Transfer Factor Plus™   In Vivo Study

Purpose of Study: To determine the effectiveness of natural products in increasing the function of Natural Killer (NK) cell activity in chronic illnesses. In this study persons suffering from Fibromyalgia were chosen to take part in an in vivo study.

Background: It is felt that chronic illnesses represent immune system failures in most instances, particularly in the Fibromyalgia Syndrome.  There have been many published reports of low Natural Killer cell activity or function in persons with Fibromyalgia.

Natural Killer Cells: Natural Killer cells are the first line of defense in our innate immune systems.  They are lethal lymphocytes containing granules filled with potent chemicals. They do not need to recognize a particular antigen but rather attack "nonself".  NK cells protect against and target tumor cells and a wide variety of infectious microbes, particularly virally infected cells.  NK cells kill by binding to their targets and delivering a lethal burst of chemicals that produce holes in the target cell's membrane. Fluids seep in and leak out and the cells burst and die.

Patient Selection: Nine patients were enrolled in the study who had been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and who weren't taking any known immune stimulants at the time of enrollment.

Name: Transfer Factor Plus™  Dosage: One, twice daily, days 1-10. Two, twice daily, days 11-20.

Length of Study: Blood work was drawn on day 1 before the beginning of the use of the products and on day 21 after using the products for 20 consecutive days.

Methodology: The patient's blood was drawn and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and NK cell activity was assessed by a variation of the 51Cr release assay.  The target cells were live K562 erytholeukemic cells.  NK cytolytic activity was calculated at the baseline of day 1 and on the 21st day.

Comment: If a person has a Natural Killer cell activity below 20%, he or she is more susceptible to acute or chronic illnesses, or to have a compromised ability to recover from existing illnesses.  All of the nine volunteers had NK cell function of less than 20% activity with a range of 6 to 13%, and an average of the group of 10% activity.

Summary: All of the nine patients had significant increases in Natural Killer cell activity. The levels after 20 days on the products now ranged from 19.5% to 35.5% with an average of 26.9%.  This represented an NK cell activity which is 269% of the zero baseline level or a 169% increase in individual NK activity.

Rob Robertson, M.D.
*Products provided by 4Life Research™, LC 2066 South 950 East, Provo, UT 84606