biobran

Developed and manufactured by Daiwa Pharmaceutical, a leading-edge Japanese company dedicated to discovering natural pharmacological solutions and effective new health supplement, BioBran is made using a unique patented process to break down or "pre-digesting" rice bran using enzymes from Shitake mushrooms. The resulting compound, which contains arabinoxylan as well as a blend of similar polysaccharides (or sugars), has a unique molecular fingerprint that makes it many times more effective than any other immune system supplement, allowing the body to optimize its own natural healing mechanisms. According to immunologist Professor Ghoneum of Drew University in the United States, BioBran is the most promising immune complex he has ever examined.

How does BioBran help the body to maintain a strong immune system? Our immune system basically comprises an army of white blood cells, more specifically NK cells, T and B cells, which travel around our bodies destroying the millions of intruding microbes that penetrate our bodies every day, as well as the thousands of newly infected or abnormal body cells that develop during this period. Each NK cell, for example, can kill up to 27 abnormal cells before it is spent. BioBran, as part of a healthy diet, gives our white blood cells the nutritional support necessary to carry out their vital role energetically and efficiently, helping to optimize immune function.

Another advantage of BioBran is that it retains its effectiveness in the body even after a prolonged period of use - in other words, there is none of the usual drop-off effect over time that is common with many other nutritional supplements. BioBran is also highly absorbable, completely non-toxic, GMO-free and contains no actual mushroom in the finished product, which means it can be safely taken by those with mushroom intolerances.

Authorized by the Japan Health Food and Nutrition Food Association, it has passed strict evaluation standards set under the guidance of the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare. Now it is available in Europe, this 100%-natural food supplement is likely to play a significant nutritional role in the future of complementary healthcare.

Further information on BioBran can be found on the Internet (see Links) and in good libraries. For normal health maintenance, the recommended intake is 500mg per day with meals. Those who want a higher intake often have 3 grams per day for 8 weeks (1g with each meal), and then 1 gram per day thereafter.

BioBran MGN-3 arabinoxylan - Overview

BioBran MGN-3 was first developed in Japan in 1992 by over ten years ago by Hiroaki Maeda, Director of Research and Development of Daiwa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, in Tokyo. Maeda's area of interest is in finding natural phytonutrient solutions for both human health and agriculture, and in the late 1980s, he turned his attention to polysaccharides, which have been known to have been known to strengthen immune response. Then, working in conjunction with Daiwa Pharmaceutical, headed by Yasuo Ninomiya, and Mamdooh Ghoneum, Professor of Immunology at Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles, Maeda later developed a complex of short chain polysaccharides (primarily arabinoxylan and other hemicelluloses) which he named BioBran MGN-3. Small quantities of this food based compound, which is made by breaking down rice bran using Shitake mushroom enzymes, have been clinically shown to powerfully stimulate the immune system when taken as a food supplement

It has been well documented, for many years, that certain large polysaccharide molecules — complex carbohydrates such as plant fibre — can stimulate the immune system. Fibre in general has also been linked in research to the lowering cholesterol, improved sugar metabolism and the reduction of intestinal toxicity; rice bran has anti-viral properties whereas certain mushroom fibre has been shown to enhance immune response. Unfortunately, plant fibres are mostly indigestible, and so these immune enhancing benefits remain mostly unrealized as the fibre passes through and out the body. However, if these very long polysaccharide molecules (specifically from rice bran) are broken up into much smaller components, called hemicelluloses — of which the most powerful are the arabinoxylan compounds — these benefits were not only greatly magnified, but they could be directly affect the body's immune system because the fibre now had a small enough molecular weight to be absorbed undigested through the small intestine into the blood system.

The leading manufacturer of this type of hemicellulose food supplement is Daiwa Pharmaceutical in Japan, which has a unique and patented process in which rice bran is broken down (partially hydrolysed) using Shitake mushroom enzymes (lentius edodes mycelia extract) to make a unique and natural blend of hemicelluloses, the principal ingredient of which is the arabinoxylan compound or b-1, 4 xylophyronase hemicellulose. (Although Shitake mushroom enzymes are used in the manufacture, there is no measurable mushroom content in the end product and so most of those with mushroom intolerances have no reaction to it.) The diagram below shows how the basic unit or segment of the fibre has been broken down or "pruned" to produce, in this case, the hemicellulose called arabinoxylan.

