Vitamin D2 in AbM mushroom can neutralize oxidative stress: Research

Aug 25 2010

Total Nutraceutical Solutions, Inc. (TNS) (OTCBB:TNUS), announced that it has completed a research study comparing the therapeutic effect of single nutrient forms of synthetic Vitamin D3 and D2 versus natural Vitamin D2 within a whole food. The study focused on the control of Paraquat induced oxidative stress/biologic death. Paraquat is a very potent oxidative stress inducing chemical and causes death in animals and plants by the toxicity of released free radicals. Highly significant results showed that Vitamin D2, produced naturally by mushrooms, was active only when present within the parent whole food; Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3 by themselves had no beneficial effect.

“The synergistic relationship between whole complex foods and contained vitamins is most exciting”

Oxidative or inflammatory stress is caused by the release of free radicals or reactive oxygen species (ROS) within cells and tissues of the body. Healthy cells and tissues normally neutralize ROS in order to stay alive. When production of ROS overwhelms the body's normal defense mechanisms, oxidative damage to cellular DNA occurs and can lead to cell death. Research indicates a strong link between oxidative stress, release of ROS and inflammation and disease, examples being diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, fibromyalgia, Alzheimer's disease, cancer and even early aging.

Oxidative or inflammatory stress was dramatically induced in the Drosophila fruit fly model by the toxic agent, Paraquat, and the end-point of death was evaluated. This model is a very well established paradigm to evaluate oxidative stress. The proprietary formula consisted of the organic edible mushroom Agaricus blazei Murill (AbM) produced by Sylvan Bio, Inc. that was stimulated with Ultraviolet-B light to produce a specific amount of increased natural Vitamin D2. This TNS investigator double-blinded study conducted in collaboration with Model Biosystems Inc, a California-based biotech company, showed that AbM with D2 was able to counteract and/or neutralize the oxidative stress effect and resulted in a 30% increase in survival. Also intriguing was the finding that pure Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3 by itself had no effect on survival.

TNS has licensed from The Penn State Research Foundation the technology used to stimulate increased levels of Vitamin D2 within mushrooms, such as AbM. The patent, "Methods and Compositions For Improving The Nutritional Content of Mushrooms and Fungi," was published in the United States on October 29, 2009 and has an initial filing date of April 23, 2008.

"The synergistic relationship between whole complex foods and contained vitamins is most exciting," stated Marvin S. Hausman MD, CEO, TNS. "The company is actively developing Vitamin D2 enhanced food products that will allow people to maintain normal levels of this most important vitamin."