To have your DHEA-S measured, simply wait 8-12 hours after your last Prime supplement before taking the blood test.

If your lab test is in the morning, then taking Prime the night before and SKIPPING any morning supplementation until after the exam, will produce the most accurate test results.

By following this method, the test results will reflect your body in the supplemented state, which is the goal.

No.

Yes.

cGMP stands for current Good Manufacturing Practices. All companies of dietary supplements are required to be compliant with the FDA's cGMP regulation. All of Univera manufacturing is compliant with the regulation, and some of our manufacturers have third party GMP certification. cGMP third party certification is not required.<!--EndFragment-->

DIM (di-indoyle-methane) is derived from broccoli and other Brassica family vegetables. There is a great deal of research on this compound in terms of its effects in cancer pathology. In the MetaFuel weight balancing system, we are utilizing the DIM for its roles in healthy estrogen metabolism in both MEN and WOMEN. In short, estrogen metabolites called the 2-hydroxy estrogens are known to promote the loss of fat and the maintenance of muscle. Other metabolites called the 16-hydroxy estrogens have been associated with negative metabolic effects. Interestingly, humans produce less of the "beneficial" estrogens and more the 16-hydroxy metabolites as we age. Studies have shown that, in humans, supplemental use of DIM promotes higher levels of the 2-hydroxy metabolites, i.e., the fat-loss promoting, muscle-maintenance supporting estrogen metabolites.

Some proucts contain a small amount of soy protein mixed with an ultrafiltered whey (lactose-free, casein-free).

For a detailed list of ingredients in any product, go to UniveraScience.com and click on Products.

Soy has become a controversial subject over the years. To address soy, Univera's Chief Science Officer, Stephen Cherniske, has written a two-part article called Soy Story. You can access the articles at UniveraScience.com. Go to Articles & White Papers and click on Soy Story parts I and II.

MetaFuel and Essentials are products which contain milk. However, because the milk proteins used have been ultrafiltered to separate out the casein and the lactose, we can say that these products are lactose free and casein free, and this basically means that they lack the allergenicity of milk products.
<!--EndFragment-->

Sucralose is biochemically inert. This means that it is not absorbed by the body. Sucralose will not accumulate in the system or cause any damage to the body during digestion. Sucralose is 600 times sweeter than sugar, but does not promote tooth decay. The ECONET science teams have read all scientific reports that have been published on sucralose. Extensive biomedical scrutiny (including that of the US, EU, Canada, and Japan) has deemed sucralose safe. It is valuable to note that in its 13 years on the market, none of the proposed hazards regarding the safety of sucralose consumption have occurred.

For reference, one Splenda packet contains 11.9mg sucralose (that’s 0.0119 grams). One serving Xtra contains less than one-tenth that amount.

On sorbitol:

Sorbitol is a slow-metabolizing sweet substance derived from fruits, corn and seaweed. Although sorbitol is not an alcohol, it is classified as a sugar alcohol. Sorbitol is 60% as sweet as sugar and because it is very slow to be metabolized by the human body, sorbitol does not cause insulin levels to increase as much as sugar. Also, sorbitol does not lead to tooth decay.

Xtra contains 0.035grams of sorbitol. A stick of gum contains approximately 1.25 grams sorbitol. The FDA considers 50 grams daily to be the upper limit of safe consumption. However, in some, digestive issues such as diarrhea can occur with as few as 10 grams a day of the sweetener.

For more information, please see UniveraScience.com, under the heading Articles and White Papers. Look for title: The Sweet Truth. This article will give valuable information about sucralose, sorbitol and other sweeteners.

Shrimp and Clam Shells

<!--{12641747281274}--> <!--{12641747281275}-->

Three (3) grams. Approximately the sugar content of one-quarter of a small apple.  All the sugars are derived from fruit.

FYI:

The difference between FRUIT sugar (fructose) and refined sugar
(sucrose) is as follows.

Fruit sugar is something known as FRUCTOSE

Fructose is broken down by the body slowly and is converted into
SUCROSE and GLYCOGEN.

Fructose has a low Glycemic Index (GI 23) relative to cane sugar (GI 100).

The current Wikipedia website search for FRUCTOSE explains it well.

