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Biocell with Collagen - Lutein with FloraGlo

A Review of Biocell, a Collagen Supplement and Lutein, an Antioxidant

I stumbled over your blogspot and "Oral Hyaluronic Acid" review and really enjoyed it.

I have been taking HA w/BioCell Collagen II from BioCell Technologies and Lutein w/FloraGLO for a couple of weeks and wondered if you've researched either of these.

They're both supposed to promote skin health.

Thanks,

Amy

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Thank you, Amy. I’m glad you’re enjoying my blog.

HA w/BioCell Collagen II from BioCell Technologies

You’ve already read my view on oral Hyaluronic Acid so let me address the Collagen II part of the BioCell skin and joint formula.

Quoting Dr. Ray Sanhelian, M.D., “In the past few years several companies have started selling collagen supplements. There’s hardly any research evaluating the role of collagen supplements in human health, and hence, at this time, claims made regarding collagen capsules cannot be endorsed.”

As I wrote in my blog, Dr. Sanhelian is a medical doctor who is widely recognized as a moderate voice in the evaluation of natural supplements. At the other extreme, I found articles promoting Collagen II supplementation written by James South, M.A.

James South is a biochemist and prominent proponent of supplementation for health and anti-aging. He is a prolific author and frequent talk show guest. He also practices what he preaches and has experimented on himself for over 30 years.

In his youth, he suffered many ailments and accidents. By his 20s, he was disenchanted with what traditional health care had to offer and began searching for a better way.

He describes his quest thus, “In short order I was taking 50 nutritional supplements per day, and within weeks many of my lifelong health problems were vastly improved. I have avoided most of orthodox medicine ever since, and as a consequence I am overall much healthier at 55 than I was in youth.”

Only you can decide where you want to be on the spectrum. Would you like to see some peer-reviewed published research before using a new supplement formula or are you comfortable, like James South, being a human guinea pig?

Let’s look at the research on HA w/BioCell Collagen II.

Collagen for Skin and Joints

If oral Collagen II could simply flow from the bloodstream into tissues and replace Collagen depleted by time, it would benefit the joints – not the skin – since Collagen II is the main type found in joints, whereas Collagen III is the primary type found in skin.

There is research to support Collagen II supplements for joint health. Interestingly it doesn’t work by replacing lost Collagen II in the joints; but rather by building up the body’s tolerance for Collagen II much like allergen desensitization.

Conversely, too high a dose defeats this purpose (as it would in allergy desensitization).

As for the skin, it appears that Collagen II does have an HA-boosting effect, but not in the way you might expect.

Research from BioCell Technologies by AIBMR Life Sciences

Research commissioned by nutraceutical consulting firm, AIBMR Life Sciences, (on behalf of BioCell Tech.) involved in vitro tests of the Collagen II used in BioCell’s formula.

It was found to inhibit hyaluronidase activity by 88%. Hyaluronidase is an enzyme that degrades HA; so disabling hyaluronidase would preserve existing HA and allow newly created HA to thrive.

Destroying naturally occurring hyaluronidase may not be a good thing. The enzyme hyaluronidase can be beneficial.

A 1998 cancer research study by Stern et al (University of California, San Francisco), showed hyaluronidase to interfere with the metastasis of breast cancer and to even shrink tumor size.

Breast cancer cells are covered by a cushion of HA which swells with moisture and displaces non-cancerous cells, thereby creating space for the cancerous cells to multiply.

In addition, the HA cushion increases the motility of the cancer cells allowing them to run rampant. Hyaluronidase attacks both of these negative HA effects.

If you are worried about cancer or have a family history of the disease, it might be a good idea to consult your physician before taking Biocell.

Research from BioCell Technologies by SIBR

The Southeastern Institute of Biomedical Research (SIBR), another neutraceutical consulting firm, has compiled reviews of several clinical studies that support the use of oral Collagen II for degenerative joint disease – but none for any benefit to the skin.

On that point they quote Dr. Nelson Novick, a practicing M.D., and associate clinical professor of dermatology at The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, who says, "I recommend daily oral supplementation with Biocell Collagen [Type] II, a unique combination of collagen II, hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate (HA s companion that builds cartilage) to nourish the skin from the inside out where topical applications cannot reach.

This dietary supplement provides the only natural and bioavailable source of these three elements needed to maintain skin moisture and elasticity. This complex concentrated matrix of elements, formerly only available to plastic surgeons as injectable drugs, not only halts the appearance of skin aging, but also potentially reverses the aging process altogether. This supplement is not a short-term solution, such as the use of injectable collagen; rather it is a necessary part of any regimen intended for life-long skin tissue health."

The SIBR report also quotes prominent and highly-respected rheumatologist, Roland Moskowitz, M.D as follows, "The positive effect of the oral administration of [hydrolyzed collagen] on skin and organs attached to the skin has been observed for some time. These positive effects include improvement in nail quality; an effect on the properties of hair and nail growth; and in veterinary studies, improvement in hair and hoof quality and growth."

So there appears to be some scientific support for BioCell's claims.

FloraGLO Lutein for Eye and Skin Anti-aging

FloraGLO Lutein gets a two-thumbs up vote from me.

There is much research to support Lutein’s efficacy for preserving eye health, particularly against age-related macular degeneration. It functions as an antioxidant, protecting healthy cells from damage caused by free radicals, while also filtering out potentially-dangerous UV rays.

Just this month (May 2007), the results of a sizeable (120 women aged 25 to 50) 12- week randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical study on FloraGLO Lutein was published in the journal of Skin Pharmacology and Physiology.

The purpose of the study was to measure any skin benefit of oral and/or topical application of FloraGLO Lutein. It was conducted by Professor Francesco Morganti of the dermatology department at the University of Naples, Italy.

The study found that a daily oral supplementation with 10 mg of FloraGLO Lutein, taken over 12 weeks, increased skin photo-protective activity 250%, skin hydration 60%, lipid levels and elasticity 46%.

Importantly, when FloraGLO Lutein was administered in combined oral and topical treatment, the beneficial effects on the skin hydration, lipid levels and elasticity were even more pronounced. A 55% reduction in oxidative damage to the skin’s lipid layer was also observed with the combined approach.

Topical Lutein can be found in DDF Protective Eye Cream.

This article is for information only. It does not purport to offer medical advice.

 

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