Longevinex® capsules start production three months before they become a finished product. Raw materials are acquired, usually from overseas sources to keep costs low: resveratrol, vitamin D and quercetin from reliable vendors in China; IP6 rice bran and hyaluronic acid from Japan; nucleotides from France; beta cyclodextrin from Germany; lutein from marigold petals in Mexico.
To comply with U.S. FDA Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), all of these raw materials are tested to confirm molecular composition, to be free of heavy metals and pesticides and with low bacterial and fungal counts. The final product is re-tested in the same manner. While it is often misstated that nutraceuticals like Longevinex® are not approved by the FDA like drugs are, they must comply with FDA GMP regulations. These measures not only eliminate any chance of contaminants, but also averts any mislabeling problems that have historically plagued the dietary supplement industry.
Resveratrol, the key ingredient, is alcohol-extracted from Giant Knotweed leaf, which grows as a wild weed, usually in moist areas around streams and lakes. Since it is harvested from the wild, no pesticides or herbicides are used like in agricultural crops.
Resveratrol is then reduced in particle size, a process called MICRONIZATION, to increase oral absorption, and is also MICROENCAPSULATED, enfolded in plant starches and dextrins to shield this vulnerable molecule from exposure to light, heat and oxygen.
The active form of resveratrol is trans-resveratrol, and the photo-degraded form is called cis-resveratrol. While trans resveratrol may be stable on delivery to a GMP encapsulation facility, it is exposed to metals, heat, light and oxygen during processing and may be degraded.
Longevinex® was the first resveratrol raw material to be stabilized by MICROENCAPSULATION and by stabilizers within the product itself as well as by protective packaging. It is further protected from environmental contaminants and light degradation by encapsulation in an opaque vegetable-based capsule, and then foil packaged to protect from heat spoilage.
All these measures are taken to ensure quality and prolonged shelf life (tested at 3 years).
Research-grade resveratrol used in lab dish or animal studies is stored at sub-zero temperature and sealed from oxygen or light exposure. While Longevinex® can’t deliver sub-zero temperature product, Longevinex® attempts to produce a product that is as close to research-grade quality as possible.
TOXICITY TESTING
Longevinex® resveratrol is the only resveratrol that has undergone toxicity testing, per requirement by the Food & Drug Administration. Remarkably Longevinex® resveratrol was shown to be non-toxic in laboratory animals and humans, even in mega-doses that would normally result in the death of a laboratory animal.
The final step is for all of the ingredients in Longevinex® to undergo high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to confirm integrity of molecules and dosage.
The labeled dose of resveratrol (100 mg) is actually exceeded by ~10% to further ensure consumers get the labeled amount. The labeled amount has to delivered after being on a storage shelf for 3 years.
Recognize nutraceuticals are exposed to harsh environments during shipping. The temperature in the back of a UPS delivery truck gets up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Some shipments are delivered to a front porch where packaging must protect against heat degradation by direct sunlight.
MOLECULAR SYNERGISM
MOLECULAR SYNERGISM comes into play in the Longevinex® formulation.
Resveratrol is in a class of small molecules called POLYPHENOLS that are able to pass through cell walls and influence genetic machinery. Studies show that polyphenols when combined work many times better than plain resveratrol. Longevinex®, a complex of resveratrol, quercetin, fisetin, and IP6 rice bran, activates 9-times more longevity genes than plain resveratrol at a lower dose (100 mg).
CALCULATED DOSE
The dose of all ingredients in Longevinex® is calculated for a 154-pound (70 kilogram) adult. Studies indicate a modest dose of resveratrol (above what the diet provides from wine ~1-3 milligrams per glass) but below potentially toxic mega-doses (700-2800+ milligrams) is provided (100 mg trans resveratrol.
The dosage of total polyphenols in Longevinex® is gleaned from studies with wine. At 60 milligrams of polyphenols per 5-oz. glass of red wine, with 3-5 glasses of aged red wine known to provide optimal heart protection (180-300 mg red wine solids), Longevinex® provides 250 total milligrams of polyphenols. Other mega-dose resveratrol capsules that advertise “more is better” are not following the known science. The human equivalent of 1750+ milligrams increased the area of damage in the heart in an experimental model of heart attack in the animal lab.
Longevinex® has been demonstrated in controlled studies to (a) pass through the blood-brain/blood-ocular barriers; (b) favorably activate longevity genes; (c) aid in regeneration of eye tissues; (d) limited the size of a heart attack (animal studies).
TWO TYPES OF LONGEVINEX
LONGEVINEX® is formulated to activate longevity genes and to regenerate aged tissues and organs. LONGEVINEX® ADVANTAGE is a bit more costly and provides extra ingredients (hyaluronic acid, lutein) that help in producing a more youthful appearance in skin, body flexibility and in joint function. Vitamin B1 as benfotiamine is added to invigorate cellular energy in mitochondria, the atomic power plants in living cells, and to improve upon transport of oxygen to tissues.
For answers to your questions about Longevinex®, please refer to the common Q & A at the Longevinex.com website