<!--{12641747281276}-->

Metapower, Rhythmatix, RegeniCARE, Linitie'

Aloe Protect (Vcap), Xtra, Xperia, Essentials, Aloe Pulp Drink, Aloedophilus (Vcap), Aloe in the Raw (Topical), Anti-Stress (Tablet), Female Formula (Tablet), Metaburn (Vcap), Metafuel (Powder), Multivitamin (Tablet), Post-Menopausal (Tablet), Aloe Gold, Metaberry, Metagreens (Powder), Superimmune (Tablet), Immunoburst (Chew), Solanyx (Caplet), Km Liquid, Regenifree (VCap), Vitality (VCap), S-4 Sleep Enabler (VCap), Prime (VCap), Prime C (VCap), Florasterol (Caplet)

Yes

Certain nitrate-free preservatives can found in fruit and berries, and have been demonstrated by the FDA, USDA, and national scientific bodies as safe for consumption. Nitrate-free preservatives provide significant benefits for the consumer and none have been found to be harmful when used appropriately. Univera is committed to the use of preservatives only when there is a compelling consumer safety need AND the ingredient has been widely observed as having no adverse effects.

Preservatives used in liquid Univera products are all GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) by the USDA and FDA, including minimal amounts of sodium benzoate (benzoic acid), citric acid and potassium sorbate (sorbic acid). Importantly, these natural compounds are found in berries and other fruits. Sorbic acid is very effective against yeast, and benzoic acid inhibits the growth of mold and bacteria. Both have significant antioxidant activity. In other words, berries and other fruits manufacture these organic acids to protect themselves. We add a little more of these ingredients to Aloe Gold®, MetaBerry®, Xtra™ and Xperia™, to protect the beneficial polysaccharides in these products.

For valuable information on safety, please see univerascience.com Articles & White Papers title: The Truth About Preservatives.

It appears that this reaction can happen under conditions of high heat or

pressure, neither of which are used in the manufacture of Univera

products. Importantly, extensive testing by an independent laboratory has

shown from zero to 4 ppb (parts per billion) of benzene in Univera products.

Four ppb is less than the FDA allows in purified drinking water. 

For valuable information on safety, please see univerascience.com Articles & White Papers title: The Truth About Preservatives.

Please be assured that there are no nitrates in Ageless Xtra or RegeniCare.

The niacin (Vitamin B3) is included in the amount of 9 mg per serving to assist with cellular energy production. While it is true that some people experience a harmless but bothersome “niacin flush” with doses greater than 30 mg, this is unlikely to occur at such a low dose. The other form of B3 (niacinamide) does not cause flushing at any dose. To date, we have sold more than 4.5 million bottles of AgelessXtra and have yet to hear from someone who reacted to the niacin.

There are no sulfated ingredients in AgelessXtra. Could you be thinking of RegeniCare, which contains glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate? These are natural compounds that are stabilized with a sulfur molecule, and are thus termed sulfates. There is widespread confusion regarding the terms sulfate, sulfite and the class of medication known as sulfa drugs. A sulfate is any compound containing the element sulfur, which is an essential nutrient found in most cells of the human body. For a complete review of this rather complex but important issue, please visit univerascience.com Articles and White Papers, and see the fact sheet entitled Sulfate, Sulfite Sulfa.

Pharma TNF alpha inhibitors (most widely used = Embrel) work by binding irreversibly to practically all TNF in the body.  They also cross the blood/brain barrier and thus have been shown to be effective in the treatment of occasional forgetfulness.  The limitation has to do with the effect of essentially abolishing TNF activity, which plays an important role in phase one immunity. 

"Good news Mrs. Jones.  Your husband remembered your name.  However, he just died of pneumonia."

Protectin does NOT have the same mechanism of action.  It works at the transcription level, reducing gene expression for TNF alpha and other inflammatory proteins in the COX and LOX pathways.  Remember that our goal was never to turn these genes off, but to restore gene expression to that seen in healthy, symptom-free 30 yr olds.  This is a sensible target, and one that maintains the immune activity of TNF as well as the ability to synthesize prostacyclin from COX-2.

Remeber also that the level of gene expression seen in people with inflammatory disease is orders of magnitude greater than that seen in healthy age-matched controls.  Thus there is tremendous room for improvement simply by normalizing gene expression and restoring balance to these important pathways.

AgelessXtra contains 220 mg of green tea extract per serving, which contains a maximum of 7% caffeine.  So at the maximum, one ounce of concentrate or a 3.3 oz mini will provide only 15 mg of caffeine.  That's the equivalent of a sip of coffee (regular brew coffee contains 100 mg caffeine per 6 oz cup).

