Introduction to Transfer Factor

Transfer factor consists of a powerful collection of low-weight proteins known as cytokines. These proteins act as messenger molecules, enabling communication between immune cells. This intercellular communication allows immune cells to work together as a coordinated team, which is essential when responding to an invader.

When the immune system’s response is swift and effective, the invader can be defeated before it has a chance to multiply and gain strength. As a result, symptoms may be avoided entirely or experienced only at a mild level.

Hundreds of published articles highlight the benefits of transfer factor.

Numerous published articles highlight the benefits of transfer factor, often with enthusiastic recommendations and recognition of its strong safety record. Scientific studies have shown a dramatic increase in “killer cells” by a factor of four to five times. Additionally, the antibodies produced by animal vaccines have increased three to five times when transfer factor is administered.

Introduction to Transfer Factor

Transfer factor is included in the U.S. Physician’s Desk Reference, and Russian hospitals have successfully used it for decades as a frontline remedy.

The same cytokines are involved in both animals and humans. 

Transfer factor is well-named because the benefits are transferable among species. Transfer factor from a cow, sheep, or goat is effective in pigs, horses, humans, and other animals. The same cytokines are involved in both animals and humans.

Cow Colostrum

The predominant raw material source for transfer factor is cow colostrum. Colostrum is the mother’s first milk and is the vehicle for transmitting immunity from mother to calf. Without colostrum cytokines, the calf would be defenseless against opportunistic invaders. 

Transfer factor is roughly a 1:1000 to 1:2000 concentration of colostrum. Low-weight proteins are retained; the remaining colostrum (fat, liquid, whey, etc.) is discarded. Colostrum should not be substituted for transfer factor. Colostrum is 1,000 to 2,000 times too weak.  

Not all Transfer Factors are equally effective

Not all transfer factors are equally effective. Without source knowledge, equating two transfer factor products is a risky endeavor. A low-cost product will likely disappoint, so careful analysis of the transfer factor content is crucial when selecting a formulation. 

Researchers at CortControl have enhanced potency by combining colostrum from multiple herds.

Introduction to Transfer Factor: Colostrum contains hundreds of cytokines, and those present in it reflect the mother’s prior immune responses. Not all herds are subject to the same environmental challenges, so the composition of colostrum varies by herd.

Introduction to Transfer Factor: Superior Immune Support

The variety of pooled-herd cytokines is greater than the variety of single-herd cytokines. This translates into superior immune support. A greater variety of cytokines opens up more pathways for immune functioning, and the immune cells have more options to execute.

Balanced Immune Proteins for Immune Health

Cytokine Balance Supports Immune Health

Do you know people who often feel tired and unmotivated? Do they catch colds, flu, and other illnesses easily? If so, their immune system is likely playing a significant role. At the core of this issue is the balance of immune proteins.

Immune Proteins

Immune proteins are essential components of your immune system. They play a crucial role in maintaining your health. When immune proteins are balanced, your immune system can effectively combat invaders, allowing you to maintain high energy levels without wasting resources on ongoing low-grade battles.

Active Life

With balanced immune proteins, your life can be active and fulfilling. You have time for friends and enjoy a general sense of well-being. Glutrasol offers a way to ensure your immune proteins remain balanced.

Balanced Immune Proteins

Balanced immune proteins play a crucial role in promoting wellness and preventing illness. For instance, imagine you and a friend went to an unsanitary restaurant and both ordered the same meal. Your friend became very ill, and their symptoms lasted for several days. In contrast, you experienced only mild discomfort that passed quickly.

What made the difference? You had balanced immune proteins, while your friend did not.

Immune Response

Immune proteins communicate with cells and other proteins to coordinate the overall immune response. This balance is crucial for effectiveness. A complete immune response consists of multiple stages, with different proteins playing roles at each phase. While some stages may have opposing effects, each stage is appropriate for its specific time.

 

Unfriendly Bacteria

Here’s what happened at the restaurant: Unfriendly bacteria from contaminated food aggressively invaded the intestinal wall, leading to serious health issues.

