Product: Maitake Gold 404

Company: Natural Factors

Size: 45 Capsules

Ingredients: MaitakeGold 404 ( Maitake MD-fraction ) 15mg, Multi Mycelia Blend 85mg.

Dosage: 1-6 capsules daily or as directed by a health practitioner. Keep out of reach of children.

Contains no artificial preservatives, colour or sweeteners; no corn, dairy, wheat or yeast.

Description:

Maitake Gold 404 is a proprietary extract of maitake mushrooms, developed by Dr. Hiroaki Nanba - the world's leading authority on maitake. Dr. Nanba, in his research on mushrooms' immune enhancing properties, discovered that maitake extracts showed the greatest benefit. Dr. Nanba identified the maitake "fraction" that was able to stimulate macrophages ( white blood cells; macrophage means literally "big eaters" ). These cells engulf foreign particles including cancer cells, bacteria, and cellular debris.

While other mushrooms have some similar constituents, Dr. Nanba found that the beta-glucans found in maitake have a unique and complex structure.

Through the late 1980s and into the 1990s, Dr. Nanba and other Japanese researchers continued to study maitake, hoping to further understand and increase its immune enhancing activity. The result--Maitake Gold--purified maitake MD-fraction.

Maitake Gold 404 vs. Maitake D-fraction?

The Maitake Gold 404 MD-fraction is produced in a similar manner to an earlier product ( also developed by Dr. Nanba ) Maitake D-fraction, but a key step was added to remove some impurities found in the D-Fraction. The MD-fraction provides superior results. For example, in an antitumor test each was administered to mice with carcinomas. The mice given the MD-fraction experienced a significantly stronger inhibitory effect on tumor growth than the D-fraction group.

Researchers also compared effects on macrophage and killer T-cell activity five days after the extracts were administered. The MD-fraction also showed stronger immune system stimulation. Both the D- and MD-fractions are considered to have low toxicity and high safety.

Maitake Gold boosts immune function!

In a nutshell, it appears that the beta-glucans in the maitake MD-fraction bind to receptors on the outer membranes of macrophages and other white blood cells including natural killer ( NK ) cells and cytotoxic T-cells. These immune cells protect against and fight cancer, attacking tumor cells directly.

Like a key in a lock, the binding of the beta-glucan literally flips white blood cells "on" triggering a chain reaction of increased immune activity. The beta-glucan binding also stimulates production of important signaling proteins such as interleukin-1, interleukin-2, and lymphokines, that activate immune cells. Beta-glucans from Maitake Gold 404 also stimulate production of white blood cells within the bone marrow. Reduced bone marrow production means lowered white cell counts and an increased risk of infection and cancer. This beneficial effect of beta-glucan is helpful in cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Maitake researchers have identified four primary ways maitake fights cancer:

- It protects healthy cells.
- It helps the immune system seek out and destroy cancer cells.
- It helps cancer cells regain control of cell division and programmed cell death ( apoptosis ).
- It helps prevents the spread ( metastasis ) of cancers.

Maitake Gold vs. other sources of beta-glucans

Beta-glucans are found elsewhere, but the unique branching pattern of maitake MD-fraction makes it an ideal source of these molecules. Beta-glucans from oats and barley, for example can form a viscous gel. When consumed with a meal, oat and barley beta-glucans are good for soluble fiber to lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels, but they don't have much impact on the immune system. Purified beta-glucans from the common bakers' yeast possess similar benefit to maitake beta-glucan fractions, but may not be as well absorbed.

The proper dosage for Maitake Gold 404