Optimune Muscle Defense is a great tasting nutritional supplement specifically designed to build lean muscle mass and reinforce immune function. Optimune contains a specially processed whey protein concentrate enriched with naturally occurring active immunoglobulins. The undenatured protein in Optimune is a precursor for glutathione production, an important antioxidant. Clinically tested, Optimune is a safe, natural way to bolster lean muscle mass.

As a high-quality whey protein, Optimune can be used by anyone who needs supplemental protein. However, Optimune provides additional benefits for patients with a number of health conditions.

You should use Optimune if you are concerned about the loss of muscle. Optimune is an undenatured whey protein concentrate containing high levels of cysteine and glutamate, which are precursors for the production of glutathione. If your body's level of glutathione drops too low, cysteine and glutamine are released from your muscles, resulting in the loss of lean muscle mass.

Optimune¹s immunoglobulin (also known as antibody) content can also benefit people who are immune compromised as a result of HIV infection, major trauma, or cancer treatments such as chemotherapy. Optimune¹s immunoglobulins supplement your own immunoglobulins, reinforcing your defenses against foreign bodies (antigens).

No. Colostrum is the first mammary secretion that a mammal provides for its newborn for the first 24-48 hours. High quality colostrum is typically rich in immunoglobulins and growth factors. It is also typically expensive, since supplies are limited.

Optimune contains the same immunoglobulins found in colostrum, though at a lower concentration. Whey protein, the byproduct of the cheese-making process, contains the majority of the immunoglobulins in cow¹s milk. Immunoglobulins from a cow are also effective in humans. The New Zealand herds of cows used for making our whey protein (called Promune�) are not treated with hormones, nor are they hyperimmunized. This herd is only one of two in the world that can produce sufficient quantities of antibodies naturally in their milk to be effective. Even so, immunoglobulin concentrations are only high enough two times annually to enable production.

But in addition to containing active immunoglobulins, Optimune is also a high-quality, undenatured whey protein. The protein in Optimune contains 24% branched-chain amino acids, which is more than in casein, milk, soy, egg white, or beef proteins. Optimune is also a good source of cysteine and glutamate, which are necessary for the production of glutathione, the most powerful antioxidant in the body.

Optimune offers you the benefits of colostrum along with the benefits of high-quality, undenatured whey protein at a price which is much more affordable.

Each level scoop of Optimune contains 10 grams of whey protein. Use one to two scoops daily according to your specific dietary requirements.

The reference daily intake (RDI) for protein is only 50g per day. This is what most Americans without a chronic condition require and what is used as the reference value on food labels. In contrast, patients with chronically stimulated immune systems often fail to get adequate protein due to increased requirements, malabsorption, and anorexia. People who have chronic conditions like HIV infection or cancer have increased protein needs equal to about twice the Recommended Daily Intake (RDI), or about 100 grams. However, energy needs (calories) are similar or slightly lower than for healthy people.

Extra protein is required during HIV infection because the body is undergoing increased protein turnover (i.e. increased synthesis and breakdown). Muscle is a key part of protein turnover. During an infection like HIV and acute insults like major surgery or trauma, urea production is increased. Both cyst(e)ine and glutamine are released more rapidly from the muscle for the increased urea synthesis. Eventually, the plasma levels of cyst(e)ine and glutamine become depleted, reflecting the inability of the muscle to keep up with increased demand for urea production.

Lactose is a sugar found in milk and in many milk products. One 8 ounce serving of milk contains approximately 10-12 grams of lactose. Optimune contains very little lactose - less than 3%. This means that 33 grams (2 scoops) of Optimune contain just under one gram (0.80 g) of lactose.

As with any new nutritional or exercise program, you should consult your healthcare professional concerning your specific dietary requirements.

Glutathione (g-glutamyl-cysteinyl-glycine, GSH) is a tripeptide composed of cysteine, glutamine/glutamate, and glycine. In the body, cysteine is the rate-limiting component for the formation of GSH. Once enough cysteine is available, glutamine becomes rate-limiting. Both cysteine and glutamate are found in greater concentrations in whey protein compared with other high biological value proteins. Specifically, GSH contains cyst(e)ine which is the combination of cysteine and cystine when the contribution of each is not precisely known (cystine is the oxidized form of cysteine). Unlike vitamin C, which is water soluble (thus only protecting cells in a water soluble environment, like the blood), or vitamin E, which is fat soluble, GSH protects cells in all environments.

Glutathione is found in all mammalian cells and provides the principal intracellular defense against oxidation stresses such as superoxide anions, lipid peroxidases, and iron-generated hydroxyl radicals. When levels of glutathione are low, cysteine and glutamine are released from the muscles, contributing to the loss of lean body mass.

GSH is abundant in the cell cytoplasm, nuclei, and mitochondria, and it is the intracellular concentrations of GSH that matter to your body. Orally ingested GSH cannot help because the molecules are destroyed by the digestion process.

Dietary cysteine is rapidly metabolized, and furthermore is toxic.

Each level scoop of Optimune is designed to contain 10 grams of protein. Optimune has four types of immunoglobulin: IgG1, IgG2, IgA, and IgM. The Ig content in each scoop is equivalent to 10% of the amount of protein, or about 1 gram. This is about two to four times higher than the Ig content in most other commercially available whey proteins, and about eight times as high as the content in pasteurized milk.

Each scoop of Optimune contains approximately 21 mg of cholesterol. The US RDI for cholesterol is 300 mg.

Since the whey protein concentrate in Optimune (called Promune™) was originally intended as a drug, two extensive safety and toxicity tests were conducted in 1994 and submitted to the FDA. Protein intake levels as high as 550 grams per day (6.5 g protein/kg/day) were measured to ensure that the product was safe.

Sucralose is the generic name of a low-calorie sweetener manufactured by a division of Johnson & Johnson that was approved by the FDA in 1998. Sucralose has been safely in use internationally since 1991. Sucralose is approximately 600 times as sweet as sugar and has been proven safe in more than 100 scientific trials. It is the first low-calorie sweetener that is actually made from real sugar, and it has no unpleasant aftertaste. There are no known adverse effects. Sucralose appears in Optimune in very small quantities to create the best possible taste with minimal carbohydrates. This allows Optimune to taste good while maintaining a very high percentage of protein in the final product.

More information about Sucralose is available from J&J at http://www.sucralose.com/.

Carrageenan is the name given to a naturally occurring family of food grade polysaccharides derived from red sea weed. Carrageenan is used in many products because of its unique gelling and viscosifying properties. Currently marketed products that are formulated with carrageenan include cough/cold syrups, antibiotic suspensions, topical lotions and creams, and a large number of drink mixes. Carrageenan is Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) in accordance with United States Food and Drug Regulations (21 CFR 182.7255). Carrageenan is used in Optimune to thicken the mixture and make it more enjoyable to drink.