SCIENCE & INNOVATION
Our GladiatorRx products utilize the most up-to-date research and development information available on our ingredients. Our main manufacturing facility is inspected by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Georgia Department of Agriculture and is certified for Quality Control by the National Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA) with a superior rating by the AIB. Clinical studies and data on our core ingredients can be found on the following explanations. For more information links to websites follow each explanation:
Derived from the sap of the African acacia tree, Gum Arabic is one of the world’s most common gums with the longest
history. Also known as Gum Acacia, it was used in ancient times for purposes as varied as mummification and inks for hieroglyphics.
Today, after harvest in nations in the gum belt of Africa such as Chad, Eritrea, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria,
Senegal, and Sudan, Gum Arabic is dried or aged for one year before being processed into spray dried powder. Defined as
a cold water-soluble polysaccharide, Gum Arabic is a multi-functional hydrocolloid that features a highly branched arabino-galactan-protein
complex. Beyond foods and beverages, Gum Arabic has been long used in lithographic processes and pharmaceutical products.
In addition to its functional properties, Gum Arabic plays an important dietary role. It is an excellent source of soluble
dietary fiber (more than 85% on dry basis) and because of its low viscosity (300 cP maximum in a 1% solution), can be
used to boost fiber levels in a food or beverage without drastically altering the finished viscosity. Studies have shown
that Gum Arabic as a source of soluble dietary fiber may provide important dietary benefits: Maintain healthy LDL and
total cholesterol in healthy men.
Speed oral rehydration.
Act as a prebiotic, nourishing beneficial bacteria in the gut and maintaining a healthy intestinal tract.
For more information go to: http://www.ticgums.com
Oliggo-Fiber® inulin is a line of oligosaccharide products belonging to the group of non-digestible carbohydrates called fructans. Oliggo-Fiber® inulin is naturally-occuring fructan extracted from chicory root. Inulin is also found naturally in bananas, artichokes, and onions. Inulin is generally accepted as a soluble dietary fiber as defined by the American Association of Cereal Chemists (AACC), the Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine (IOM), and AOAC International. As an ingredient, Oliggo-Fiber® inulin can add nutritional value to foods while improving taste and texture.
Health Benefits
Digestive health: Oliggo-Fiber® is a prebiotic that helps promote digestive health by stimulating the normal,
beneficial bacteria in the colon. Both inulin and oligofructose are effective prebiotics as well as bifidogenic at a
daily consumption of 5g/day. Bone health: Oliggo-Fiber® may boost calcium absorption, which is important to building
and maintaining strong bones. A positive effect on calcium absorption has been demonstrated in teens and postmenopausal
women. Useful Tool for Weight management: Fiber, such as inulin, may help maintain a feeling of fullness for longer periods
after eating . Oliggo-Fiber® inulin products also improve the nutritional value of food products by increasing the dietary
fiber content and reducing the caloric content while restoring the properties that make food enjoyable to eat. Negligible
impact on glycemic response: Inulin is suitable for use in a diabetic diet. Inulin, as a food ingredient, does not significantly
affect blood sugar levels. Fiber enrichment: A diet rich in soluble fiber, such as inulin, helps to maintain a healthy
digestive tract and may help promote regularity
Functional Benefits
Fat mimetic
Bulking agents
Masking agent
Body and mouth feel enhancement
Flavor and texture improvement
For more information go to: http://www.cargillhft.com
Green tea, an aqueous infusion of green tea leaves, has been a popular beverage in China and Japan for centuries. In these countries, it is thought that green tea has a number of health-promoting benefits, and it is used in the management of various disorders. Epidemiological studies suggest that green tea may have cancer chemopreventive, as well as anti-atherogenic, properties. The possible health benefits of green tea are attributed to catechins. These polyphenolic substances are antioxidants. Green tea catechins have antioxidant activity. They may also have anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-atherogenic, thermogenic and antimicrobial activities. Predominant data suggests that green tea confers protective effects against many cancers. The incidence of prostate cancer, for example, is the lowest in the world in China, a country with high green tea consumption. Esophageal cancer risk has been found to be