The resulting blend of hemicellulose compounds from this process was generically called BioBran MGN-3 — the letters referring the scientists who developed it, researched it and financed it — Maeda, Ghoneum and Ninomiya. It is also referred to as BioBran MGN-3 arabinoxylan compound because the arabinoxylan is one of its main components. As a blend of natural compounds (hemicelluloses), BioBran MGN-3 is categorized as a food supplement (or functional food), and this natural complexity not only makes it more easily assimilated by the body than single component substances (such as conventional drugs) but is also thought to be one reason for its non-toxicity and lack of unwanted side effects.

BioBran MGN-3 arabinoxylan compound can stimulate a weak immune system (see right) more powerfully and safely than any other agent, natural or synthetic. In fact, Professor Ghoneum, Chief of Immunology Research at the Drew University of Medicine and Science, states that BioBran MGN-3 is the most powerful immuno-modulator he has examined. Although nobody yet knows the exact mechanism, it appears to be able to do this by increasing the body's production of natural cytokynes — substances such as interferons, interleukins and tumour necrosis factors, which not only help destroy rogue cells and viruses directly, but kick-start the immune system by increase the activity of the lymphocytes — B cells, T cells and especially NK (natural killer) cells. B cells focus on producing antibodies whilst the T and NK cells wander through the body directly destroying virally or bacterially infected cells, and cells that have turned cancerous. (In its lifetime, a single NK cell can kill as many as 27 cancer cell, sticking to them and then injecting lethal chemical granules that can destroy the abnormal cell in less than 5 minutes.)

The immune system is the collective army of a trillion white blood cells, the bone marrow, antibodies, cytokines and the thymus gland that help to identify and destroy the millions of microbes (bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi) that penetrate our bodies every day, and the thousands of our own cells that have become genetically abnormal or cancerous. In fact, the immune system is considered every bit as complex as our nervous system, and is not only able to produce a matching antibody for every one of the millions of different infective agents, but is able to remember how to produce these decades later.

When the body is stressed or in a diseased state, the immune system can become overloaded and the activity of these protector cells becomes sluggish. This is often compounded by medical treatment - such as chemotherapy in the case of cancer - which further depresses the immune system. A weak immune system is less able to prevent cancer cells and infections from taking hold and spreading in the body.

It is extremely important to both disease prevention and disease treatment, therefore, to stimulate the immune system and more specifically NK cell activity, as these cells, which comprise 15% of the white blood cells, are considered to be the "elite troops" of the immune system, and any boost in their activity greatly increasing the chance and speed of recovery. This is why research into immune enhancing substances often focus on this single parameter of NK cell activity: it is easy to measure in a laboratory with a 51Cr-release assay test and it gives a good indication or "snap shot" of the strength and health of the entire immune system. Most of the research papers done on BioBran MGN-3, therefore, involve extensive testing of NK cell activity.

BioBran MGN-3 is attracting interest amongst doctors around the world because it can not only stimulate NK cell activity by more than 300%, but also T cell and B cell activity by 250% and 200% respectively. And it can do this without any toxicity or other adverse side effects (unlike synthetic cytokines currently used by oncologists, such as interleukin-2 which can be extremely toxic).

Research has also shown that, provided BioBran MGN-3 is regularly included in the diet, this stimulation of the immune system need not decrease over time. This lack of a tail-off (or hyporesponsiveness) with prolonged use is extremely unusual for immunomodulatory substances and means that BioBran MGN-3 continues to be an effective supplement over an extended period of time. NK activity usually peaks around 1 or 2 months after being on a high dose, after which it can be maintained with a smaller maintenance does (see dosages below). The speed at which this peak is reached depends on the amount taken each day.

This ability to enhance the immune system means that BioBran MGN-3 is an important food supplement for a variety of situations. (Please note that the majority of research has been conducted in relation to cancer, and that more research needs to be done on viral infections, bacterial infections and diabetes.)

General health maintenance — Even in healthy people, BioBran MGN-3 helps to strengthen the immune system by increasing the activity of the white blood cells. This, in turn, increases immunity by the bodies enhanced ability to destroy infections and cancerous cells before they have a chance to spread.