The Four-Stage Response

1. The first stage of the immune response is inflammatory, aimed at destroying the bacteria. A set of immune proteins accompanies this stage.
2. In the second stage, the body works to remove the dead bacterial remnants, aided by a different set of immune proteins.
3. The third stage involves shutting down the inflammatory response once the initial work is complete.
4. Finally, in the fourth stage, stem cells arrive, guided by another set of immune proteins, to replace the damaged tissue. Through these four stages, the intestinal wall is ultimately restored.

Cytokine Balance Supports Immune Health

The variety of pooled-herd cytokines is greater than the variety of single-herd cytokines. This translates into superior immune support. A greater variety of cytokines opens up more pathways for immune functioning, and the immune cells have more options to execute.

A Flu Epidemic: The Role of Balanced Cytokines in Prevention

Many people are currently concerned about the rising number of flu cases highlighted in the news. As a result, they are exploring alternatives to reduce their regular reliance on flu vaccines for protection against potential exposure.

Alternative Immune Response Solutions

Most vaccines function by using antibodies to create resistance against specific pathogens. However, flu viruses are constantly mutating, and because antibodies are highly specific, their effectiveness can diminish by the time they are needed. This poses a challenge for vaccines that rely on specific antibodies to combat pathogens that may have mutated beyond the antibodies’ capability.

Immune response solutions offer an alternative approach to mitigating the effects of exposure to pathogens, including influenza viruses. A significant body of scientific evidence suggests that maintaining a balanced cytokine profile is an effective strategy for promoting immune health.

General Immune System Responses

To understand how the immune system combats pathogens, we can categorize its responses into two types: fast and slow.

Fast Response

A fast response occurs when the body immediately recognizes an invader and has the necessary tools to combat it.

Slow Response

A slow response happens when the body needs to learn how to recognize an invader and develop specific antibodies.

Flu Invader

For the flu, a fast response is particularly advantageous. This is because neutralizing the flu virus early prevents it from spreading, duplicating, and overwhelming the body. When the immune system acts quickly, its defenses remain stronger than the invader’s attack, allowing immune cells to outnumber the viruses.

Fight Early

It’s best to address the flu early when the invading viruses are still few in number. If action is taken at this stage, an individual may sense flu symptoms approaching but doesn’t actually get sick. Alternatively, they might experience mild flu symptoms instead of a severe case.

Balanced Cytokines Aid Prevention: Cytokines Drive a Fast Immune Response

Cytokines play a crucial role in the immune system’s rapid response. These small proteins, roughly 44 amino acids long, serve as the workhorses of the immune system, facilitating communication between immune cells to coordinate the body’s overall response. A balanced mixture of cytokines is beneficial because it ensures that all pathways to recovery remain open.

A Secondary Fast Response Mechanism

Certain segments of cytokines can mimic the active surfaces of antibodies, allowing them to bind to flu viruses and effectively neutralize them, removing them from the body before they can cause significant harm.

Limitations of the Slow Antibody Response

In contrast, the slower antibody response comes too late, often when the body is already weakened and ill. Flu viruses can penetrate cell walls, a barrier that antibodies cannot cross. Once the flu is fully developed, it can persist for an extended period. Although cytokines are not as specifically targeted as antibodies, they are effective against a range of invaders.

Balanced Cytokines Aid Prevention

For this reason, maintaining a reliable regimen of specialty supplements that contain balanced cytokines can be crucial for optimal immune system health.

Taking proactive steps to care for your immune system will result in it taking exceptional care of you!

Six Key Considerations for Powerful Immune-Boosting Supplements

A strong immune system is your best defense against illness, significantly reducing how often you get sick. When your immune system is finely tuned, it acts as a vigilant guardian, tackling potential health issues before they can take hold.

Even if you do fall ill, a robust immune system ensures a quicker recovery and less severe symptoms. Moreover, when your immune system operates at its best, you’ll feel more energetic and vibrant, free from the burdens of hidden infections or chronic inflammation.