reduced by 60% in those who consume two to three cups of green tea daily in China. And smokers in Japan are reportedly less likely to develop lung cancer if they regularly consume green tea. Green tea consumption has also been associated with a better outcome in some with breast cancer. Preliminary associations have now been made between higher green tea consumption and reduced levels of breast, prostate, stomach, pancreas, colon and lung cancers. The incidence of cardiovascular disease in China is about 80% lower than in developed countries. High consumption of green tea in China has been associated with this notable decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. Numerous epidemiological studies have associated higher intakes of green tea with decreased risk of atherogenesis in Japan and elsewhere. In in vitro and animal studies green tea and its catechins have reduced total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels, have exhibited anti-thrombotic effects and have inhibited the proliferation of smooth muscle, activities that further suggest anti-atherogenic properties. Green tea and its constituents have exhibited a variety of anti-inflammatory effects, raising hopes that they might be helpful in treating some forms of arthritis, dermatosis, gout and other inflammatory conditions. The researchers concluded that "green tea has thermogenic properties and promotes fat oxidation beyond that explained by its caffeine content per se. The green tea extract may play a role in the control of body composition via sympathetic activation of thermogenesis, fat oxidation, or both." Finally, there is in vitro evidence that green tea and its catechins have some antiviral and other antimicrobial activities. Recently, various green tea catechins were shown to inhibit extracellular release of vero toxin from enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli.
For more information go to: http://www.pdrhealth.com
Native Americans used pumpkin flesh and seeds for food. Their use of the seeds for intestinal infections eventually led the United States Pharmacopoeia to list pumpkin seeds as an official medicine for parasite elimination from 1863 to 1936. Native Americans also commonly used pumpkin seeds to treat a variety of kidney problems. Eclectic physicians at the turn of the century used pumpkin seeds to treat urinary tract problems and gastritis, and to remove tapeworms and roundworms from the intestines.
CHOLESTEROL LOWERING
Pumpkin seed oil (PSO) has been concurrently used with cholesterol lowering drugs and would appear to potentiate the overall lipid lowering effects. The positive effects on lowering LDL levels and increasing HDL levels are most likely due to the antioxidant and essential fatty acid content of PSO. Side effects of the cholesterol drug were also reduced when PSO was administered. Similar positive results have been found in concomitant use of PSO with anti-hypertensive medication. The hypotensive action is due to the EFAs and antioxidant capability of PSO.
PROSTATE FUNCTION
Pumpkin seed oil has been used in combination with saw palmetto in two double blind human studies to effectively reduce symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). Researchers have suggested that the zinc, free fatty acid, or plant sterol content of pumpkin seeds might account for their benefit in men with BPH. Studies have shown that pumpkin seed extracts can improve the function of the bladder and urethra, this might partially account for BPH symptom relief.
ANTI-ARTHRITIC
Studies have shown that pumpkin seed oil is as potent as the drug indomethacin at relieving chronic rheumatoid arthritis. It is likely that this effect is due to the essential fatty acid profile, rich antioxidant content, and the synergistic effects of other minor components. Pumpkin seeds have been shown to have high levels of vitamin E, including all forms of the tocopherol family i.e. alpha, beta, delta, and gamma tocopherol, along with the tocotrienols.
ANTI-PARASITIC
Cucurbitin is an amino acid that has shown anti-parasitic activity in vitro. Human studies conducted in China have shown pumpkin seeds to be helpful for people with acute schistosomiasis, a severe parasitic disease occurring primarily in Asia and Africa that is transmitted through snails. Preliminary human research conducted in China and Russia has shown pumpkin seeds can assist with resolving tapeworm infestations.
KIDNEY FUNCTION
Two studies in Thailand have demonstrated that eating pumpkin seeds as a snack can help prevent the most common type of kidney stone. Pumpkin seeds appear to both reduce levels of substances that promote stone formation in the urine and increase levels of compounds that inhibit stone formation. Some research has demonstrated that PSO could remarkably reduce bladder pressure, increase bladder compliance, and reduce urethral pressure.
