Plus by Mannatech

Functional

• Aloe vera (inner leaf gel powder)

  Aloe vera inner leaf gel powder  is the powder obtained from the freeze-dried gel from the leaves of the aloe vera plant, Aloe barbadensis.

  For centuries, the plant aloe vera has been used by cultures for its beneficial effects on human health 1. Today aloe vera gel continues to be used in supplements, foods, beverages, and cosmetics. Aloe leaves consist of two major parts, the outer leaf epidermis and the inner leaf gel, which are very different in their chemical composition and properties. Aloe gel is obtained from the inner portion of the leaves. Aloe gel is rich in nutrients and contains an abundant supply of glycoproteins and mono-, oligo- and polysaccharides. Monosaccharide constituents include glucose, mannose, galacturonic acid, glucuronic acid, galactose, arabinose, fucose, glucosamine, fructose, rhamnose and xylose 2.

  Much of the health benefits observed by the use of aloe vera gel may be attributed to its high molecular weight polysaccharides. Before a process was developed to stabilize aloe vera gel or extracts, fresh preparations were regarded as being required for any therapeutic efficacy 3. It has now been shown that careful drying of aloe vera gel can retain the polysaccharide content important for producing many of its health benefits 4.

• Arabinogalactan (from Larix spp. wood)

  Arabinogalactans are a class of long, densely branched high-molecular weight polysaccharides extracted for commercial uses from the bark of the Eastern and Western Larch trees, Larix larcinia and Larix occidentalis.Their monosaccharide constituents include galactose, arabinose, glucose and mannose 1. Larch arabinogalactans are considered a good source of prebiotic soluble dietary fiber 2,3. Small amounts of arabinogalactans can be found in some food plants, including corn, carrots, tomatoes, pears, wheat and red wine 4.

  A human double-blind, placebo-controlled trial indicates that intake of 1.5 grams of a larch arabinogalactan can enhance the antigenic response to a bacterial (tetanus) and viral (flu) challenges in healthy subjects 5. Both Ambrotose powders provide > 1.5 grams of this larch arabinogalactan/day.  Two human double-blind, placebo-controlled trials indicated that higher doses of  this arabinogalactan (4.5 grams) can enhance the response to a bacterial (pneumococcal) challenge 6,7.

  Larch arabinogalactans are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) (21CFR172.610).

• Beta-sitosterol (from plant sterols)

  Beta-sitosterol. Phytosterols (PS) are fats present in plants–mostly in plant oils, nuts and seeds. Because the human body cannot produce PS, they must be obtained through the diet. Epidemiologic studies suggest that phytosterol intake supports good health 1. Processing of plant oils typically reduces their PS content 1. The average consumption of PS in industrialized Western countries is low, about 78 mg/day. Asian countries consume an average of 4 times that amount, about 400 mg/day 2.

  This ingredient can also be found in the following products:

  • Optimal Support Packets

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• Boron (as boron glycine chelate)

  Boron is a trace mineral naturally occurring in many foods, but it is particularly abundant in peanut butter, wine, raisins and nuts. The U.S. FDA has not established a DV for boron, but growing evidence suggests it is essential to human beings. In the U.S., adult men consume a mean of 1.17 mg/day and women consume 0.96 mg/day. Vegetarian adults consume slightly more 1.
  Up to 18 mg/day of boron appears to be safe for adults even if taken for long periods of time. There is no evidence that it is either carcinogenic or mutagenic. No adverse effects have been observed in women taking boron supplements 2.
  Boron glycine chelate, or boron glycinate, is a form of chelated boron, in which a boron ion is bound to the amino acid glycine. It is used as a source of the trace mineral boron in dietary supplements.

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• Ghatti gum

  Ghatti gum, a mixture of complex polysaccharides, comes from the bark of Anogeissus latifolia, a large tree native to India and Sri Lanka. Monosaccharide constituents include arabinose, galactose, mannose, xylose and glucuronic acid. Ghatti gum is used in supplements, foods, drugs and cosmetics. It contains as much as 80% soluble dietary fiber 1.

  Most gums are believed to be largely degraded in the colon 2. Test tube studies have demonstrated the fermentation of ghatti gum by the beneficial human bacteria species Bifidobacterium 3,4. Ghatti gum is considered generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is permitted for use as a food (21CFR184.1333).

• Glycine

  Glycine is a non-essential amino acid found in meats, whole grains, and dairy products. Glycine is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) (21CFR172.320).

• Gum tragacanth

  Gum tragacanth comes from the stems and branches of the flowering plant Astragalus gummifer. The raw gum is made up of a mixture of two polysaccharides. Monosaccharide constituents include galactose, arabinose, xylose, fucose, rhamnose, and galacturonic acid 1. Gum tragacanth has been approved for use in pharmaceuticals in the U.S. since 1820 and in foods since 1925 2. Most gums are believed to be largely degraded in the colon 3. Test tube studies have demonstrated that gum tragacanth can be digested by a number of bacteria that inhabit the human colon, including the beneficial Bifidobacteria species 4,5. Gum tragacanth is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is commonly added to foods (21CFR184.1351).