DHEA is derived from the Mexican Wild Yam plant.

You can take 6 or more ounces per day, as needed; however, we recommend no more then 2 ounces at one time.

Non-vegan: Bone & Joint, Metafuel, MetaPower, Essentials, RegeniFree, Active Male, ImmunoBurst, Rhythmatix.

Essentials is excellent for athletes because of its macronutrients and its essential fats. Macronutrients include a complete and balanced array of carbohydrates, proteins, and polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs). Micronutrients include fiber and essential fats (EFAs). Of note, these ingredients come from premium quality, clean whole food sources that exceed USDA organic standards. From a human physiology standpoint, these ingredients are pre-digested (read: absorbable and ready to cross the gut wall in seconds-to-minutes, not hours). Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are critically important to athletes. In Univera Essentials, the EFAs are 100% water soluble, balanced in terms of omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9's, and, because of the tiny particle size that they've been emulsified into, they are made available to your body almost immediately. This product is lactose-free and casein-free.

As athletes know, a cardinal rule in athletics is that you never do anything in competition that you have not already done in training. The suggestion is to try Essentials first in the training setting--for endurance and sprint-like events--and observe both your performance and recovery.

Several professional athletes have had major success with Essentials. Fields ranging from soccer, cycling, and swimming to baseball and basketball are benefiting from the RANGE and QUALITY of nutrients and, further, from the RAPID speed with which these nutrients are made available to the system.

Xtra is not a multivitamin and is not intended to be compared to a mutlivitamin. Even the highest quality multivitamin will not improve energy levels, stress, or have an impact on mental clarity. A good multivitamin will not impact the soreness and swelling of joints, either. The goal is, by consuming a highly-varied, natural foods diet, people will have no need for a multivitamin. Univera wants you to get your vitamins from your diet.<!--EndFragment-->

We have not measured the glycemic index (GI) of Xtra. *Please see below for how GI is determined.

The following info might be helpful:

Xtra contains 3 grams sugar (all 3g are fruit based)

An average apple contains approx 12-16g sugar

Glycemic index of average apple: 31-38

Glycemic index of berries (the primary fruit source of Xtra): 32

*Glycemic index values are determined experimentally by feeding human test subjects a fixed portion of the food (after an overnight fast), and subsequently extracting and measuring samples of the blood at specific intervals of time.

<!--[if gte mso 10]>

<![endif]--> <!--StartFragment-->

Not at this time. This is a project that has been addressed for some time now, and is being handled in the Operations Department.

<!--EndFragment-->

No, there is not any caffeine in the Chocolate flavored MetaFuel

One scoop, which equals 2.0968 grams has 300mg of Glucosamine, 112.5 mg or Chondroitin, 299.4mg of MSM and 250mg of Calcium. 

*Please note suggested Use on Product label

A physician from the Univera community has contributed the following to our comprehensive approach to Bone Health, pointing out the value of MetaPower (fish oil n-3 fatty acids) and especially Rhythmatix (Fish oil + resveratrol + CoQ10 and Unibex).

Thanks Dr. Natalie Kather!

Fernandes G, Bhattacharya A, Rahman M, Zaman K, Banu J.
Effects of n-3 fatty acids on autoimmunity and osteoporosis. Front Biosci. 2008 May 1;13:4015-20.
 
Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr, San Antonio, TX 78229-7868, USA.
 
Decreased consumption of omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FA) and diets rich in animal proteins, saturated fats and n-6 vegetable oils are associated with a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), certain malignancies and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), and renal disease. Recent studies show that reduced calorie intake and supplementation of diet with n-3 FA delays the onset of autoimmune renal disease, primarily, due to increased antioxidant enzyme activities, decreased NF-kappaB activation and decreased IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-alpha mRNA expression in the kidney tissue. Studies in rodents show that addition of n-3 FA and soy protein to diet affords protection against bone loss induced by ovariectomy in mice due to NF-kappaB expression and decreased activation of osteoclasts. Together, the available evidence show that increased daily intake of dietary n-3 FA decreases the severity of autoimmune disorders, lessens the chance of developing CVD, and protects against bone loss during post-menopause.
 
PMID: 18508495 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
 
Related articles

ReviewProgress in nutritional immunology.
 
Immunol Res. 2008; 40(3):244-61.

