction in the GI tract.^†12 It's also rich in antioxidants, and its receptors have been found on most immune cells including lymphocytes, monocytes, macrophages and platelets.^†12 Its presence in neutrophils suggests that lactoferrin is also involved in phagocytic immune responses.^†13 Owing to its iron-binding properties, lactoferrin has been proposed to play a role in iron uptake by the intestinal mucosa.^†14

As it strongly binds iron, lactoferrin supports healthy modulation of gut microflora and assists the attachment of beneficial bacteria to the intestinal wall.^†14 Lactoferrin may support healthy development and differentiation of T lymphocytes.^† Preliminary research suggests it supports the healthy production of cytokines and lymphokine, such as tumor necrosis (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-6.^†8 More recently, lactoferrin receptors have been found in both a variety of immune system cells, including natural killer (NK) cells and intestinal tissue.^†8,14 This discovery demonstrates that supplemental lactoferrin might have a profound impact on immune health.*

In order to be effective, however, supplemental lactoferrin must be digested in the small intestine.^† Breast milk has a multitude of biological activities benefiting the newborn infant. To reach the small intestine (where nutrients are digested and released into the infant's bloodstream), the nutrients must be able to withstand exposure to stomach fluids. While the pH of an infant's stomach fluids rarely dips below 4–5 for the first six months of life, the pH of an adult's gastric fluids ranges between 1-2. This high acidity is lethal to lactoferrin. Therefore, just as probiotics need protection to survive the normal gastrointestinal fluids of the stomach, so does lactoferrin.¹³

Clinical Evidence
A clinical study was conducted to evaluate the effect of lactoferrin on immune health.^† One hundred eleven study subjects were randomly assigned to receive lactoferrin (n = 50) or a placebo (n = 61). After 24 weeks, sustained immunological responses were noted in the lactoferrin group (55%) compared to the placebo group (18%).^†15

An open-label study was performed to determine the efficacy, tolerability and safety of lactoferrin in the support of skin health.^† Eleven adult patients received 5 g of oral lactoferrin twice daily for 56 days. At day 28, six of the 11 patients had support of healthy skin and at day 56, seven subjects reported support of skin integrity.^†16

True Delivery ™ Technology
Pearls Immune uses the identical revolutionary proprietary “pearl” encapsulating process used in Acidophilus Pearls™ active cultures. The patented True Delivery Technology results in a three-layered seamless pearl-shaped capsule, which ensures the probiotics will be delivered live and intact to the intestines.^† True Delivery Technology also allows lactoferrin to pass though the highly acidic gastric fluids unharmed.^† With this remarkable proprietary pearl encapsulation, Pearls Immune keeps virtually all probiotic bacteria viable and lactoferrin intact – ready to activate the body's healthy immune response. ^†

Conclusion
While there are hundreds of immune supportive supplements that work in many and varied ways, the Pearls Immune Immune Strengthening Probiotics provide multifunctional immune response support in one capsule.^† This evidence based nutritional supplements provides rapid restoration of microflora colonization and balance of the immune system.^† Pearls Immune^™, lactoferrin paired with probiotics, provides professional strength immune health support.^†

Recommendations

One capsule daily, with water or your favorite beverage. May be taken with or without food. Do not chew or crush.

Precautions

If you are pregnant, nursing, or taking prescription drugs, consult your healthcare practitioner prior to use.

How Is It Supplied?

• 04403; 30 capsules

Storage Recommendations

Store at controlled room temperature, 59° to 86°F (15° – 30°C).

References

1. Goossens D, Jonkers D, Stobberingh E, van den Bogaard A, Russel M, Stockbrugger R. Probiotics in gastroenterology: indications and future perspectives. Scand J Gastroenterol Suppl. 2003;(239):15-23.
2. Isolauri E. Probiotics in human disease. Am J Clin Nutr. 2001;73:1142S-1146S.
3. The United States Probiotics Organization. What are probiotics? Accessed on August 1. 2007. Available at: http://www.usprobiotics.org/index.htm
4. Porth CM. Gastrointestinal tract function. In: Pathophysiology: Concepts of Altered Health States. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott; 2004:617-622.
5. Fleming T., ed. Lactoferrin. In: PDR^® for Nutritional Supplements. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company; 2001: 241-243.
6. Johansson BG Isolation of an iron-containing red protein from human milk. Acta Chem. Scand. 1960: 14:510-12.
7. Kijlstra A. The role of lactoferrin in the nonspecific immune response on the ocular surface. Reg Immunol. 1990-1991;3(4):193-7.
8. Ward PP, Paz E, Conneely OM. Multifunctional roles of lactoferrin: a critical overview. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2005 Nov;62(22):2540-8.
9. Guyton AC, Hall JE. Secratory functions of the alimentary canal. In: Textbook of Medical Physiology.11th Ed. Philadelphia, Pa: W.B. Saunders Company; 2005: 738.
10. Gill HS, Rutherfurd KJ, Cross ML, Gopal PK. Enhancement of immunity in the elderly by dietary supplementation with the probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis HN019. Am J Clin Nutr. 2001;74:833-9.
11. de Vrese M, Winkler P, Rautenberg P, et al. Probiotic bacteria reduced duration and severity but not the incidence of common cold episodes in a double blind, randomized, controlled trial. Vaccine. 2006;24:6670-4.
12. Orsi N. The antimicrobial activity of lactoferrin: current status and perspectives. Biometals. 2004 Jun;17(3):189-96.
13. Lonnerdal B, Iyer S. Lactoferrin: molecular structure and biological function. Annu Rev Nutr. 1995;15:93-110.
14. Legrand D, Elass E, Carpentier M, Mazurier J. Lactoferrin: a modulator of immune and inflammatory responses. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2005;62:2549.
15. Kaito M, Iwasa M, Fujita N, et al. Effect of lactoferrin in patients with chronic hepatitis C: Combination therapy with interferon and ribavirin. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2007;22:1894-7.
16. Poulin Y, Pouliot Y, Lamiot E, Aattouri N, Gauthier SF. Safety and efficacy of a milk-derived extract in the treatment of plaque psoriasis: an open-label study. J Cutan Med Surg. 2005;9:271.

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