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Several years ago, Dr. Anju Usman, a well-known physician from Illinois, introduced the revolutionary concept of a particular enzyme formulation to break down biofilm. She chose Kirkman® to help perfect that formulation. The result is a product being introduced this month called Biofilm Defense^™. Dr. Usman talked to Kirkman® about gut ecology, immunity, and biofilms, explaining the following issues.

The gut harbors the largest collection of microorganisms in the human body. Our gastrointestinal system is the first line of immunity against pathogens from the outside world. Healthy gut flora is imperative for a healthy immune system. Many patients with GI complaints have been found to have dysbiosis - a microbial imbalance. If dysbiosis persists after intervention with antibiotics, antifungals, therapeutic diet, digestive enzymes, and targeted nutrients, then we need to investigate further.   One possible explanation for persistent dysbiosis may be due to the production of pathogenic biofilm by bad "bugs" in the gut.

Pathogenic biofilm surrounds and protects the bad bugs like an impenetrable fortress, allowing them to thrive and reproduce. The microbes hiding under biofilm are highly resistant to both immunologic and non-specific defense mechanisms of the body. As the bad bugs reproduce, they continue to produce toxic byproducts that may be detrimental to the health of the host without the host even realizing the bad bugs are there. Some microbes even fail to express outer membrane proteins when iron is present. When outer membrane proteins are not expressed, the immune system is unable to recognize pathogens and, therefore, is not able to produce antibodies against the bugs.

The pathogens living in the biofilm are remarkably difficult to treat, often resistant to doses of antimicrobials, and 100- to 1000-fold over the minimum lethal dose for microbes outside of biofilm. Since the bacteria hiding under biofilm is difficult to see and culture since the immune system may not be producing antibodies against the pathogens, the bad bugs can be very difficult to diagnose.

Recently, scientists have been discovering ways to penetrate these pathogenic biofilms and expose the bad bugs beneath so that they can be addressed by the immune system. Probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, oral NaEDTA, iron chelating compounds (lactoferrin), chitosans as well as mucus and fibrin degrading enzymes all have the potential to help antimicrobials work with better efficiency to restore the balance of good bugs in the body.  Enzymes, in particular, have a long history of safety and efficacy in helping patients with a variety of issues.

Kirkman’s Biofilm Defense™ contains a combination of unique enzymes that have the ability to dissolve the polysaccharide and fibrin components of biofilm.  Because this enzyme lacks any significant amount of protease, which can irritate a sensitive GI tract, Biofilm Defense™ can be taken on an empty stomach. In fact, it may be recommended by clinicians to use this product on an empty stomach followed by appropriate natural or pharmaceutical antimicrobials that target a specific bug or bugs residing in biofilm. This enzyme should be used with other aforementioned strategies − in particular, high quality, high potency probiotics and prebiotics.  Prebiotics, which consist of fiber that is fermented in our gut, help fuel the cells that line the GI tract. Proper digestion of fats, carbohydrates and protein is essential to prevent putrefaction and further bacterial overgrowth in the bowel.  Digestive enzymes taken with food may also be needed to support this process.

Kirkman® will introduce Biofilm Defense^™ at the DAN! Conference, which starts October 8. You may also order Biofilm Defense^™ beginning October 8 on the Kirkman® website at www.kirkmangroup.com or by calling 1-800-245-8282.

 

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September 2009

Kirkman® Introduces an Advanced Multi-Vitamin/Mineral for Adults

 

As a result, Kirkman® has had to discontinue several liquids containing folinic acid or folic acid from a folinic acid source.  An attempt was made to lower the acidity of these products to a stable pH; however, at the pH required for the stability of the folinic acid, the vitamin B-12, also contained in some of the products, then became unstable.  To correct this situation, Kirkman® has discontinued the following liquid products:

• Folinic Acid w/ B-12 Liquid
  • Product # 274/8
• Folic  Acid w/B-12 Liquid
  • Product # 012/8
• DMG Liquid w/Folinic Acid and B-12
  • Product # 272/16
• TMG Liquid w/Folinic Acid and B-12
  
  • Product  # 273/16 and 273/32

For those customers who use the discontinued items that are listed above, a slight variation in protocol will be necessary to result in the same potencies and supplementation as were obtained when using the discontinued items.  These variations in administration are outlined below:

• Customers using Folinic Acid w/B-12 Liquid should switch to the capsule form (275/200).
• Customers using Folic Acid w/B-12 Liquid should switch to the capsule form (040/200).
• Customers using DMG Liquid w/Folinic Acid and B-12 Liquid should switch to DMG Liquid plain and then supplement with the capsule form (275/200) for the Folinic Acid and B-12.  
• Customers using TMG Liquid w/Folinic Acid and B-12 Liquid should switch to a new product, TMG Liquid plain (available in September 2009) and then supplement with the capsule form (275/200) for the Folinic Acid and B-12.

Kirkman is adding a TMG liquid (plain ) in September 2009, and with that addition an alternative is provided for all discontinued products. 

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New FDA Testing Requirements Causes Delays

On June 25th, new regulations were enacted by the FDA that requires more extensive testing of raw materials that go into nutritional supplements and complete testing of nutritional supplements before their release to be sold.  This is a positive step by the FDA to ensure the overall quality of nutritional products in the marketplace and Kirkman® supports their effort.

What has occurred as a result of the increased testing requirements is that testing laboratories are experiencing considerable increases in their work loads which has in turn lengthened testing lead times for Kirkman® and other companies.  This has caused a few shipping delays on select Kirkman® products. 

Kirkman® is working diligently to improve scheduling and eliminate these temporary out of stocks.    Customer service and quality have always been priorities at Kirkman® and will continue to be our main focus.  Thank you for your understanding in this matter.