[Immunol Res. 2008]
 
Review of n-3 fatty acids and the immune system in autoimmunity.
 
Isr Med Assoc J. 2002 Jan; 4(1):34-8.

[Isr Med Assoc J. 2002]
 
Review of Dietary lipids and risk of autoimmune disease.
 
Clin Immunol Immunopathol. 1994 Aug; 72(2):193-7.

[Clin Immunol Immunopathol. 1994]
 
Review of Protective role of n-3 lipids and soy protein in osteoporosis.
 
Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2003 Jun; 68(6):361-72.

[Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2003]

The benefits of DHEA are cumulative over time.

Short-term supplementation with DHEA does not produce improvements on memory, learning or information processing. Thus it has been easy for nay-sayers to dismiss the cognitive improvement reported by people taking DHEA.  I was once accused of “cheating” on a brain scan.

It is important to realize that the benefits of DHEA are cumulative over time. In fact, common sense tells me that I would not want to ingest anything that had a dramatic and immediate effect on my brain (well, at least not since the ‘60’s).

The University of Parma (home of the most intense and innovative research on DHEA at present) has completed a three year study showing that serum DHEA levels are clearly, significantly and positively associated with cognition scores, and that the converse is also true; those with the lowest DHEA values showed more rapid and significant reduction in the Mini Mental Status Exam.

If you are looking for a mechanism of action, I would suggest new data from Russia showing that exogenous DHEA has anxiolytic activity under conditions of chronic stress. Or you could look at data regarding DHEA’s ability to protect the hippocampus. As for me, I just plan to maintain youthful levels of DHEA, keep downward pressure on TNF alpha and other inflammatory cytokines with Protectin™ and fish oil, maintain optimum levels of Vitamin D, do crossword puzzles, play Scrabble, sizzle with science, and move confidently through my 6th decade with many more to come.

References:

Valenti G, Ferrucci L, Lauretani F. et al. DHEAS and Cognitive Function in the Elderly: The InCHIANTI Study. J Endocrinol Invest. 2009 Jul 20.
 
Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Sciences, Section of Geriatrics, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.

"Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate derivative (DHEAS) decline with age..." [See PUBMED for more on this publication]

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate derivative (DHEAS) decline with age. The decline in DHEAS levels has been associated with many physiological impairments in older persons including cognitive dysfunction. However data regarding the possible relationship between DHEAS and cognition are scant. We investigated whether DHEAS levels are associated with presence and development of lower cognitive function measured by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) in older men and women. 1034 residents aged >/=65 yr of the InCHIANTI Study with data available on DHEAS and MMSE were randomly selected. MMSE was administered at baseline and 3 years later. Among those, 841 completed three year follow-up. Parsimonious models obtained by backward selection from initial fully adjusted models were used to identify independent factors associated with MMSE and DHEAS. The final analysis was performed in 755 participants (410 men and 345 women) with MMSE score >/= 21. A significant age-related decline of both DHEAS levels (P<0.001) and MMSE score (p<0.001) was found over the three year follow-up. At enrolment DHEAS was significantly and positively associated with MMSE score, independently of age and other potential confounders (beta SE 0.003 +/- 0.001, p<0.005). Low baseline DHEAS levels were predictive of larger decline of MMSE and this relationship was significant after adjusting for covariates (beta SE -0.004 +/-0.002, p < 0.03). Our data show a significant and positive association between DHEAS and cognitive function, assessed by MMSE test. Low DHEAS levels predict accelerated decline in MMSE score during 3 year follow up period.

Yes. The only product in question was MetaGreens, since it contains wheat grass, and even though the immature grass contains no gluten (only found in the wheat grain), we tested it anyway in case they inadvertently include some of the grains in the product. None detected. Thus the line is gluten-free.

First, if you haven't logged into your UniveraScience.com account in the last six months, your account is automatically locked.  All you'll have to do is click on the Reset Password link/tab and enter your e-mail address to initate a temporary password to be e-mailed to you.

Same procedure needs to be followed if you just can't remember your password at all--even if it was just last week you logged in.  Go to the Reset Password page, enter your e-mail address, and check your e-mail's inbox for instructions.

Go to the Request an Account link/page.  Make sure to read and supply all the required items you need to have before submitting your request.  Also note, you won't be given access right away--it could take up to 48 hours to have an account approved and allowing you to log in. You will receive an e-mail when either the account was approved (along with a temporary password) or asking for more information.