Questions & Answers About Biotivia Suppements

Does Micronization of Trans-resveratrol Improve Bioavailability or is it a Sales Gimmick?

There is no published data to support enhanced bioavailability of resveratrol through micronization. In fact quite the opposite is true. Micronization is being touted by some suppliers even though the data shows that it actually decreases total resveratrol absorption. It is true that some drugs and nutrients are enhanced by micronization however resveratrol is not one of them. Furthermore, once a micronized powder is packed into a capsule it aggregates within a short time due to the pressure and moisture and no longer is micronized. Biotivia has studied the issue of particle size in relation to free resveratrol and resveratrol metabolite bioavailability. Our conclusion, and that of other bio chemists, is that at a particle size of between 1 and 10 nanometers (micronized) a graph of blood plasma levels vs. time shows an initial spike of resveratrol concentration but one which is no higher than the maximum amplitude of the concentration curve shown with resveratrol particles of 200nm (normal resveratrol). In the case of micronized resveratrol the blood plasma level very quickly drops to a substantially lower level than that of normal resveratrol. The result is that the total amount of free resveratrol (area under the curve) existing in the blood plasma and tissues is significantly lower with micronized resveratrol than with normal resveratrol. In fact larger particle sizes actually increase bioavailability. Some researchers have hypothesized that this is because micronized resveratrol is much more easily cleared from the blood by the liver resulting in a rapid drop off of resveratrol blood plasma and tissue concentrations. So why does Sirtris use micronized resveratrol in their formulation? The answer is simple, to a bio chemist at least. Sirtris uses it to facilitate the complexing of the particles with cyclodextrine. This is necessary in a liquid product, such as his SRT-501 formulation. The increased potency of this synthetic analog of resveratrol comes at the expense of the full spectrum effects of natural resveratrol and is due to a molecular modification. It has nothing to do with micronization. Why do some suppliers use micronization? In our opinion, it has more to do with the higher prices they are charging than with the science behind it.

How does Biotivia Achieve a Two Fold Increase in Bioavailability?

Biotivia scientists have extensively researched the pharmacokinetics of resveratrol and have developed a first in class product. Other companies formulate resveratrol with fillers and excipients or reduce particle size to support a claim of increased bioavailability. These suppliers have no scientific staff or laboratories and often base their formulations upon speculation by non scientists or data that are not relevant to resveratrol. Biotivia tackles the root problem of the bioavailability of resveratrol through research by our own scientists in our own research facilities and collaboration with respected university pharmacy schools.

How do we achieve enhanced bio activity? Resveratrol goes through a step called phase I metabolism. Phase I metabolism takes place in your gut and actively attaches enzymes to resveratrol to make it non-active. In the biotech industry companies combat this type of issue in two ways. The first is to use a pro-drug. A pro-drug, which can and often is a natural plant extract, is not active itself but gets degraded into the active drug, in our case resveratrol. In essence this helps resveratrol bypass phase I metabolism and increases the potency and efficacy of our products. Another common practice among biotech companies is to use a pharmacokinetic enhancer. A pharmacokinetic enhancer will allow more resveratrol to enter your body and is an effective means of increasing resveratrol's benefits. The SirT1 activation properties of our resveratrol-based products are to a great extent a function of this enhancement process. The precise method and modifications to standard resveratrol used by Biotivia are trade secrets however in response to a challenge by one of our competitors our claim of superior bioavialability was upheld by the National Advertising Division of the National BBB after an extensive review of our evidence by their experts. Furthermore, Consumerlab found Transmax and Bioforte to be the two most potent supplements that passed their recent evaluation of resveratrol brands. This is a test that most suppliers chose not to participate in. In our clinical research we have done a one to one human study of Transmax versus pure reference standard resveratrol. We are confident that Biotivia offers truly unique and superior resveratrol-based products in terms of effective potency and bioavailability.

What is the Difference Between Bioforte and Transmax?

Based on studies done to date virtually all of the benefits of resveratrol derive from the Trans-resveratrol isomer. Our Bioforte product has 250mg of bio-enhanced "trans-resveratrol" per all vegetable Pfizer capsule. The remaining 250mg consists of the other forms of resveratrol including glucosides of resveratrol, polydatin, emodin and other beneficial compounds naturally found in the Polygonum cuspidatum plant. That is why we call Bioforte our full spectrum resveratrol product. Transmax contains 500mg of purified "trans-resveratrol" making it laboratory grade. None of our products contain fillers, inert ingredients, or extraneous chemicals which might interfere with the purity and effectiveness of our formulations. This is an important reason why Transmax and Bioforte are used by scientists, physicians and university researchers when trying to isolate and quantify the effects of trans-resveratrol in various trials and studies. Our buyers include the top research professionals from virtually all of the respected medical schools and research institutions in the US, including Harvard, MIT, Yale, Stanford, Georgetown, University of Pittsburg and many others in Europe and the Asia.

