Thursday, November 10, 2011
SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 10, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LifeVantage
Corporation (OTCBB:LFVN), the maker of science-based solutions to
oxidative stress, announced today that a new peer-reviewed study
involving its flagship product, Protandim®, has been published in
the scientific journal Molecular Aspects of Medicine.
The new paper takes a historical look at the field of biological
antioxidants and oxidative stress, examines gene regulation by
Protandim® and relevant pathways, and links together past
observations about antioxidant enzyme functions with current
investigations into antioxidant gene regulation.
Protandim®, a patented dietary supplement comprised of five highly
synergistic natural ingredients, was shown in earlier studies to
activate the transcription factor Nrf2, a signal to the cell's DNA
to regulate a network of protective genes. This new study further
investigates Protandim's® ability to increase production of the
body's Nrf2-regulated protective genes, sometimes referred to as
"survival genes," which include genes that encode antioxidant
enzymes, as well as anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic
proteins.
The study, titled "Oxidative Stress in Health and Disease: The
Therapeutic Potential of Nrf2 Activation" by Brooks M. Hybertson,
Bifeng Gao, Swapan K. Bose, and Joe M. McCord, is published in the
scientific journal Molecular Aspects of Medicine and may be found
at the following link:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22020111.
"This study examined gene expression using Affymetrix® GeneChips
and the relationships among the regulated genes using Ingenuity
Pathway Analysis® in cultured human cells treated with Protandim®,"
said Dr. McCord, Chief Science Officer of LifeVantage and senior
author of the study.
Thousands of genes were affected by Protandim® treatment,
including prototypical Nrf2-dependent genes such as heme
oxygenase-1. Pathway Analysis was utilized to glean insights from
the upregulated and downregulated genes, and it revealed that many
of the genes affected by Nrf2 activation are relevant to
Alzheimer's Disease, atherosclerosis, and colon carcinoma, among
other conditions. For the majority of the genes associated with
these conditions by pathway analysis, Nrf2 activation in cultured
cells regulated the genes in directions that opposed the changes
produced by the disease processes.
Further, the study described a bioassay that allows for direct
comparisons of efficacy among Nrf2 activators applied to cultured
cells. The agents examined included Protandim® and sulforaphane,
the well-studied Nrf2 activator found in broccoli, and two
pharmaceutical Nrf2-activating products currently in phase 3 human
clinical trials. One of these, bardoxolone methyl from Reata
Pharmaceuticals/Abbott Laboratories, is a promising candidate for
the treatment of chronic kidney disease in type II diabetes
patients, based on their reported Phase 2 and Phase 3 human
clinical trials to date. The other pharmaceutical product, BG-12
(dimethyl fumarate) from Biogen Idec, is a promising candidate for
the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, based on
their reported Phase 2 and Phase 3 human clinical trials results to
date. Both pharma products recognize Nrf2 pathway activation as the
basis of their physiological activity.
"The early successes of Nrf2 activation in the treatment of
diseases as disparate as kidney failure and multiple sclerosis
bodes well for the future usefulness of Nrf2 activation, whether
managed by pharmaceutical products, dietary supplements such as
Protandim®, or by diet itself," said Dr. McCord.
"Protandim® was shown in an earlier human trial to increase
antioxidant enzyme production and to eliminate the age-dependent
increase in the most widely used marker of oxidative stress,"
stated Douglas C. Robinson, Chief Executive Officer of LifeVantage.
"The current study, as well as other recent studies, have shown
that Protandim® may provide benefits to the body that extend beyond
its ability to decrease oxidative stress. Scientific publications
such as these help raise the profile and expand the awareness of
our product, and we look forward to continuing to help a growing
number of people achieve their health and wellness goals."
About Protandim®
Protandim®, the Nrf2 SynergizerTM is a clinically demonstrated
supplement that provides substantial benefits for healthy aging.
This patented Nrf2-activating therapy works in a very different way
than conventional antioxidant supplements. Unlike vitamin- or
carotenoid-containing products that have proven to be largely
ineffective in reducing oxidative stress caused by free radicals,
Protandim® is an indirect antioxidant therapy, which stimulates the
body's production of its own powerful antioxidant enzymes and other
stress-related gene products. Protandim® works at the cellular
level, triggering cells to naturally increase production of
protective antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD),
catalase, and glutathione synthase, while decreasing production of
pro-inflammatory signals.
A peer-reviewed human clinical study showed that after Protandim®
was taken for 30 consecutive days, important biochemical markers of
aging were decreased by an average of 40%. The study also reported
that these markers of aging were reduced in the subjects taking
Protandim® to the level of a typical 20 year old. Protandim® is
currently the subject of approximately 25 scientific studies at
universities and research facilities. The nature and stages of the
studies vary.
Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, Protandim®
is considered a "dietary supplement." Protandim® is not intended
for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, mitigation or cure of any
disease including skin cancer. For more information about
Protandim®, visit www.LifeVantage.com.
About LifeVantage Corporation
LifeVantage, (OTCBB:LFVN), makers of Protandim®, the Nrf2
Synergizer™ patented dietary supplement, is a science-based
nutraceutical company. LifeVantage is dedicated to visionary
science that promises to transform wellness and anti-aging
internally and externally with supplements that dramatically reduce
oxidative stress at the cellular level. The Company was founded in
2003 and currently has operations in both Salt Lake City, Utah and
San Diego, CA. For more information, visit
www.LifeVantage.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This document contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to
the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Words and expressions reflecting optimism,
satisfaction or disappointment with current prospects, as well as
words such as "believe," "hopes," "intends," "estimates,"
"expects," "projects," "plans," "anticipates" and variations
thereof, identify forward-looking statements, but their absence
does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Such
forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance and
the Company's actual results could differ materially from those
contained in such statements. These forward-looking statements are
based on the Company's current expectations and beliefs concerning
future events affecting the Company and involve known and unknown
risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company's actual results
or outcomes to be materially different from those anticipated and
discussed herein. These risks and uncertainties include, among
others, the potential failure or unintended negative consequences
of the implementation of the Company's network marketing sales
channel; the Company's ability to retain independent distributors
or to attract new independent distributors on an ongoing basis; the
potential for third party and governmental actions involving the
Company's network marketing sales channel; the potential for
product liability claims against the Company; the risk that
government regulators and regulations could adversely affect the
Company's business; future laws or regulations may hinder or
prohibit the production or sale of the Company's existing product
and any future products; unfavorable publicity could materially
hurt the Company's business; and the Company's ability to protect
its intellectual property rights and the value of its product.
These and other risk factors are discussed in greater detail in the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q under the caption "Risk Factors," and in other documents
filed by the Company from time to time with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. The Company cautions investors not to place
undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this
document. All forward-looking statements are based on information
currently available to the Company on the date hereof, and the
Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update these
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after
the date of this document, except as required by law.