• L-arginine (as L-arginine HCl)

  Arginine, a semi-essential amino acid, is particularly abundant in meats, whole grains, and dairy products 1. Under normal conditions the body can synthesize sufficient arginine to meet physiological needs. Stress conditions put an increased demand on the body for arginine and, under these conditions, dietary arginine becomes essential 2, 3. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), arginine can be safely added to foods (21CFR172.320).

  This ingredient can also be found in the following products:

  • Optimal Support Packets

  Expand References

• L-glutamic acid

  Glutamic acid, a non-essential amino acid, is found in many meats, whole grains, and dairy products 1. Glutamic acid is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) (21CFR182.1045) and appears to be well tolerated when given orally 2.

  This ingredient can also be found in the following products:

  • Optimal Support Packets

  Expand References

• L-lysine (as L-lysine HCl)

  Lysine is an essential amino acid (it must be supplied by the diet). Mostly provided by protein intake, it is probably the least abundant amino acid present in foods 1. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lysine can be safely added to foods (21CFR172.320).

• Wild yam extract (root) standardized to 12.5% diosgenin

  Wild yam extract (root). The roots of Dioscorea species are true yams and are not related to the sweet potato, which is incorrectly called a yam in the U.S. Dioscorea tubers typically contain 80-90% starch, are low in protein, and contain appreciable amounts of vitamin C and calcium 1. Dioscorea species are also a rich source of the saponin, diosgenin 2. The roots are commonly consumed in Africa, the tropics, Central America, and the Caribbean. In West Africa, they may comprise 0.3-49% of total daily caloric intake 1. An extract of D. villosa has been subjected to extensive safety testing and did not cause adverse effects when consumed in large amounts by adults 3.

Formulation

• Calcium carbonate

  Calcium carbonate is an organic compound used as a source of the essential mineral calcium in dietary supplements. In a study of post-menopausal women, calcium carbonate was as bioavailable as calcium citrate1. It is considered generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use in foods by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 2.

• Croscarmellose sodium

  Croscarmellose sodium, the sodium salt of a cellulose, is added to capsules, tablets and granules to help them disintegrate following ingestion. Croscarmellose sodium is generally regarded as an essentially nontoxic material. Consumption of large quantities may have a laxative effect, although the quantities used in capsules or tablets are unlikely to cause this problem 1.

• Hypromellose

  Hypromellose, also known as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), is a derivative of cellulose. In oral products, hypromellose is primarily used as a binder and for encapsulation as an alternative to animal-derived gelatin. In foods, it is used as a thickener and to stabilize oil-in-water mixtures 1. Hypromellose is an approved food additive by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 2.

• Magnesium stearate

  Magnesium stearate, a salt of stearic acid, is widely used in cosmetics, foods, and capsules as a lubricating agent. In dietary supplements it may contain a mixture of magnesium salts of different fatty acids.
  Magnesium stearate is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) (21CFR184.1440) and is generally regarded as being nontoxic following oral administration. Oral consumption of large quantities may produce a laxative effect or cause mucosal irritation 1.

• Microcrystalline cellulose

  Microcrystalline cellulose (MC) is a purified plant fiber that is widely used in food products and in dietary supplement tablets to: 1) bind ingredients together, or 2) help the tablet disintegrate properly.
  Following ingestion, MC is not absorbed by the human body. Because it is not absorbed, it has little potential for toxicity. Consumption of large quantities of cellulose may have a laxative effect, but this is unlikely to be a problem for individuals consuming the small amounts included in dietary supplement tablets 1.

• Oleic acid

  Oleic acid is a fatty acid obtained from the hydrolysis of various fats 1. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), oleic acid may be added to foods for human consumption 2.

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• Silicon dioxide

  Silicon dioxide, also known as silica, is added to capsule and tablet formulations to reduce clumping 1. Silica is found in many foods, particularly whole grains (oats and barley), sugar beets, sugar cane, soybeans, turnips, green beans 2. The average intake of silica in adults is 14-21 mg/day 3. The bioavailability of silicate additives is low 4. Silica that occurs in food and water has not been shown to cause any adverse effects 3.

• Sodium carboxymethylcellulose

  Sodium carboxymethylcellulose is an organic compound related to cellulose. It is used in oral formulations and food products to increase thickness and improve consistency 1. It is poorly absorbed and its safe use by humans has been well established 2. Sodium carboxymethylcellulose is an approved food additive by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 3.

• Stearic acid

  Stearic acid is a naturally occurring fatty acid that is found in animal and vegetable fats. In dietary supplements, it is typically a combination of stearic and palmitic acids. Stearic acid is used as a lubricantin capsules and tablets and is also used widely in cosmetics and food products 1. It is used in topical formulations to assist in mixing ingredients and to stabilize oil-in-water mixtures 2.
  Stearic acid is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) (21CFR184.1090) and is generally regarded as a nontoxic and nonirritating material 1. It is also included in the U.S. FDA Inactive Ingredients Guide as safe to use in the amounts present in our products 3.

• Xylitol

  Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that occurs naturally in many fruits and berries. It is often used as a sweetener substitute in foods, providing the same sweetness as refined sugars with less food energy 1. Xylitol is considered generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as a food additive (21CFR172.395) 2.