How Many Capsules Should I Take?

Dosage is a very individual choice and depends on your weight, metabolism, individual body chemistry and your primary reasons for taking the product. In general the amount you take should be in proportion to your weight. For example a 200 pound man should take roughly twice as much as a 100 pound woman, all other things being the same. If you are taking the product for a pre-existing condition then the dosage would be significantly higher than if you were taking resveratrol as part of a preventative regimen. As part of a daily preventative regimen the average adult (i.e. 150 lbs.) should take 2 Bioforte or 1 Transmax per day. This equates to about $1 per day for a supplement which has an extraordinarily wide range of benefits. If, however, you are treating a pre- existing condition many specialists would recommend a much higher dosage, say at least 4 times the preventative dose, or 4 Transmax a day.

When and How Should I Take the Product?

Resveratrol is not very water soluble therefore your body needs to produce enzymes such as bile from the liver and gall bladder to assimilate it. Therefore we recommend that you take our products along with or shortly after taking small amounts of an oily food. This stimulates the production of the necessary enzymes and facilitates absorption. Since our products are natural they can be taken on an empty stomach and will be absorbed more easily if taken at least one hour before or after consuming a substantial meal. Our products may be taken at any time however early morning is when your body best absorbs most nutrients. To prevent intracellular oxidation of the resveratrol, and this applies to many other polyphenols as well, one should take an antioxidant with one's daily resveratrol dose. Although something as simple as one gram of Vitamin C will help prevent oxidation we naturally recommend that you consider Biotivia's super fruit extract formulation, Bio Quench, as your choice of antioxidant. Bio Quench tested at an ORAC rating per gram of over 13,500. This is the highest rating for any dry compound ever tested by Brunswick Laboratories, the inventor of the ORAC test.

How Should I Store the Products?

Our products are very stable at room temperature but it will not hurt to refrigerate them. Either way they will last for at least 2 years on the shelf after opening.

Why Bio Span+ and Bio Quench?

Although resveratrol is the most publicized new longevity compound, it alone will not address your entire need for advanced nutrition; hence Bio Quench and Bio Span+ were developed. Bio Quench incorporates standardized high-quality extracts of the most potent super fruits. Each capsule contains more Goji Berry, Pomegranate, Mangosteen, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Grape Seed extract and an astonishingly high ORAC patented Apple skin extract, than is contained in most products offering only one of each of these ingredients. For example two Bio Quench capsules contain more antioxidant power than 500 quarts of the organic juice itself. In addition the daily dose provides more resveratrol than most stand alone resveratrol products, and the entire blend is bio enhanced. This not only makes Bio Quench an incredibly potent antioxidant but also an extremely economical and convenient way to obtain the best combination of super fruit extracts along with high potency, resveratrol.

Bio Span+ was designed to complement the life extension properties of resveratrol by adding concentrated polyphenols and the Sirt 1 Activator silymarin, along with curcumin, and the two critical astragalosides of Astralagus which are believed by many scientists to have telomere protective properties. No other product currently being manufactured compares to Bio Span+ in its potential for enhancement of longevity.

Why did Biotivia Choose Not to Include Quercetin?

We have devoted quite a bit of study and research to quercetin's effect on resveratrol and resveratrol's metabolites and the issue of Sirt 1 activation. Our conclusion is that the most recent and best designed studies, including a study by one company that actually puts quercetin in their product, conclude that quercetin strongly inhibits the metabolites of resveratrol and suppresses SirT1 activation. Quercetin has been shown in numerous studies to interfere with the beneficial metabolites of resveratrol. These metabolites, particularly resveratrol glucuronide, resveratrol sulphate and picead possess important health properties. Studies also confirm that enterohepatic recirculation (recirculation by the liver) of these metabolites contributes significantly to the enhanced exposure of resveratrol in the tissues of mammals. Furthermore, quercetin's undesirable Sirt 1 suppression clearly rules it out as an ingredient in any longevity product.

If Biotivia scientists believed that quercetin would improve our products in a substantive way it would be in our interest to add it to our products. From an economic standpoint this would also benefit us, as quercetin is far less costly than the high-grade resveratrol we use in our products. A recent study by the makers of Longevinex strongly confirms our conclusion that quercetin inhibits SirT1 and possibly the other sirtuins as well. In this study a combination of resveratrol and quercetin along with the filler oat bran actually reduced SirT1 activation by a factor of 1.7 times; precisely the opposite effect one is looking for in a product designed to increase longevity.

What is Coming Next?

Biotivia has over one dozen unique products in development and testing. We expect to release the first two of these formulations within the coming 60 days. Both of these products are based upon extensive research and backed by compelling scientific evidence. Biotivia's mission is to design and formulate new and unique high potency products which address specific and important human health issues by focusing on resveratrol's clinically proven capabilities to alleviate conditions which cause human pain and suffering on a huge scale worldwide.