The Gut Microbiota – a Fundamental Mediator of Metabolism
September 3, 2022Heat-killed Probiotics
September 3, 2022ImmunoLP
What Is ImmunoLP?
ImmunoLP is a heat-killed probiotic (HKP) containing the probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum L-137. L-137 was first isolated from a traditional fermented fish and rice dish in the Philippines over 30 years ago.[R]
Since then, L-137 has been used for its health-promoting effects in food and supplement forms. Various HKP strains have immune system-modulating effects. L-137 is unique among them because of its extensive historical use, and the ample research that clearly demonstrates its benefits and safety.
ImmunoLP both activates your immune system and facilitates healthy immune balance. In healthy people, it helps maintain wellness, while in certain health conditions it promotes health restoration.
How Does ImmunoLP Work?
Most living probiotics work with the gut flora and deliver health benefits as living organisms, so they are grown in culture until they reach their maximum number of cells. Whereas, ImmunoLP is killed with excessive heat before this stage. The heat-killed approach offers these three benefits.
- Increasing its immune-modulating properties
- Capturing the immune-stimulating potential before it naturally declines
- Providing a stable product with predictable results
Lactobacillus plantarum have carbohydrate and protein polymers on the outside of their cell walls called lipoteichoic acid (LTA). Once in the digestive tract, immune cells in the lining of your gut recognize and respond to LTA with activation.[R]
Heat-killing L-137 bacteria makes them more potent at activating the immune system. When the heat breaks the bacterial cells apart, the dead bacteria release cellular content and parts of their cell walls. Since these cellular contents and cell walls are foreign to your body, they trigger your gut immune system.[R]
The bacterial components released during heat-killing include:[R]
- Peptidoglycans (sugar-protein molecules that make up bacteria cell walls)
- Pili (hair-like structures on the surface of bacteria)
- DNA
In response, your immune system releases these three immune system messengers.
IFN-γ and IFN-β are very important for fighting infections, especially viruses.
IFN-γ supports immune cells to be more effective at fighting infections. It also helps to create balance in the immune system overall.[R]
Similarly, IFN-β regulates functions of the adaptive and innate immune systems. This promotes optimal immune function and helps balance the inflammatory response.[R]
IL-12 stimulates the adaptive immune system to produce more Th1 cells.[R] Th1 cells are responsible for actively identifying and fighting bacteria and viruses. They are also responsible for directly killing tumor cells in your body. By stimulating IL-12, ImmunoLP is a potent stimulator of Th1 cells and helps balance your Th1/Th2 ratio.[R]
Natural killer cells and CD8+ cells are other infection fighting cells in your immune system. They each respond to IL-12 by increasing their toxicity to bacteria and viruses.[R]
First responders in the innate immune system, such as macrophages, respond to Lactobacillus plantarum as well.[R] This helps modulate inflammation.[R]
These bacterial components released during heat-killing probiotics also help prevent infections by inhibiting the survival of infectious organisms.[R,R]
Why ImmunoLP?
Proven Immune System Benefits
IL-137, the active ingredient in ImmunoLP, has been extensively researched and has proven immune-stimulating and balancing effects. Studies show that these benefits are stable, reproducible, and predictable.
Safety
Importantly, IL-137 is extremely safe. It has been on the market for over 15 years with “virtually no” negative health consequences, even with long-term use.[R] There is also a long history of safe consumption as a traditional food in Southeast Asian cultures.
Heat-killed probiotics are also safer than live probiotics, making them safer especially for [R]:
- Children
- Newborns
- immunocompromised people or those fighting off systemic infections
In many situations, heat-killed probiotics are the safer choice than probiotics. There is also no risk of antibiotic resistance gene transfer or harmful metabolic activities with heat-killed probiotics. For some sensitive people, such as those with autoimmunity, probiotics could be too immune stimulating. For neonates, probiotics can disrupt natural microbiota colonization in their gut. In these cases, heat-killed probiotics are the ideal choice [R].
