Tag: Transfer Factor

The American Hospital Association surveys show that the number of U.S. hospitals offering complementary therapies has grown dramatically, from 9% in 1998 to 42% in 2011. 

Academic Health Centers

More than 60 academic and professional medical centers in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico have formed the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine to promote integrative medicine throughout North America. These centers include Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Duke, USC, and the University of Michigan. 

Doctors’ Lingering Doubts

Integrative medicine is practiced more widely than ever, but many doctors continue to have lingering concerns about it. In one hospital survey, for example, 44% of respondents listed “physician resistance” as one of the three main barriers to adopting integrative medicine programs.

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

Solid Evidence Is the Critical Component

Regardless of how different doctors view integrative medicine, virtually all agree on the importance of meticulous scientific research and solid evidence: 

• Was the testing controlled and double-blind?
• Was the sample group representative? 
• Were biases built into the test procedure? 
• Were the conclusions appropriately drawn from the data and not overstated? 
• If a mean result is stated, what is the confidence interval for that mean? 
• What is the probability that a difference is due to chance? 

It’s reasonable to ask such questions, and when there is a compelling scientific basis for a particular integrative therapy, doctors will consider it.

Unfortunately, much of the discussion on integrative therapies thus far has focused on treatments such as herbs or meditation, where there is often little or no hard evidence to substantiate claims of effectiveness.

Considering the Specialty Nutraceuticals Option

Doctors who demand evidence also have another option: the integrated category of specialty supplements. Still unfamiliar to many in health care, these are dietary products developed to support specific structures and physical functions. They are not substitutes for drugs and other traditional medical treatments but rather part of an integrative medical approach that safely and effectively addresses diseases and other conditions. 

Learn More

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

Health & Wellness

Although it is quickly coming into the medical mainstream, integrative medicine is still a relatively new treatment approach. As such, it offers both great promise and reason for skepticism. The challenge, of course, is to separate the effective options from the ineffective or even harmful ones.

The best place to start this process is to look at those options that have proven their value and gained FDA acceptance.

CortControl develops and markets patented specialty nutraceuticals

CortControl develops and markets Transfer Factor Ultra and Glutrasol. These patented specialty nutraceuticals support fertility, immune health, and other health concerns.

1. Pharmacists must be well informed about an integrated health system and the treatment options now available to patients.

Many people—including pharmacists—are currently unclear about a specialty nutraceutical. Some might even assume it’s a catchy new name for a line of health foods, herbal remedies, and vitamin supplements. But such assumptions are incorrect. 

According to the 1988 amendments to the FDA’s Orphan Drug Act, medical food is “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 a specific structure or physical function. Specialty nutraceuticals do not substitute drugs and other traditional medical treatments. Instead, they are part of integrative medicine, a strategy that safely and effectively supports immune health and other conditions. 

For more on the FDA’s perspective on specialty nutraceuticals, visit:

• Dietary Supplements Guidance Documents and Regulatory Information.

2. In many cases, specialty nutraceuticals offer significant benefits over other treatment options.

Specialty nutraceuticals provide doctors and other healthcare providers with a valuable treatment option. They do not have the side effects or high price tags that come with many drugs. In fact, for various indications, they can be administered as a first treatment step before drugs, sparing patients (at least initially) both the potential side effects and high costs.

3. Specialty nutraceuticals can help millions of people.

We have already seen mounting scientific evidence that specific specialty nutraceuticals can be pretty effective in treating various conditions and diseases, from depression and sleep disorders to breast cancer and early-stage Alzheimer’s. The bottom line for pharmacists and everyone in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries is clear: specialty nutraceuticals can potentially help millions. 

4. Personalized patient treatment can offer clear advantages over traditional protocols.

Current drug development and treatment strategies often target large patient populations as homogeneous groups without consideration for variations among patients.

Specialty nutraceuticals offer pharmacists and healthcare providers more opportunities to customize or “fine-tune” treatments to specific patients’ unique needs by providing an additional way to support immune health. For pharmacists committed to learning about the best solutions to help customers who depend on their knowledge and good sense, that’s what it’s all about—supporting clients and their 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

CortControl develops and markets Transfer Factor Ultra and Glutrasol. These patented specialty nutraceuticals support fertility, immune health, and other health concerns.

Glutrasol-IE supports a balance of cytokines, a specific kind of protein.