So, how can you cultivate a resilient immune system?

Many individuals are turning to dietary supplements for support. Even a well-rounded diet may not deliver all the nutrients necessary for optimal immune function. Quality supplements can bridge these nutritional gaps, ensuring your body receives the essential nutrients it needs to build a robust immune system and maintain overall health. However, the right choice is crucial—navigating the myriad products and strategies available can be overwhelming, but the right supplement can make all the difference in enhancing your well-being.

Six Considerations Before Choosing Immune-Boosting Supplements

1. Herbs, Vitamins, or Specialty Supplements?

When it comes to immune-boosting supplements, there are three main categories to consider: herb mixtures, vitamin mixtures, and specialty formulations.

Herbs and Vitamins: Claims about the immune benefits of vitamins and herbs are often based more on historical beliefs than on scientific evidence. These supplements are minimally regulated, which means their potency and effectiveness can vary significantly. As a result, it can be challenging to determine which positive outcomes are actually achievable and consistent.

Specialty Formulations: In contrast, specialty supplements are specifically formulated to enhance particular health outcomes. They are more likely to provide greater bioactive potency and are developed based on solid scientific research.

2. How Many Immune-Boosting Mechanisms Are Included?

Specialty formulations often combine multiple ingredients that have been proven effective in peer-reviewed studies. The rationale behind using several ingredients is that if each one can independently support immunity, a combination may be even more effective. Each ingredient serves a specific purpose, and the synergy among them can enhance their overall effectiveness.

3. Consider Humane Animal or Human Testing

Validating a product’s efficacy through testing is essential. Large mammals, like pigs, share many biological similarities with humans, making humane animal testing a valuable consideration. Look for studies from manufacturers that support their claims regarding benefits, as the presence of these studies is a positive sign.

The longer a product has been safely used, the more confidence you can have in its reliability.

4. Safety and Manufacturing

A long history of safe use is reassuring. The FDA regulates both finished dietary supplement products and their ingredients under different regulations than those for conventional food and drugs. Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. This puts the responsibility on them to evaluate the safety and labeling of their products before they reach the market, ensuring compliance with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended by the DSHEA and FDA regulations.

5. Potency

When comparing products, check the bioactive concentration listed on the label’s “Supplement Facts” grid. This information allows you to assess the comparative potency of different products. Generally, those with higher potency are more expensive but also more effective. Remember that the form of the ingredient, dosage, and overall formulation can all impact the effectiveness of a dietary supplement. In the long run, you may find that more expensive options offer better value.

6. Comparison Shopping: Immune Building Supplements

Comparison shopping is essential for making informed decisions and avoiding impulse buys based solely on marketing claims. This practice helps prevent buyer’s remorse and ensures you get the best value for your money. A lower price often indicates lower-quality ingredients, but this doesn’t necessarily mean the product will be effective. Specialty formulations, typically priced higher, tend to perform better.

Strengthen Your Immune Defenses

As writer Augusten Burroughs noted,

“When you have your health, you have everything. When you do not have your health, nothing else matters at all.”

While opinions on this statement may vary, it’s hard to deny that illness or poor health can significantly impact what would otherwise be a happy, productive, and fulfilling life.

A robust immune system is crucial for maintaining optimal health. For individuals who may be at greater risk of disease due to weakened immune systems, we at CortControl offer a solution that has been proven to be both effective and safe.

Glutrasol supports a balance of cytokines, which are a specific type of protein.

The science behind this is straightforward. Cytokines can become imbalanced for various reasons, including stress, fatigue, or an individual’s natural chemical makeup. When this occurs, the immune system can become weakened, increasing the risk of illnesses such as the flu, travel-related illnesses, heart disease, Lyme disease, respiratory infections, diabetes, and even certain forms of cancer. Cytokine Balance Supports Immune Health.

Glutrasol is a reliable solution.

