ZRII - THE ORIGINAL AMALAKI »
The Zrii Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) is excited to begin sharing the initial results from a series of recent studies conducted on Zrii. These relate to the positive impact of the product on four primary physiological areas*
- Bio-availability at a Cellular Level
- Oxidative Stress Protection
- Mitochondrial and Immune Protection
- Anti-Inflammatory Activity
The tests were conducted on living human cells by an independent, award-winning research laboratory. We will summarize initial findings below and supply the completed research later in the month.
Cell-Based Assay Research
CAP-e Antioxidant Protection
We began our research by examining whether the antioxidants in Zrii were able to enter into and protect live, human cells from oxidative damages.
Through utilizing the CAP-e Antioxidant Protection Assay, we found that the antioxidants could, in fact, enter into and protect human cells. As stated in the summary of the research by the award-winning research laboratory conducting the tests:
“Zrii contains antioxidants able to enter into and protect cells from oxidative damage. Thus, compounds in Zrii are bio-available at the cellular level.”
-Gitte Jensen Ph.D., NIS Labs, Summary of Analysis, September 29, 2008.
Primary Cell-Based Assays on Zrii
The next step was to analyze the effects of the product on several other cell-based assays.
Study Parameters:
- Evaluation of protection of mitochondrial function in the absence versus presence of oxidative stress (CAP-m);
- Evaluation of protection of cellular viability (protection from programmed cell death [apoptosis]) in the absence versus presence of oxidative stress (CAP-a);
- Evaluation of effects on anti-inflammatory versus immune surveillance behavior of the PMN cell.
Summary of Observations*:
In its summary of findings, NIS Labs found that Zrii:
- Increased mitochondrial function in PMN (polymorphonuclear leucocytes) cells;
- Maintained cell viability under normal and induced oxidative stress;
- Increased the migration of PMN cells (considered part of normal immune surveillance);
- Increased the migration of PMN cells towards a bacterial peptide f-MLP
- (considered a model for one important aspect of our anti-bacterial immune defense mechanisms);
- Reduced the migration of PMN cells towards LTB4 inflammatory mediators.
In the words of the research institution:
“Zrii supported cellular viability and energy formation, as well as key aspects of the innate (immediate) anti-bacterial immune response. The antioxidant capacity and anti-inflammatory properties of Zrii would indicate that Zrii may boost the immune defense mechanisms while protecting the body’s own cells from the resulting oxidative stress.”
*-Gitte Jensen Ph.D., NIS Labs, Summary of Analysis, December 09, 2008.
In the coming weeks, we will be posting research papers summarizing the analytical data collected in these studies, along with charts and graphs making them easier to understand.
Dr. Tom’s Explanation of Cell-Based Assay Findings
In the meantime, Dr. Tom has written an explanation of what these cell-based assays mean and why they’re important:
Thomas Yarema M.D.
“Normal cellular living processes involve the release of free radicals to fight viruses, kill cancer cells and to destroy bacteria. These processes are called Oxidation. These processes must be appropriately targeted and of short duration. If they are not, then substantial collateral damage occurs to surrounding tissue.
Anti-oxidants present in blood, cells and tissue fluids maintain the focus of Oxidative processes, and help prevent the collateral damage to surrounding healthy tissues.
Recent research has shown that deficits of antioxidants during chronic inflammatory conditions such as pollution, smoke, sunlight and toxins causes an accelerated and exaggerated oxidative response, provoking additional inflammation, and leading to many degenerative diseases and accelerated aging. Obesity, immune dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, diminished cognitive function and cancer all share these features of unchecked oxidation; thus, research to identify effective anti-oxidants and quantify their abilities have been a focus of the nutritional industry.
Testing has focused upon biochemical assays of Oxidative chemical reactions in fluid nutrient fluids or bodily fluids, or human studies looking at clinical results with specific nutritional supplementation. ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) has been used as a relatively easy, inexpensive method to test bodily fluids or extracts of nutrients. However, this biochemical reaction method does not always correspond to clinical outcomes since it is only a laboratory or biochemical test. Clearly, there are more complex mechanisms of benefit at work than the limited series of chemical reactions measured by ORAC. Additionally, the solvents used in extracting a nutritional agent for ORAC testing can alter the chemical reactions being measured, giving a misleading result.
In the most recent years of nutritional research, cell-based testing has emerged as a new technology to assess these complex biologic protective mechanisms. Given our current knowledge of various oxidative mechanisms, different human cell types can be tested (red blood cells, neutrophilic white blood cells and macrophagic white blood cells) with a particular nutritional agent without using solvents that alter testing. The comparative results of cellular behavior before and after exposure to the nutrient, the behavior of one cell line versus another after exposure and the parallel of observed cellular behavior and reported testimonials helps lead to further understanding of cellular mechanisms. With a grounded sense of these mechanisms, human double-blind placebo-controlled, cross-over clinical trials can more appropriately be envisioned and executed.
Given the positive testimonials from the field emerging after the launch of Zrii, an independent research laboratory conducted a series of cell-based experiments on Zrii to determine its effect on red blood cells before and after exposure to a noxious chemical known to create oxidative damage to the cells.
The red blood cells were mixed into a solution of Zrii, then the excess Zrii was washed away from the cells. After being subjected to the oxidative stress, it became apparent that the cells resisted the oxidative damage from the inside out. Thus, whatever was protecting the red blood cells from damage didn’t merely coat the outside of the cell but was actively taken up by the cell and persisted after the Zrii was washed away.
After receiving this information, the next step was to test the product within another series of cell-based assays. These show promising quantitative data for Zrii in the following areas:
- The protection from oxidative stress on the power plant (the mitochondria) within highly dynamic living cells
- The behavior of Zrii on rescuing white blood cells from death during conditions of stress
- The enhancement of immune cell migration towards bacterial toxins
- Inhibition of immune cell migration towards inflammatory intra-cellular communication molecules
The Scientific Advisory Board is working actively with leading research institutions to further investigate additional biologic models in the areas of inflammation, digestion, cognitive function, oxidative stress and other areas.
The merging of reports of Zrii usage from the field with these scientific studies will elucidate and authenticate the mechanisms by which Zrii has already defined itself as an outstanding wellness liquid nutritional, as well as lay the groundwork for double-blind, placebo-controlled large scale clinical studies.”
Continuing Research: Digestion
At the May ’08 Launch Convention, the SAB discussed a study conducted by Arizona Advanced Medicine that showed promising signs for the effect of the product on several markers of digestion.
This clinical study was originally designed as a safety study to ensure that the high levels of botanicals in the product were safe for digestion and overall daily consumption.
Since determining that the study shows a positive impact on digestion, the study protocol has been refined in order to extrapolate the statistically significant data. This is research the SAB hopes to have completed by a third party researcher by early Spring 2009.
As sated in the initial summary of findings by Arizona Advanced Medicine and associate researchers involved in the study:
“The Zrii™ juice was effective in decreasing symptoms of gastrointestinal indigestion and was tolerated well by participants.”
-Konrad Kail N.D., Arizona Advanced Medicine; Yadu Moharir Ph.D., Nutritional Consultants Unlimited, Inc.; Donese Worden, NMD and Mia Darling; Worden Medical Specialties,
Summary of Analysis, May 12, 2008.