The science here is straightforward. These cytokines can sometimes get out of balance for various reasons, ranging from stress or fatigue to a body’s natural chemical makeup. When this happens, the body’s immune system can weaken, and the prospect of succumbing to illnesses such as the flu, travel-related sickness, heart disease, Lyme disease, respiratory infections, diabetes, and even some forms of cancer can significantly increase.

Glutrasol-IE is a reliable solution.

Glutrasol-IE helps restore the cytokine balance and, in the process, strengthens the body’s immune defenses, offering you a shield against these potential health risks.

Unlike conventional nutraceuticals and other supplements

Glutrasol-IE is much more than a mixture of vitamins and herbal extracts. It’s a complex formulation of 18 innovative bio-actives that have been:

• Clinically studied
• Supported by dozens of published scientific papers from both business and academia
• Tested for more than 30 years in scores of veterinarian-supervised animals.

Strengthen Your Immune Defenses

Glutrasol-IE is safe. It’s not a drug or made up of genetically modified ingredients. It’s a sustainable, naturally occurring, side-effects-free formulation. It’s not invasive, either. Available in powdered form, Glutrasol-IE is typically mixed with juice or another beverage and consumed in liquid form.

So, suppose you want to reduce the risk of certain diseases and increase your chances of good health by strengthening your body’s immune defenses. In that case, Glutrasol-IE may be what you need to continue—or return to—that happy, productive, fulfilling life.

Learn more about CortControl products to support the immune system and health here.

1. Herbs, Vitamins, or Specialty Supplements?

Let’s review how the three main categories of immune-enhancement supplements and compare them.

• Herb mixtures,
• Vitamin mixtures, or
• Specialty formulations

Herbs and Vitamins

Immunity claims for vitamins and herbs are often based on historical belief, not science. They are minimally regulated. Potency and efficacy vary greatly, so it’s hard to trust what positive outcomes are genuinely possible, and repeatable.

Specialty Formulations

Unlike herbs and vitamins, specialty supplements are purposely formulated to enhance particular health outcomes. They are more likely to offer greater bioactive potency AND are developed based on solid scientific foundations.

2. How Many Immune-building Mechanisms are Included in a Specialty Supplement?

Specialty formulations are usually based on a mixture of ingredients selected because they are effective in peer-reviewed literature.

The mixture motivation is this: multiple ingredients serve you better. If each ingredient alone has been shown to build immunity, more ingredients should be extra effective. Each ingredient is included for a specific reason, and more immune-building mechanisms are in play within your body—the probability of synergy benefits you (the whole is greater than the sum of the parts).

3. Consider Humane Animal or Human Testing

The scientific method of validating product efficacy is testing. Many large mammals, pigs in particular, are very similar to humans. So, consider humane animal testing in your evaluation.

The existence of either animal or human testing is a good sign. Look for related studies from manufacturers to support their claims for benefits.

4. Safety and Manufacturing

Long periods of safe use are particularly comforting. The FDA regulates both finished dietary supplement products and dietary ingredients.

The FDA regulates dietary supplements under different regulations than those covering “conventional” foods and drug products.

• Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and ingredients are prohibited from marketing adulterated or misbranded products. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requirements as amended by DSHEA and FDA regulations.
• FDA has the authority to take action against any adulterated or misbranded dietary supplement product after it reaches the market.

The longer that products have been safely used, the more confidence you can have.

5. Potency

When comparing products, look at the bio-active concentration on the label’s “supplement facts” grid. This lets you determine the comparative potency between products. Typically, those with higher potency will be more expensive and effective.

Health & Wellness

The form of the ingredient, dosage, and formulation of the entire product all influence whether or not a dietary supplement will be effective. You may find better value in the more expensive offering in the long run.

6. Supplement Effectiveness and Price

For your immune-building supplement, effectiveness is by far the prime consideration. Your immunity is too important to ignore. Your quality of life depends on it. Of course, price should be a factor, but it shouldn’t be the highest point on your priority list.

Comparison Shopping

Comparison shopping empowers consumers to make educated decisions rather than relying solely on marketing claims or impulse buying. It helps them avoid buyer’s remorse and ensures they get the most value for their money.

A low price usually signals a low ingredient cost but doesn’t speak to effectiveness. Typically, specialty formulations at higher price points perform best.

Learn more about CortControl products to support the immune system and health here.