In the News

Review of the Effects of Polysaccharides on Brain Function is Published
Mechanisms that might explain the cognitive benefits of glyconutrients and other polysaccharides are explored
February 10, 2012

While there is growing interest in the effect of oral polysaccharide on health, studies assessing their effect on neurologic function have never been consolidated. Now, a comprehensive literature review has been published that brings together this interesting literature. Dr. Erika Nelson, a neuroscientist, and her colleagues limited their review to controlled studies assessing various roles of exogenous saccharide compounds and polysaccharide-rich extracts on brain function, with a significant focus on benefits derived from oral intake. Six randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials were found that indicate that certain oral polysaccharides positively impact well-being, cognitive function and mood in healthy adults. The most promising human clinical research in this area has been conducted on Ambrotose^® complex.* Numerous preclinical studies were also identified that indicate that polysaccharides can modify behavior, enhance synaptic plasticity and provide neuroprotective effects. Dr. Nelson earned her BS in Genetics from the University of Kansas in Lawrence and went on to obtain her PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. She has published a number of papers on neurodevelopmental disorders and brain epigenetics. A candidate for a Masters of Business Administration at the University of Texas at Dallas, Dr. Nelson is also a consultant for Mannatech, Incorporated. Co-authors include Dr. Robert A. Sinnott, CEO and CSO at Mannatech; Dr. Talitha Best, a scientist with dual appointments at the University of South Australia, Adelaide, and Swinburne University of Technology, Victoria, Australia; and Jane Ramberg, Director of Product Substantiation at Mannatech.
 

* This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Current link to article

---

 

Early registration for “Nutrition and Personal Health Coaching” is open
December 14, 2011

Early registration for “Nutrition and Personal Health Coaching”, a university-level course designed by the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences at Texas Woman’s University (TWU), with input from Mannatech scientists, is open at $100 off the regular price until December 30, 2011. While similar courses typically cost around $1,500 or more, TWU is offering this extensive training for only $525. The preregistration cost is thus only $425.

This unique, science-based, online course meets the growing demand of both health professionals and members of the general public who want to learn more about health and nutrition and discover how to implement this knowledge in realistic ways into their daily lives. It is taught by highly qualified members of the TWU faculty, including Dr. Chandan Prasad, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences at TWU, who spent several years at the National Institutes of Health, was a Professor and Vice Chairman in the Department of Medicine at Louisiana State University, has authored/co-authored more than 200 papers in the area of nutrition, and holds three U.S. and international patents. The 45-hour course also includes a guest lecture from Dr. Rob Sinnott, Co-CEO and Chief Science Officer at Mannatech, about the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA). Upon successful completion, participants will earn a Certificate of Completion of Training as well as continuing education credit hours. Talented undergraduate and PhD-level students at TWU will also benefit: the majority of the proceeds from the class will be used to fund research scholarships to deserving recipients.

To register, please go to the TWU website.

---

 

Mannatech Scientist Attends Clinical Research Training
November 16, 2011

Dr. Rolando L. Maddela, Mannatech’s Clinical Research Administration Manager, recently attended a Clinical Project/Program Management training, held in San Francisco on October 27-28, 2011. The training was sponsored by the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SoCRA), which provides internationally recognized certification programs that promote quality clinical research to protect the welfare of research participants and improve global health.

The goal of this training was to foster successful clinical trials by broadening participants’ knowledge of their regulatory framework, project management art and science, planning and accounting. Attendees included an international group of investigators, project managers, monitors, and site coordinators from academia, governmental agencies, contract research organizations and other private entities. Faculty included experts from the University of Pennsylvania, Thomas Jefferson University, the University of California, San Francisco’s Immune Tolerance Network, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and Volcano Corporation.

Mannatech has long been committed to confirming the quality and efficacy of its products through ethical, high quality research collaborations with top notch scientists around the world. Publications of clinical trials related Mannatech products can be found on the Publications page of http://mannatechscience.org/. Dr. Maddela is a Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP). SoCRA awards the CCRP designation to health professionals who have demonstrated an internationally accepted level of knowledge, education, and experience in clinical research.

---

 

Australian Scientist wins Researchers in Business Project Funding
October 31, 2011

The Australian government has granted Dr. Talitha Best a 12-month Researchers in Business (RiB) grant to help develop research on Mannatech’s glyconutritional products. The RiB program is part of Enterprise Connect, an initiative within the Australian government’s Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. The program is designed to accelerate industry innovation and competitiveness by connecting university and public agency researchers with businesses that wish to develop new ideas with commercial potential. RiB initiatives are destined to play an important role in enhancing the transfer of university intellectual capital into practical business applications and to stimulate the dissemination of industry knowledge back into the research community. Exciting innovation is expected to flow from breaking down the cultural divide between academia and business.

For more than six years, Dr. Best, a post-doctoral research fellow at the Nutritional Physiology Research Centre, the University of South Australia (UniSA), and the Brain Sciences Institute, Swinburne University of Technology, has been investigating the impact of dietary saccharides on human brain function. Based at UniSA, she has presented her findings at numerous scientific conferences and has shown, in two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human clinical trials, that intake of Mannatech’s saccharide supplement, Ambrotose^® complex, can provide both immediate and long-term improvements in memory, cognition and well-being (1)^†,(2)^‡*.
 

* This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
† Mannatech provided the Ambrotose supplement and placebo used in this study.
‡ Mannatech provided partial funding and provided the Ambrotose supplement and placebo used in this study.

---

 

Mannatech and Texas Woman’s University announce the development of a Nutrition and Personal Health Coaching Certification Program
October 17, 2011

Mannatech and Texas Woman’s University (TWU) announced today the development of a unique online university-level course in nutrition and personal health coaching. Taught by TWU faculty, this 45-hour self-paced continuing education course will be available to both health professionals and the general public. The curriculum, which includes comprehensive nutrition, integrative health, and dietary supplementation information, is unique in that it provides guidance in how to effectively coach those interested in pursuing healthy behavioral changes.