Cancer — BioBran MGN-3 helps to increase survival chances by boosting NK cell activity and promoting the rejection of tumour cells. Also improves the quality of life for those who on chemotherapy and hormone therapy due to it ability to alleviate the side effects of the drugs used in these treatments. (Nausea and hair loss, for example, are often reduced.) Cancers of the blood, such as leukemia and multiple myeloma show the greatest response, whilst good results have been seen in other cancers like lymphoma, ovarian, prostate and breast cancer (see clinical research for more detailed research results). It is important to note that MGN-3 is best used alongside conventional cancer therapies such as chemotherapy or surgery. These treatments drastically reduce the load of cancer cells in the body (a process called debulking) whilst the BioBran MGN-3 can help the body to destroy or manage the remainder. (Most of the research into the benefits of BioBran MGN-3 arabinoxylan on cancers have been carried out in conjunction with conventional cancer treatments.)

Viral infections such as HIV, AIDS and hepatitis B & C — BioBran MGN-3 has the ability to improve immunological parameters in patients with these conditions (such as Interferon-Gamma production, GOT, GPT and Gamma GPT). In vitro research shows that it can inhibit the replication of the HIV virus without toxicity. Once again, BioBran MGN-3 should be used alongside any conventional therapies.

Bacterial infections such a colds, fevers and food poisoning — BioBran MGN-3 can help speed recovery alongside conventional treatments by strengthening the immune system. (Most of the evidence that BioBran MGN-3 can help with acterial infections is anecdotal, although it is consistent with the activity of a stimulated immune system.)

Diabetes — BioBran MGN-3 has the ability to help lower blood sugar levels — although it is not a substitute for insulin or for glucose monitoring. This is definitely an area that needs further research.

Unlike most natural supplements, there has been extensive clinical research (see clinical research) including many human trials carried out on BioBran MGN-3 arabinoxylan compounds, the results of which have been published in peer-reviewed medical journals. This research has taken place at UCLA/DREW University in the United States and various universities and medical research institutions in Japan including Chiba University, Kobe Women's College, Jichi Medical School, Nippon University, Kyushu University, Nagoya University, Kyoto University, Toyama Medical University and Kawasaki Medical University.

The main researcher on BioBran MGN-3 has and continues to be Dr. Mamdooh Ghoneum, a professor at the Department of Immunology at Drew University of Medicine and Science in the United States. Dr. Ghoneum, now an internationally recognized authority on cancer immune therapy, received his Ph.D. at the University of Tokyo in radioimmunology and did his postdoctoral work at UCLA in immunology. Over the last 20 years he has been researching various substances that can enhance the immune system, but says that "BioBran MGN-3 is the most powerful immune complex I have ever tested!" So impressed was he with the results that he has now devoted his entire research efforts to treatments with this compound.

Although the research on the immunological response to BioBran MGN-3 arabinoxylan compound has been very positive for a variety of diseases, ranging from cancer and diabetes to viral infections such as AIDS and hepatitis B & C, there is a clear need for larger clinical in vivo research, including double-blind trials, to determine exactly how increases in immune response (especially NK cell activity) translate into actual recovery and survival statistics for the various disease states mentioned. More trials are being planned around the world and any new results will be posted in news.

No. BioBran MGN-3 arabinoxylan compound is a natural product that has no adverse or toxic side-effects, confirmed by blood tests and examinations of liver and kidney function of people who have taken high amounts of the compound over several months.

Although mushroom enzymes are used in the manufacture, there is no mushroom content in the final product, which means that nearly all those with mushroom intolerances have been able to take it without an allergic reaction. This compound has also been authorized by the Japan Health Food and Nutrition Food Association, and has passed strict evaluation standards set under the guidance of the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

As the body does not build up a resistance to BioBran MGN-3 over time, this food supplement can safely and effectively be taken over an extended period of time, and without the necessity of slowly increasing the dosage as with other immunomodulators.

Most research into BioBran MGN-3 has been conducted using 30 to 45mg/kg/day in a divided dose with meals, with maintenance doses down to 15mg/kg/day. Dr. Ghoneum recommends a dosage of at least 500mg a day for general health maintenance; for diabetes, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and other infections, he recommends 1000mg a day; and for cancer and AIDS, 3g per day is recommended for 1 month and then 1g per day thereafter. BioBran MGN-3 should always be taken after food (ideally, 30 minutes after) and larger daily intakes should be divided into three portions and taken with breakfast, lunch and dinner. If the person taking the compound is very ill, they can stay on the 3g per day intake for an extended period.

Apart from the case of general health maintenance, we always recommend that your doctor be informed that you are taking this supplement, so that he or she can integrate it into your treatment program. (For late stage cancers, as mentioned earlier, BioBran MGN-3 works most effectively with conventional treatments such as surgery and/or chemotherapy which remove the bulk of the tumour whilst the increased NK activity can help to control the remainder.)