RESEARCH ARTICLE


A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Pilot Study: Consumption of a High-Metabolite Immunogen from Yeast Culture has Beneficial Effects on Erythrocyte Health and Mucosal Immune Protection in Healthy Subjects



Gitte S. Jensen*, a, Kelly M. Pattersonb, Janelle Barnesb, Alexander G. Schaussc, Robert Beamand, Stuart G. Reevese, Larry E. Robinsone
a Holger NIS Inc., 601 13th Avenue NE, Calgary Alberta Canada T2E 1C7
b NIS Labs, 1437 Esplanade, Klamath Falls OR 97601
c Natural and Medicinal Products Division, AIBMR Life Sciences, 4117 South Meridian, Puyallup WA 98373, U.S.A.
d Beaman’s Wellness Center, 1903B Austin St., Klamath Falls OR 97603
e Embria Health Sciences, 2105 SE Creekview Drive, Ankeny, IA 50021


© 2008 Jensen et al.

open-access license: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (CC-BY 4.0), a copy of which is available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

* Address correspondence to this author at Holger NIS Inc., 601 13th Avenue NE, Calgary Alberta Canada T2E 1C7; Tel: (403) 277-4134; E-mail:gitte@holgernis.com


Abstract

This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study was designed to evaluate effects of consumption of an antioxidant-rich, yeast culture-based high-metabolite immunogen EpiCor. Twenty-five healthy participants consumed 0.5 gram EpiCor or placebo daily for 5 weeks. The hematocrit increased significantly in the EpiCor group (p<0.04). A mild increase in saliva sIgA upon EpiCor consumption (p=0.16) prompted a subsequent 8-week open-label study involving 22 people showing significant increase in sIgA (p<0.05). EpiCor consumption led to a mild increase in serum IL-10 (p<0.2); no other differences in Th1/Th2 cytokines were observed. Minor health complaints decreased in the EpiCor group compared to the placebo group (p<0.02). Seasonal allergies increased in the placebo group, but were not observed in the EpiCor group; this was reflected by increased serum IgE in the placebo group compared to the EpiCor group (p<0.13). We conclude that consumption of EpiCor supported the health of red blood cells and mucosal immune protection.

Keywords: Erythrocyte, hematocrit, allergy, IgE, immune, Th1/Th2, inflammation, sIgA.