Glutrasol is a reliable solution. Glutrasol helps restore cytokine balance, thereby strengthening the body’s immune defenses and providing a shield against potential health risks. Balanced Cytokines Aid Prevention.

Unlike conventional nutraceuticals and other supplements, Glutrasol is more than just a mixture of vitamins and herbal extracts. It is a complex formulation containing 18 innovative bioactives that have been:

• Clinically studied
• Supported by numerous published scientific papers from both industry and academia
• Tested for over 30 years in various veterinarian-supervised animal studies

Strengthen Your Immune Defenses

Glutrasol is safe. It is not a drug and does not contain genetically modified ingredients. This formulation is sustainable, naturally occurring, and free from side effects. Additionally, it is non-invasive. Glutrasol typically comes in powdered form and can be mixed with juice or another beverage for consumption.

If you want to reduce the risk of certain diseases and enhance your chances of maintaining good health by strengthening your immune defenses, Glutrasol may be the solution you need to continue or return to a happy, productive, and fulfilling life.

4 Reasons Pharmacists Should Expand Their Knowledge of Specialty Nutraceuticals

In an article published in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, Norman V. Carroll, Ph.D., presented the findings of a study that confirmed a long-held belief in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries regarding the role of community pharmacists. The study concluded that:

1. Pharmacists often recommend to physicians that they initiate, discontinue, or modify specific drug therapies.
2. These recommendations are typically made to address clinical issues or to offer patients more affordable options.
3. Pharmacists tend to be successful in persuading physicians to adopt their suggestions.

This highlights the significant influence pharmacists have on the prescription process. However, with this influence comes a considerable responsibility to carefully consider emerging treatment options. One area that warrants further exploration is specialty nutraceuticals.

What Are Nutraceuticals?

Nutraceuticals are generally defined as substances in food or components of food that provide medicinal or health benefits, including the prevention and treatment of diseases. This category encompasses a diverse range of products, including dietary supplements, isolated nutrients, herbal supplements, and specialized food items. Research indicates that approximately 77% of Americans use nutritional supplements, including over 70% of adults aged 60 and older. Given the increasing variety and use of nutraceuticals, both potential benefits and risks are associated with these products.

As the nutraceutical market continues to grow and gain popularity among consumers, pharmacists have an opportunity to enhance their expertise and solidify their roles as vital healthcare providers.

4 Reasons Pharmacists Should Learn More About Specialty Nutraceuticals

1. Understanding Integrated Health Systems and Treatment Options

Pharmacists need to be well-informed about integrated health systems and the treatment options available to patients. Many, including pharmacists, may be unclear about the specialty of nutraceuticals. Some might mistakenly think it refers to a trendy line of health foods, herbal remedies, or vitamin supplements. However, this assumption is incorrect.

According to the 1988 amendments to the FDA’s Orphan Drug Act, medical food is defined as “intended for the specific dietary management of a disease or condition for which distinctive nutritional requirements, based on recognized scientific principles, are established by medical evaluation.”

Specialty nutraceuticals are dietary products that support specific bodily structures or functions. They do not replace drugs or traditional medical treatments; rather, they are part of integrative medicine, which safely and effectively supports immune health and other conditions. For more information from the FDA on specialty nutraceuticals, visit the Dietary Supplements Guidance Documents and Regulatory Information section.

2. Significant Benefits Over Other Treatment Options

In many cases, specialty nutraceuticals provide significant advantages over conventional treatment options. Unlike many pharmaceuticals, these products typically do not have side effects or high price tags. They can often serve as a first-line treatment for various indications, allowing patients to avoid potential side effects and costs associated with traditional medications.

3. Helping Millions of People

Current drug development and treatment strategies often treat large patient populations as homogeneous groups, failing to consider individual differences among patients. Specialty nutraceuticals enable pharmacists and healthcare providers to customize or “fine-tune” treatments to address the distinct needs of individual patients.

This customization supports improved immune health and empowers pharmacists in their commitment to provide the best solutions for clients who rely on their expertise and sound judgment.

