For Anemia Patients: A New Plant-Based Iron Supplement

[Guest guest]

I saw this today and thought this product development would be of interest to

those of you who take supplemental iron for anemia--especially those who

experience some of the unpleasant side effects associated with iron.

-Roma

P.S. FYI: " Sideropenic " , a term which is mentioned in this article refers to

the type of anemia characterized by abnormally low levels of serum iron.

( " Sidero " is a prefix for iron, and " penic " denotes low number or amount.)

NuCycle's Novel Plant-Based Iron Source Shown in Clinical Trial to be Very

Effective and Well Tolerated in Treating Anemia

HILLSIDE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 11, 2002--Patients with mild anemia

taking a common drug to regulate iron intake can reduce side effects by

switching to a new plant-based product. The biotechnology company NuCycle

Therapy announced today that their hydroponically grown plant-based iron

supplement was just as effective as a popular prescription iron product, but

at a 72 percent lower dosage. The results of a clinical study published in

the abstracts of the American Society for Hematology meeting today in

Philadelphia show that PhytoIron, a unique, plant-source iron supplement

is effective at low doses in treating mild anemia, while avoiding the

unpleasant side effects usually associated with iron supplements.

In the United States, it's estimated that 20 percent of all women of

childbearing age have iron-deficiency anemia, compared with only 2 percent

of adult men. The principal cause of iron-deficiency anemia in premenopausal

women is blood lost during menses. Eating inadequate amounts of iron-rich

foods, a deficiency of Vitamin B-12, a deficiency of folic acid, or poor

iron absorption by the body are other common causes of anemia. The double

blind, placebo-controlled study of 40 women with mild sideropenic anemia was

carried out over 60 days. One group received 18 mg per day of PhytoIron

supplements made from iron-accumulating Brassica plants while a second group

received 65 mg per day of a popular prescription iron supplement. At the end

of the study period, the results showed that PhytoIron was just as

effective in reducing mild anemia symptoms but at a 72 percent lower dose.

In addition, PhytoIron was much better tolerated than the conventional

prescription iron supplements. Of the patients in the conventional iron

group, 25 percent failed to complete the study, and 67 percent of those

remaining complained of unpleasant side effects, including constipation,

diarrhea, leg cramps, nausea and vomiting. In contrast, only 11 percent of

the plant-based PhytoIron subjects failed to complete the study, with 30

percent reporting side effects. This is the same percentage reported by

subjects taking a placebo product that contained no iron.

" We are extremely pleased that our patients were able to benefit from this

new and effective iron source without suffering side effects, " said study

author, Dr. Fabijan Lulic of the Medical Diagnostic Center in Zagreb,

Croatia. Seymor Flug, president of NuCycle Therapy, the study's sponsor,

commented, " This clinical outcome extends and validates the results of our

previous laboratory studies showing the superior performance of our

plant-based mineral supplements. " Jerry Kay, chairman of Integrated Health

Technologies (IHTC), stated, " We worked with NuCycle to build and operate a

commercial-scale manufacturing facility for their plant-based mineral

supplements, and these positive results are rewarding that effort. " IHTC has

an exclusive license to manufacture the complete line of NuCycle's

plant-based mineral supplements.

Rodger Rohde, president of Triarco Industries, the exclusive U.S.

distributor of this product line, announced, " In addition to NuCycle's

PhytoIron, we offer their plant-based chromium, selenium, and zinc

supplements, plus an eight-mineral MultiMins combination. "

SOURCE: " A Botanical Source Of Iron Is A Well Tolerated And Effective Oral

Iron Supplementation Therapy In Females With Mild Sideropenic Anemia. "

Abstract #3463, 2002 ASH Annual Meeting. Fabijan Lulic, Burt Ensley, and

Damir Jurinovic. Medical Diagnostic Center, Nemetova 2, 10000 Zagreb,

Croatia; NuCycle Therapy Inc., Hillside, N.J.