Immune Response Doesn’t Wane
Not only is ImmunoLP safe, but also, long-term supplementation doesn’t not exhaust the immune system. The immune modulating effects are still present after a year of use.[R]
Benefits
ImmunoLP supports a broad range of immune system-related health concerns.
These include:
- Gut health
- Inflammation
- Antiviral activity
- Allergies
- Oral health
Healthy people experience benefits in reduced infections and health-related quality of life.
Protects Against Inflammation Damage
Inflammation is a common denominator among most chronic health conditions. Obesity, metabolic syndrome, and heart disease have their basis in inflammation and are common in Western societies.[R]
ImmunoLP supports health in these conditions in the following ways:
- Promotes healthy blood lipid balance[R]
- Protects and supports liver health[R]
- Promotes healthy levels of white blood cells[R]
- Balances inflammation in the heart [R]
Inhibits genes that lead to inflammation [R]
Promotes A Balanced Inflammatory Response, Especially in Th2 Dominant People
Many chronic allergic conditions, including eczema and asthma, are associated with an imbalance in Th1 and Th2 immune cells. Th2 cells contribute to increased allergic tendency. By increasing Th1, and balancing the ratio of the to two, allergic symptoms may calm and susceptibility to allergies may decrease.[R]
ImmunoLP’s ability to improve the Th1/Th2 balance may help with managing allergic tendencies.[R]
IgE antibodies are associated with severe acute allergies, as well as chronic ones. Some individuals may also have increased IgE. Through stimulating IL-12, ImmunoLP may inhibit IgE response to allergens.[R]
Promotes Gut Health
Gut health plays one of the most important roles in maintaining long term health. For the digestive system to function optimally, there needs to be a healthy balance of gut flora.
These are some essential functions of healthy gut bacteria.
- Help regulate the immune system
- Balance the inflammatory response
- Support a well-sealed gut barrier
- Promote digestive regularity
- Balance mood and cognition through the gut-brain axis
- Help with nutrient absorption
n style=”font-weight: 400;”>Although ImmunoLP is heat-killed, it influences shifts in the gut flora that may be beneficial in obesity and metabolic syndrome.[R]
ImmunoLP may positively influence the cells of the digestive tract, so that the surface area available for nutrient absorption is increased.[R]
May Reduce Frequency and Severity of Infections
Th1, IFN-γ and IFN-β are inflammatory proteins that boost the natural antiviral capacity of your entire immune system.
Chronic stress can have detrimental effects on your immune system function. Supplementation with ImmunoLP may mitigate the negative effects of stress on your immune system by:[R]
- Decreasing the frequency of infections
- Shortening the duration of illnesses when present
- Lessening the severity of symptoms
- Reducing medication needs during illnesses
ImmunoLP may also lessen severity of influenza and total virus amounts (viral load) in the blood during infection.[R]
Promotes Oral Health and Gum Healing
ImmunoLP promotes oral health in combination with supportive oral hygiene practices.
Periodontal disease is a result of the interaction between your immune system and bacteria in your mouth. In a 3 month study of 39 people with periodontal disease, half received either placebo or L-137 HKP, in addition to standard teeth cleaning. The group who took L-137 experience greater gum healing at the end of the 12 weeks.[R]
May Improve Health-Related Quality of Life
Physical health is a component of overall quality of life (QOL). Improved immune system health corresponds to decreased infections, and may lead to increased QOL and mood.
In a 12-week study of 60 healthy people taking ImmunoLP versus a placebo, the group who took ImmunoLP reported an increased health-related QOL. The onset of this increased QOL corresponded to the stimulation of their immune system, which was measured in their blood every 4 weeks.[R]
Conclusion
ImmunoLP provides a unique, effective, and safe path to robust immune system health. It supports overall immune balance, while increasing your virus fighting capacity. In the presence of increased inflammation, Immuno LP can balance it and provide protection for at risk organs like the heart and liver.
If you are looking for a proven way to get the most from your natural immune function, ImmuneLP has you covered.
ImmunoLP is an ingredient featured in our newest hydrogen tablet, HARMONY.