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Whenever there is any abnormal dietary intake pattern such as a stress, sustained illness, or old age, then there is an increased risk of plant sterol deficiencies and therefore by implication, a lowered immune function. While these compounds are essential nutrients for efficient functioning of the canine body, the modern canine diet is generally deficient in fresh fruit and vegetables and therefore there are deficiencies in sterol serum levels. In addition, plant sterols are bound to the fibers of the plant and are difficult to digest, particularly in dogs with a less efficient digestion such as senior canines. To be able to consume 100mg of plant sterols daily, a canine would have to eat about 500 - 700g (18-25oz.) of fresh fruit and vegetables every day. Modern dog food processing and refining remove the plant sterols from many basic foods and leave the diet deficient. Cooking does not destroy these sterols and sterolins but boiling water may remove some of the sterolins. Freezing vegetables may destroy the sterolin portion of the plant sterols through enzymatic action and so denude the diet of these essential nutrients.
In animals there is a higher serum and tissue level of sitosterol and sitosterolin in proportion to cholesterol than in humans, and any artificial feeding, which deprives the animal of plant foods, could result in biochemical disorder and serious health consequences.
How do sterols/sterolins work?
The two major cell types of the immune system are collectively known as lymphocytes and these consist of the B-cells and the T-cells. When the canine body encounters antigens, which may be in the form of bacteria, viruses, parasites or other foreign proteins, there is a response mechanism that results in the development of specific T cells. This response mechanism is assisted by a number of chemical mediators known as cytokines, interleukins and lymphokines.
Two of the most important cytokines are Interleukin 2 (IL2) and Interleukin 6 (IL6). Interleukin 2 (IL2) is a T cell growth factor but it also has cytolytic activity in certain specialized T cells (cytotoxic cells) and natural killer cells (NK cells). IL2 is abnormally secreted by cells of dogs affected by immune compromised diseases.
Interleukin 6 (IL6) is elevated in the serum of dogs with auto immune diseases. It has been found that canines with BPH have elevated IL6 levels in the prostate and this leads to increased binding of testosterone in prostatic tissue.
Gamma interferon (IFN) inhibits viral replication and stimulates the cytotoxic ability of natural killer cells. Natural killer cells are cytotoxic with the major target being virus infected or cancer cells. Sterols and sterolins have a powerful proliferative effect on lymphocytes therefore increasing the production of IL2, gamma interferon (IFN) and natural killer cells. On the other hand sitosterols have an effect similar to GH on the canine body where they inhibit the secretion of IL6 and help mediate the amount of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), which in general is catabolic and pro-inflammatory.
The major benefits therefore of the activity of sterols and sterolins on the immune system is the enhanced function of IL2 and gamma interferon and a decrease in the activity of IL6 and TNF. These functions are immunomodulating and therapeutic in pathologies of immune disorder.
Bio-Enhancement TheraPlex contains potent sterols.
Sterols benefit against autoimmune diseases. Like antioxidants, sterols boost the immune system and improve health safely and naturally and keep a healthy immune system healthy.
Better Than Vitamins........
Sterols and Sterolins are plant “fats” that are present in fruits and vegetables, seeds, etc. They are bound to the fibers of the plant, and for this reason, they are difficult for dogs to obtain during the normal digestion process. Plus, the food and pet food industry has removed or destroyed the sterols through their processing. In addition, the canine modern-day diet is low to devoid in plant material, and we need to enhance the canine diet with sterols.
Help Pet’s Help Themselves...
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Sterols can help the canine body by stimulating the immune system and helping the body fight off autoimmune diseases. Dogs who suffer from: Cancer, prostate problems, stress, arthritis, allergies, colds, psoriasis, ulcers, tuberculosis, and effects of chemo and radiation therapy should benefit from sterols.
Athletic canines have found benefits by using sterols, which help reduce inflammation and attacks upon the immune system associated with intense athletics.
How to Boost Your Dog’s Immune System........
A healthy canine should take 1 tablespoon per 20-lbs. or more as needed
every other day (3 times a week.) Dogs facing an immunological health problem should take TheraPlex daily. Most dogs experience results in 90 days.
Never underestimate the power of nutrition. The effect of the phytosterols on the canine system offer several advantages in that they have no toxicity and have been extensively tested in animal studies.
What are plant sterols/sterolins?
One of the most profoundly significant developments in the past few years is the discovery of the action in the body of the plant sterols and sterolins. These are potent phytochemicals found in a variety of botanical sources. There are a number of different sterols and these include the principal phytosterol, which is known as sitosterol. In addition to sitosterol the most common sterols include campesterol, sitostanol and stigmasterol. The glucoside of sitosterol is known as sitosterolin and in plants it is always found together with the sterol. The ratio of sterol to sterolin varies in the plant kingdom ranging from 5% to 10% but in some cases being higher. Sterols are essential cell membrane components and the maintenance of adequate serum levels in dogs seems to be necessary for an efficient immune system.
Seeds are the richest source of the sterols and sterolins which is why we leave the seed in, and yet, the refining processes applied by the food industry render the staple foods useless because they remove the sterols and sterolins to make the product more appealing to the eye. For instance, in order to prevent precipitation of the fats in so-called “cold pressed oils,” the oil is heated and refined to remove the sterols / sterolins. Sterols and sterolins have been shown to modulate the functions of the T-Cells both in vitro and in vivo by enhancing their cellular division.
Sitosterol assists in the conversion of linoleic acid to polyunsaturated fatty acids. This process is essential for the conversion of the Omega 6 fatty acids to prostaglandins and leukotrienes. Prostaglandins and leukotrienes are hormone like substances which are involved in immune support; they assist in the reduction of thrombo-embolic disorders by reducing platelet aggregation and they also assist in the reduction of inflammatory metabolites.
Sitosterol can be metabolized to pregnenolone and therefore to GH and the other hormones derived from pregnenolone and its analogues. In the canine body there is a steady decline with age in the production of GH, which is the master hormone responsible for the synthesis of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol and others. Sitosterol has an enormous potential for supporting the endocrine system in senior canines and, by implication, increasing their longevity.
Conclusion
There appears to be a universal attempt to return to botanical and so called natural products. Recent extensive research into the activity and prevalence of active phytochemicals in fruit and vegetables has revealed an enormous potential in health promoting properties. Plant sterols and sterolins are a group of phytochemicals with great promise for immunomodulation and therapeutic advantage over a wide range of disease conditions. It is these safe efficacious ingredients that hold great promise for the maintenance of wellness. We believe that sterols and sterolins are modern miracle nutrients, and that the specialized combination of the two represents a breakthrough in the nutritional world.
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