Learning about dietary supplements and specialty nutraceuticals is essential for pharmacists to enhance their practice and better support their patients’ health.

Dietary Supplements: What Pharmacists Should Know

Learn More

To learn more about medical foods, visit the FDA’s Dietary Supplements Guidance Documents and Regulatory Information.

CortControl develops and markets patented specialty nutraceuticals, including Glutrasol and Transfer Factor Ultra. These products are designed to support fertility, immune health, and overall well-being.

Solid Evidence Is Key: Integrative Medicine

Integrative medicine is an approach to healthcare that acknowledges the benefits of combining conventional therapies, such as drugs and surgery, with complementary therapies like acupuncture, yoga, and specialized nutraceuticals that are safe and effective.

In recent years, the concept of “integrative medicine” has gained popularity as a treatment approach that combines traditional medical practices with evidence-based complementary and alternative remedies. This approach aims to treat the whole person rather than just addressing a specific disease.

Integrative medicine can also help strengthen your immune system.

Often referred to as “holistic medicine,” “complementary medicine,” or “complementary and alternative medicine” (CAM), integrative medicine was once considered a fringe approach. However, it has rapidly gained acceptance within the mainstream medical community.

Solid Evidence: A Critical Component of Integrative Medicine

Surveys conducted by the American Hospital Association indicate a significant increase in the number of U.S. hospitals offering complementary therapies, rising from 9% in 1998 to 42% in 2011.

Academic Health Centers

Over 60 academic and professional medical centers in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico have formed the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine. This consortium aims to promote integrative medicine throughout North America and includes renowned institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Duke, the University of Southern California (USC), and the University of Michigan.

Doctors’ Lingering Doubts

Despite the growing practice of integrative medicine, many doctors still have concerns. In a hospital survey, for instance, 44% of respondents identified “physician resistance” as one of the three main barriers to the adoption of integrative medicine programs.

Numerous doctors cite the lack of scientific evidence as a reason for their hesitance. Dr. Tom Delbanco of Harvard Medical School expressed this concern, stating, “I worry that people are making claims in the context of scientific medicine that they cannot really justify. There have been few rigorously controlled, scientifically sound studies in this area.”

The Importance of Solid Evidence in Integrative Medicine

While perspectives on integrative medicine may vary among doctors, there is a consensus on the necessity of thorough scientific research and reliable evidence. Here are some critical questions to consider:

• Was the testing controlled and double-blind?
• Was the sample group representative of the larger population?
• Were there biases present in the testing procedures?
• Were the conclusions drawn from the data appropriate and not overstated?
• If a mean result is reported, what is the confidence interval for that mean?
• What is the probability that any observed differences are due to chance?

It is entirely reasonable to ask these questions. When there is strong scientific evidence supporting a specific integrative therapy, doctors are more likely to consider it.

Unfortunately, much of the ongoing discussion surrounding integrative therapies focuses on treatments like herbs or meditation, which often lack solid evidence to support claims of effectiveness.

Considering the Specialty Nutraceuticals Option

Doctors who require evidence-based solutions have another option: specialty supplements. Although still unfamiliar to many in the healthcare field, these dietary products are designed to support specific physiological structures and functions. They are not substitutes for medications or traditional medical treatments; instead, they complement an integrative medical approach, safely and effectively addressing diseases and various health conditions.

Learn More

To gain more information about medical foods, please visit the FDA’s Dietary Supplements Guidance Documents and Regulatory Information.

Health & Wellness

While integrative medicine is rapidly gaining acceptance in the medical community, it remains a relatively new treatment approach. This method holds significant promise, but it also warrants some skepticism. The key challenge is to differentiate between effective options and those that may be ineffective or even harmful.

A good starting point for this evaluation is to consider options that have demonstrated their value and received FDA approval.

CortControl develops and markets patented specialty nutraceuticals, including Transfer Factor Ultra and Glutrasol. These products are designed to support fertility, immune health, and overall well-being.