Immune-Enhancing Strategies for Season Long Health

by VRP Staff

The annual assault on your immune system is underway. But luckily, it’s not too late to spare yourself from the sneezing, sniffling and coughing. In fact, a simple addition of just one daily supplement could offer beneficial immune support to prepare for the months ahead.

Mushrooms have long been nature’s most powerful and effective solution for supporting the immune system.  Naturally rich in a class of immune-modulating polysaccharides called 1-3 beta glucans, several popular mushroom varieties offer well-documented support for enhancing immune performance: Trials reveal that supplementation with Agaricus blazei, for example, can enhance mood, appetite and energy levels in subjects, while Cordyceps sinensis has been shown to regulate cellular immunity and boost production of lymphocytes and T-cells.^1-3

Similarly, Grifola frondosa (maitake) has both immune-enhancing and blood-sugar balancing effects, and Coriolus versicolor supports healthy cell division—while human, in vitro and animal studies reveal that Ganoderma lucidum (reishi) and Lentinula edodes (shitake) stimulate immune-modulating cytokines, macrophages and T-cells.^4-11 Supplementing with all six of these fungi can provide your immune system the support it needs to get you through all seasons in perfect health—that is, if you choose the right product.

Analyses have shown that a number of imported mushroom products currently on the market contain little to no detectable amounts of these valuable mushrooms at all—and American-grown products don’t fare much better, with many of them revealed to be sorely lacking in active ingredients. The bottom line: When it comes to most mushroom formulas available today, chances are good that you aren’t getting the immune enhancement you’re paying for.¹²

This lack of product quality and integrity is exactly the problem that Vitamin Research Products® sought to address with its premium multi-mushroom formula ImmuneAssist® 24/7. Each of the six mushrooms in this new blend are selected to enhance their natural immune-boosting properties and specially cultivated for superior consistency plus documented effectiveness to provide you with reliable, synergistic immune support—delivering over 200 immune-activating polysaccharide combinations, along with an ample dose of the immune-strengthening green tea polyphenol EGCG, in each capsule.^13-14

Even better, the benefits of this unique formula are supported by clinical research, with studies showing that ImmuneAssist 24/7 can enhance quality of life and ensure healthy cellular growth, while improving sleep and appetite. Important immune functions—such as secretion of IgA, monocyte and macrophage functions, natural killer cell activity and improved T-cell ratios—all respond positively to supplementation with this immune-modulating mushroom blend.¹⁵

If you want to stay healthy throughout the year, you can’t afford to let your guard down. Start supplementing today with ImmuneAssist 24/7—available now from Vitamin Research Products.

References:

1. Ahn WS, Kim DJ, Chae GT, Lee JM, Bae SM, Sin JI, Kim YW, Namkoong SE, Lee IP. Natural killer cell activity and quality of life were improved by consumption of a mushroom extract, Agaricus blazei Murill Kyowa, in gynecological cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2004 Jul-Aug;14(4):589-94.

2. Gong HY, Wang KQ, Tang SG. [Effects of cordyceps sinensis on T lymphocyte subsets and hepatofibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B]. [Article in Chinese] Hunan Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao. 2000 Jun 28;25(3):248-50.

3. Cheng Q. Effect of cordyceps sinensis on cellular immunity in rats with chronic renal insufficiency. [Article in Chinese] Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi. 1992 Jan;72(1):27-9,63.

4. Deng G, Lin H, Seidman A, Fornier M, D’Andrea G, Wesa K, Yeung S, Cunningham-Rundles S, Vickers AJ, Cassileth B. A phase I/II trial of a polysaccharide extract from Grifola frondosa (Maitake mushroom) in breast cancer patients: immunological effects. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2009 Mar 1. Published Online Ahead of Print.

5. Cui B, Han L, Qu J, Lv Y. Grifola frondosa Rich in Vanadium. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2009 Mar 13. Published Online Ahead of Print.

6. Gao Y, Zhou S, Jiang W, Huang M, Dai X. Effects of ganopoly (a Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide extract) on the immune functions in advanced-stage cancer patients. Immunol Invest. 2003 Aug;32(3):201-15.

7. Yang X, Sit WH, Chan DK, Wan JM. The cell death process of the anticancer agent polysaccharide-peptide (PSP) in human promyelocytic leukemic HL-60 cells. Oncol Rep. 2005 Jun;13(6):1201-10.

8. Tsang KW, Lam CL, Yan C, Mak JC, Ooi GC, Ho JC, Lam B, Man R, Sham JS, Lam WK. Coriolus versicolor polysaccharide peptide slows progression of advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Respir Med. 2003 Jun;97(6):618-24.

9. Tsukagoshi S, Hashimoto Y, Fujii G, Kobayashi H, Nomoto K, Orita K. Krestin (PSK). Cancer Treat Rev. 1984 Jun;11(2):131-55.

10. Liu M, Li J, Kong F, Lin J, Gao Y. Induction of immunomodulating cytokines by a new polysaccharide-peptide complex from culture mycelia of Lentinus edodes. Immunopharmacology. 1998 Nov;40(3):187-98.

11. Zheng R, Jie S, Hanchuan D, Moucheng W. Characterization and immunomodulating activities of polysaccharide from Lentinus edodes. Int Immunopharmacol. 2005 May;5(5):811-20.

12. Holliday JC, Cleaver P, Loomis-Powers M, Patel D. Analysis of Quality and Techniques for Hybridization of Medicinal Fungus Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms. 2004; 6:151-64.

13. Nance CL, Siwak EB, Shearer WT. Preclinical development of the green tea catechin, epigallocatechin gallate, as an HIV-1 therapy. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009 Feb;123(2):459-65.

14. Xu J, Wang J, Deng F, Hu Z, Wang H. Green tea extract and its major component epigallocatechin gallate inhibits hepatitis B virus in vitro. Antiviral Res. 2008 Jun;78(3):242-9.

15. Ruwei W, Yiyuan X, Peijun J, Xing W, Holliday JC. Immune-Assist brand Dietary Supplement as an Adjunct for Chemo and Radiation Therapy in Cancer Treatment. Unpublished Study.