WHAT IS IMMUNOCAL™? Excerpt
From:
Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia & Environmental Illness, by BurtonGoldberg, M.D. page 127 - Immunocal™:
Immune Nutrient from Milk ProteinOne of the most important substances required by the immune system for optimalfunctioning is an amino acid complex called glutathione. However, supplementationis made difficult by the complexity of the body's system for delivering glutathione tocells. Canadian researchers figured out a way to deliver glutathione effectively inthe form of a natural milk protein supplement called Immunocal™ and earlyresearch suggests it has benefits for chronic fatigue syndrome, cancer, AIDS,hepatitis, and age-related conditions such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, andarteriosclerosis.Glutathione is a tripeptide, a small protein consisting of three amino acids (glutamicacid, cysteine and glycine) bound together. The substance functions as a principalantioxidant, scavenging free radicals and toxins such as lipid peroxides that wouldotherwise damage, even destroy, cells. It accomplishes this valuable task byworking with an enzyme called glutathione peroxidase. Further, glutathioneregulates the activities of other antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, and E.However, when the body is suffering from oxidative stress, supplies of glutathionebecome depleted. Oxidative stress is a condition in which the body is unable todetoxify itself completely and is overrun by free radicals because antioxidants aredepleted. Oxidative stress affects the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems,and it may underlie many of the symptoms associated with chronic fatigue.
Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia & Environmental Illness, by BurtonGoldberg, M.D. page 127 - Immunocal™:
Immune Nutrient from Milk ProteinOne of the most important substances required by the immune system for optimalfunctioning is an amino acid complex called glutathione. However, supplementationis made difficult by the complexity of the body's system for delivering glutathione tocells. Canadian researchers figured out a way to deliver glutathione effectively inthe form of a natural milk protein supplement called Immunocal™ and earlyresearch suggests it has benefits for chronic fatigue syndrome, cancer, AIDS,hepatitis, and age-related conditions such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, andarteriosclerosis.Glutathione is a tripeptide, a small protein consisting of three amino acids (glutamicacid, cysteine and glycine) bound together. The substance functions as a principalantioxidant, scavenging free radicals and toxins such as lipid peroxides that wouldotherwise damage, even destroy, cells. It accomplishes this valuable task byworking with an enzyme called glutathione peroxidase. Further, glutathioneregulates the activities of other antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, and E.However, when the body is suffering from oxidative stress, supplies of glutathionebecome depleted. Oxidative stress is a condition in which the body is unable todetoxify itself completely and is overrun by free radicals because antioxidants aredepleted. Oxidative stress affects the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems,and it may underlie many of the symptoms associated with chronic fatigue.
Glutathione exerts another protective and scavenging role in
concert with the liver,the body's primary organ of detoxification and internal
cleansing. In the liver,glutathione combines with toxins, carcinogens, and
waste products as a way ofmore effectively securing their elimination from the
body. In addition, glutathionehelps red blood cell membranes and other cellular
proteins maintain their structureand aids the production of leukotrienes,
immune system cells crucial for workingagainst inflammation.But glutathione
also has an important role in supporting the activity of white bloodcells
called lymphocytes (the key players in the body's immune response) as well
asantibodies (specialized immune defense cells). In fact, for lymphocytes to do
theirjob, glutathione must be present. The tricky fact about glutathione is
that you can'tsimply take in more glutathione as a supplement; it must be made
INSIDE thecells. In other words, glutathione doesn't enter cells directly;
rather, it must bemade within them by precursors.
Recognizing this biochemical fact, Canadian researchers
developed Immunocal™ in1993 to deliver to the cells the necessary PRECURSORS
for glutathione. In thecourse of researching dietary protein sources capable of
boosting the immunesystem, Gustavo Bounous, M.D., of McGill University in
Montreal, Quebec,discovered the substance, which later became Immunocal™.
Today, Dr. Bounous serves as the medical director of Immunotec Research, the
manufacturers ofImmunocal™, located in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec,
Canada.Immunocal™ is a natural food supplement consisting of concentrated milk
proteinpowder containing unusually high amounts of glutathione precursors,
according toImmunotec Research. "Immunocal™ promotes optimal functioning
of the immunesystem by sustaining normal levels of glutathione and glutathione
precursors in thelymphocytes. Glutathione, acting as the cellular antioxidant,
allows for a fullimmune response," says Immunotec literature.Immunocal™
contains concentrates of three substances in the whey portion of milk(serum
albumin, alpha-lactalbumin, and lactoferrin). These contain a large quantityof
cystine, an amino acid breakdown product which is a more usable form ofcysteine
(the amino acid precursor of glutathione). Studies have show that
cysteinelevels tend to be the rate-limiting factor (the biochemical bottleneck)
in maintainingthe ideal level of glutathione.The problem with cysteine (both a
protein building block and an antioxidant) is thatit is found in only trace
amounts in a limited number of foods, including raw eggwhites, milk, and meats.
If the body is under immune stress, as happens with aviral infection, dietary
sources may not be sufficient to produce enough glutathione.
If you isolate cysteine and take it in large quantities,
however, it can be toxic.Rapidly metabolized (burned up, digested by the body),
cysteine is unusable as adietary supplement. Immunocal™ solves this problem
because it contains cystine,which is to say, cysteine in a more practical form.
This form is readily releasedduring digestion and transported to target cells,
where it can be broken down intocysteine.Once in the cells, the cysteine can
then be used as raw material for the synthesis ofglutathione, the goal of all
this biochemistry. For example, proper amounts ofglutathione enable white blood
cells (lymphocytes such as T cells, B cells, andnatural killer cells) to
reproduce in order to make antibodies or to attack foreignsubstances
directly.Five hundred liters of fresh, raw cow's milk are necessary to produce
one kilogramof Immunocal™, according to Immunotec. It is produced using a
gentle process andlow temperatures to preserve the biological activity of the
proteins. Recommendeddosage is one pouch (10 g) of Immunocal™ daily. Here you
add the powder to 4 to6 ounces of milk, water, or juice and shake gently to
mix. There are no reportedside effects from using Immunocal™, says Immunotec.
From Alternative Medicine Guide to Chronic Fatigue,
Fibromyalgia &Environmental Illness, pages 127-129, ISBM 1-887299-11-4.
Reprinted withpermission by Future Medicine Publishing, Inc., 21-1/2 Main
Street, Tiburon, CA94920. To order this
book, please contact Kathleen Lamoureux, Future MedicinePublishing, at
1-888-388-1142.
