The study, published in Journal of the American College of Nutrition, evaluated the ability of Lonza's proprietary arabinogalactan extract from the larch tree (commercially known as ResistAid) to change the immune response in healthy adults to a standardised antigenic challenge such as tetanus and influenza vaccines.
The randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found that ResistAid at a daily dose of 1.5 grams per day and 4.5 grams per day significantly increased the IgG antibody response to a tetanus vaccine as compared to placebo in a dose dependant manner - while neither level of supplementation showed significant elevations in IgM or IgG antibodies compared to placebo following the influenza vaccine.
"In conjunction with earlier studies, this validates the effect of ResistAid on the augmentation of the response to bacterial antigens (in the form of vaccine)," wrote study author Dr Jay Udani of Medicus Research LLC in the US.
"The results suggest that ResistAid induces an elevated response to bacterial antigens ... but not viral antigens," he added.
The study included 75 healthy adults aged 18 to 61 years old who were randomised to receive either 1.5 or 4.5 g/day of ResistAid or placebo for 60 days. At day 30, subjects were administered both tetanus and influenza vaccines.
Serum antigenic response (tetanus immunoglobulin G [IgG], influenza A and B IgG and immunoglobulin M [IgM]) was measured at days 45 (15 days after vaccination) and 60 (30 days after vaccination) of the study and compared to baseline antibody levels.
Michael DeGennaro, NAFTA VP sales human nutrition at Lonza Inc commented that the study findings 'further validates' the capability of ResistAid to influence an expected and beneficial response from the immune system, "while simultaneously confirming its ability to do so at a low dosage.”
“In combination with its positive effects on both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system, ResistAid is highly formulation-friendly," added DeGennaro. "It can be easily incorporated into dietary supplements and functional foods in standalone form, or combined with other products to increase functionality.”
Source: Journal of the American College of Nutrition
Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1080/07315724.2013.839907
"Immunomodulatory Effects of ResistAid™: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multidose Study"
Authors: Jay K. Udani