For more information go to: http://www.organicfood.co.uk
Policosanol is the generic term used for a mixture of long-chain primary aliphatic saturated alcohols. These alcohols are derived from the waxes of such plants as sugar cane (Saccharum officinarium) and yams (e.g. Dioscorea opposita). They are also found in beeswax. The main long-chain alcohol in policosanol is the 28 carbon 1-octanosol, and next most abundant is the 30 carbon 1-triacontanol. Other long-chain alcohols present in much lower concentrations are: 1-docosanol (C22), 1-tetracosanol (C24), 1-hexacosanol (C26), 1-heptacosanol (C27), 1-nonacosanol (C29), 1-dotriacontanol (C32) and 1-tetracontanol (C34). These long-chain alcohols are solid waxy substances and are soluble in water. They are known collectively as fatty alcohols.
Policosanol may reduce total serum cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels.
A mixture of higher aliphatic primary alcohols derived from sugar cane wax has become popular in such places as Cuba for its reputed cholesterol-lowering benefits, energizing effects and enhancement of sexual function. It is also the source of another increasingly popular supplement--octacosanol (the primary long-chain alcohol in policosanol). There are a number of animal studies suggesting that policosanol can lower cholesterol, that it can inhibit experimentally induced atherosclerotic lesions of cerebral ischemia, that it can help prevent the peroxidation of lipoprotein and inhibit platelet aggregation. Human studies have been increasing. In one recent study, patients with LDL-cholesterol greater than 160 mg/dl were randomized in double-blind fashion to receive policosanol (10 milligrams daily), lovastatin (20 milligrams daily) or simvastatin (10 milligrams daily). After eight weeks of therapy, LDL-cholesterol was reduced 24% in the policosanol groups, 22% in the lovastatin group and 15% with simvastatin.
HDL-cholesterol increased significantly in the policosanol group but not in the other two groups. Policosanol was judged to be "a safe and effective cholesterol reducing agent." In another recent double-blind study of policosanol's possible effects in hypercholesterolemia, patients received 5 milligrams of policosanol or placebo daily for 12 weeks followed by 10 milligrams of policosanol or placebo for a subsequent 12 weeks. Policosanol (5 and 10 milligrams daily) appeared to significantly reduce LDL-cholesterol (18.2% and 25.6% respectively) and reduce cholesterol (13% and 17.4%). It appeared to raise HDL-cholesterol (15.5% and 28.4%). Triglycerides were unchanged in the first 12-week period but were significantly reduced (5.2%) by the end of the second 12-week period. Side effects were few and minor. There were 11 serious (7 of these were vascular) adverse events among those taking policosanol. Policosanol appears to significantly reduce platelet aggregation in both healthy and hypercholesterolemic individuals, apparently proving as effective (at 20 milligrams daily doses) as aspirin (100 milligrams per day). The substance also appears to demonstrate beneficial effect in patients with intermittent claudication. Long-term therapy (20 months) using 5 milligrams of policosanol twice a day resulted in significant improvement in treadmill exercise performance and exercise — ECG responses in a group of coronary heart disease patients. The addition of 125 milligrams of aspirin daily further enhanced these results. It is hoped that others will confirm these very promising, largely Cuban studies.
For more information go to: http://www.pdrhealth.com
Preliminary evidence suggests that drinking concentrated pomegranate juice may reduce cholesterol.
The pomegranate is a round fruit about the size of a large orange. It has a smooth, reddish-pink rind that holds hundreds of seeds in a juicy, red pulp. Pomegranate juice is extracted from the seeds of the fruit. Like many fruit juices, pomegranate juice contains antioxidants, especially polyphenols. However, pomegranate juice contains antioxidants at much higher levels than other fruit juices. Antioxidants are thought to provide several heart-protecting benefits, including reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol.
For more information go to: http://www.mayoclinic.com