In Vitro Supplement Screening Study of 196 Natural Products For Toxicity and Efficacy

- BRIEF OVERVIEW COVER LETTER -

Dr. Daryl See's six-year study ~ University of California Medical School, Irving, evaluating 392 products has now been published and is available from the American Nutraceutieal Association (ANA): Phone: 205-833-1750; Fax: 205-991-9302; Website: www.AmericaNutra.Com. The science used in the study is impeccable and unimpeachable.

The study (copy herewith) sought to determine if any supplements existed which were non-toxic, able to increase natural killer cell (NK) activity (first line of defense of our immune system), and possessed significant anti-oxidant and anti-viral properties. One hundred ninety-six products from 57 companies were examined. The products consisted of 134 solid, single-ingredient supplements, 54 solid multiple-ingredient supplements, and eight liquid preparations. Six different parameters were considered: 1) toxicity to mononuclear cells and 2) hepatocytes, 3) cytochrome p450 activation, 4) natural killer NK activity, 5) antioxidant effects through intracellular glutathione levels, and 6) antiviral activity. Of the 196 products (which included Vitamins A, C & E, colloidal minerals, grapeseed extract, noni juice & any other herb you could think of and many more) only 5 products demonstrated no toxicity, in all three toxicity parameters and were efficacious in all three positive parameters. (Mannatech has garlic and aloe in their functional foods.)

The study found that, of all the products tested, only Ambrotose (identified as formula 51), PhytA!oe (identified as formula 48), Plus (identified as formula 49), Aloe (standardized aloe; Manapol), and garlic met all of these criteria. However, the study showed that Manapol is five times less efficient than Ambrotose. Moreover, Ambrotose, which includes Manapol in its formulation, is contained in all of the Mannatech products. Garlic, of course, is contained in PhytAloe! Thus the top five products are Mannatech's or included in them - by a hugely significant margin! NOT A SINGLE OTHER PRODUCT MET ALL THESE CRITERIA!

Not only did no other product meet these criteria, 49.9% of them were found to be highly toxic (<20% in vitro cell death), 43.5% of them had dangerous interactions with many drugs, and 15.3% of products had no efficacy whatever. The study points out that these products may be far more toxic than the scope of the study can determine. Of the individual ingredients studied, the efficacy varied by more than 300%. In other words, when we buy supplements in a health food store, we have no way to determine the efficacy or the toxicity of a product or of its ingredients.

Top 5 Ranking: 1) AMBROTOSE 2) PHYTALOE 3) garlic 4) PLUS 5) aloe

Natural Killer cell activity, the lyric unit activation were as follows: Ambrotose 40.3, Phytaloe 20.7, garlic 17.7, PLUS 16.4, aloe 14.8.· Intracellular glntathione levels (antioxidant effects) were: PhytAloe 200.1, Ambrotose 103.7, garlic 32.7, aloe 29.9, PLUS 14.7. · Antiviral activities: Ambrotose 3. l, garlic 2.0, PhytA!oe 1.5, PLUS and aloe both 0.8.

Summary:
· NK cell activity - Ambrotose was 2.28 time more effective than the best non-Mannatech product, garlic. * Antioxidant activity - PhytAloe was 6 time more effective and Ambrotose 3 times more effective than the best non-Mannatech product! · Antiviral activity. - Ambrotose was 1.5 times more effective than garlic.