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  Discussion on Transfer Factor from 4Life
Author Message
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Thursday, Oct 9, 2003 - 5:22 pm:

Dr. O,

I have read the information on the 4Life site - www.4-life.com, but I am not knowlegeable enough to critique it in the same way a vet or doctor might. If you have time, could you please investigate and give your opinion? It sounds good, and the testimonials are quite convincing.

Thank you.
Holly
Member:
Kckohles

Posted on Thursday, Oct 9, 2003 - 11:12 pm:

Hi Holly,

I have used their products and had both great results and no results. I bought the equine performance vitamin for my mare that has an allergic head shaking condition and didn't see a change in the head shaking. I have also used the stress paks on horses that were dehydrated or stressed and had positive results. I have also used the stress paks on myself when I felt a cold or the flu coming on and I think it prevented me from getting sick. I keep the stress paks on hand for emergencies but don't buy the vitamins anymore, because of the cost and the horses really didn't like the strong vitaminy taste. I have switched to a vitamin from Figuerola Labs called EquineSaver that I really like, and the horses love.
Hope that helps a little.

KIM
Member:
Kckohles

Posted on Thursday, Oct 9, 2003 - 11:14 pm:

Holly,

I don't think I used the vitamins long enough to necessarily give them a fair go to say yes or no.

KIM
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Friday, Oct 10, 2003 - 12:00 am:

Kim,

Thank you for sharing your experiences. I had never heard about this product until today, but wanted to know if the science behind it is valid.

Thanks,
Holly
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Oct 10, 2003 - 6:07 am:

I went to the site and other than a reference to something extracted from egg yolk could not find a guanteed analysis for Transfer Factor. If you will find the specific ingredients and the amount per dose I would be glad to review them.
DrO
Member:
Amara

Posted on Friday, Oct 10, 2003 - 6:27 am:

Holly
we used their product for many months... cant see as it made any difference in their condition..
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Oct 10, 2003 - 6:58 am:

After going to their site I spent some time trying to identify exactly what "transfer factor" was. There is no definition in the most current medical dictionary, always a good place to start with something like this. Running a search in the scientific article database tranfer factor is used for a number of substances in both immune and nonimmune functions. Looking at the immune research, these factors appear to be considered generally organism specific. It also appears that they are poorly defined checmically. Perhaps the best explanation of what they might be is described in the following:
Mol Med. 2000 Apr;6(4):332-41.
Transfer factors: identification of conserved sequences in transfer factor molecules.
Kirkpatrick CH.
Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, USA.
BACKGROUND: Transfer factors are small proteins that "transfer" the ability to express cell-mediated immunity from immune donors to non-immune recipients. We developed a process for purifying specific transfer factors to apparent homogeneity. This allowed us to separate individual transfer factors from mixtures containing several transfer factors and to demonstrate the antigen-specificity of transfer factors. Transfer factors have been shown to be an effective means for correction of deficient cellular immunity in patients with opportunistic infections, such as candidiasis or recurrent Herpes simplex and to provide prophylactic immunity against varicella-zoster in patients with acute leukemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Transfer factors of bovine and murine origin were purified by affinity chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography. Cyanogen bromide digests were sequenced. The properties of an apparently conserved sequence on expression of delayed-type hypersensitivity by transfer factor recipients were assessed. RESULTS: A novel amino acid sequence, LLYAQDL/VEDN, was identified in each of seven transfer factor preparations. These peptides would not transfer expression of delayed-type hypersensitivity to recipients, which indicates that they are not sufficient for expression of the specificity or immunological properties of native transfer factors. However, administration of the peptides to recipients of native transfer factors blocked expression of delayed-type hypersensitivity by the recipients. The peptides were not immunosuppressive. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the peptides may represent the portion of transfer factors that binds to the "target cells" for transfer factors. Identification of these cells will be helpful in defining the mechanisms of action of transfer factors.

Hmmm....looking again at the research the 4Life folks present, stimulation of NK immunity cells in a petre dish by poorly defined small peptides, is a ...LONG...LONG... way from proof that this is a useful oral supplement that may increase protection from infectious disease. I find no support for using these things orally. In living subjects, currently the research seems to indicate that the stimulation is both antigen specific and greatly attenuated when one species transfer factor is put into another species. There are not many diseases of chickens or cows (I have now seen two different statements as to the origin of the TF in the 4Life advertisements) that would be much concern in horses.
DrO
Member:
Amara

Posted on Friday, Oct 10, 2003 - 7:13 am:

forfot to mention that my boss uses this stuff-and she's sick more than anybody i know...
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Sunday, Oct 12, 2003 - 9:02 pm:

Thanks, Dr. O. and Melissa,

I was gone for a few days, and just got your responses. Thank you for checking into it, Dr. O.

Holly
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