“Even after decades of government-funded awareness campaigns, Americans continue to make poor choices about nutrition,” said Dr. Robert Sinnott, Co-CEO and Chief Science Officer of Mannatech. “Collectively, we don’t consume nearly enough fresh vegetables, fruit and dietary fiber and the vast majority of foods that people consume are extensively processed. This has contributed to a myriad of expensive health-related issues. There is clearly a need for properly trained “wellness coaches” who can personally educate consumers about nutrition and healthy choices. We believe that this new training program offered by TWU, an accredited university with a world-recognized nutrition department, will create new opportunities for people interested in pursuing a career in the growing health and nutrition field.”

To guide the public towards dietary supplement messaging that is compliant with regulations established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the innovative TWU curriculum also includes a guest lecture from Dr. Sinnott about the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). Individuals who successfully complete the program will receive a Certification of Completion of Training by TWU’s Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences.
 

More information about this course can be found on the TWU website.

---

 

Study shows Mannatech’s Ambrotose^® complex improves well-being in healthy adults
September 28, 2011

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving more than 100 healthy adults, individuals who consumed Ambrotose complex powder reported numerous health and well-being benefits following 12 weeks of intake, compared with subjects taking a placebo. The study was conducted by Dr. Talitha Best, a post-doctoral research fellow at the Nutritional Physiology Research Centre, University of South Australia (UniSA), and the Brain Sciences Institute, Swinburne University of Technology, Associate Professor Eva Kemps, Flinders University, and Dr. Janet Bryan, UniSA (1)^‡. Healthy adults taking Ambrotose complex powder perceived numerous quality-of-life benefits, including some that have been confirmed by formal cognitive testing (2)^‡,(3).^†* Gastrointestinal effects were also among the perceived benefits reported by individuals who consumed Ambrotose complex.”
 

* This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
† Mannatech provided the Ambrotose supplement and placebo used in this study.
‡ Mannatech provided partial funding and provided the Ambrotose supplement and placebo used in this study.

---

 

Five New Patents Issued for Mannatech’s Product Technologies
September 21, 2011

The U.S., Japan, New Zealand and Taiwan Patent Offices have recently granted Mannatech patents for technologies related to its Ambrotose^® and Ambrotose AO^® formulations. These patents are a direct result of dedication and diligence exhibited by Mannatech’s scientists and serve to further establish Mannatech as an industry leader in nutrition and wellness technologies.

Mannatech currently holds more than 70 patents in 30 countries for its health-related technologies. With the issuance of these new patents, Mannatech now holds more than 15 patents for technology related to its Ambrotose AO formulation in the following countries: Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Swaziland, Taiwan and the United States. More than 50 patents have been issued worldwide to Mannatech for the technology related to its Ambrotose complex formulation.

---

 

The cognitive effects of plant polysaccharides (Ambrotose^® complex) presented at the Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition conference in New York City.
September 1, 2011

Dr. Talitha Best, post-doctoral research fellow at the Nutritional Physiology Research Centre, University of South Australia, and the Brain Sciences Institute, Swinburne University of Technology, recently convened and chaired a symposium entitled “Eating behaviour from a cognitive experimental perspective” at the Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition’s (SARMAC) ninth international conference, which met June 27-30, 2011 in New York City. Scientists participating in Dr. Best’s symposium presented experimental findings from numerous studies that demonstrated the bi-directional relationship between eating behaviour and cognition. These studies explored the diverse and complex cognitive processes that are involved in, and affected by, eating behaviour and dietary interventions. Specific dietary interventions under investigation included glucose, tea and plant-polysaccharides (Ambrotose^® complex). Dr. Best presented the results of a study that she recently conducted with Australian colleagues on Ambrotose complex. This human, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, which evaluated the effects of Ambrotose complex powder on mood, memory and cognitive tasks, showed for the first time that improvements in cognitive task performance were independent of blood glucose responses.*^†

The purpose of the SARMAC Conference is to advance memory and cognition science by bringing together international experts actively engaged in research. Participants were treated to keynote addresses from leaders in memory and cognition research who explored a variety of important issues, including the need for researchers to systematically document unpublished scientific findings.
 

* This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
† Mannatech, Incorporated provided partial funding and provided the Ambrotose supplement and placebo used in this study.

Best, T., Howe, P., Bryan, J., Scholey, A., & Buckley, J. (2011). Effects of a plant polysaccharide supplement on memory and cognition. Presented at the Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition's 9th International Conference in New York, New York, June 27-30, 2011.

---

 

Mannatech’s Healthy Science Blog Wins Web Health Award
August 10, 2011

Once again, Mannatech’s excellence in educating the public about nutrition and health has been confirmed by a panel of experts. Mannatech’s blog HealthyScience.net was bestowed a Winter/Spring 2011 Web Health Silver Award by the Health Information Resource Center, a national clearinghouse for professionals who work in consumer health fields. The Web health awards program honors the best digital health resources available to the public. Mannatech’s Healthy Science blogs, written by Mannatech scientists and healthcare experts, are intended to guide consumers to the best health and nutrition choices. Mannatech’s science educational website, MannatechScience.org was the recipient of a Web Health Merit Award in 2009. Continue to follow HealthyScience.net and MannatechScience.org for more award-winning health and nutrition information.

---

 

Dr. Sinnott Discusses Aloe Vera Gel with Industry Leaders
June 23, 2011

When the Natural Products Insider—a trade publication for marketers, manufacturers and formulators of dietary supplements, healthy foods and cosmeceuticals—was looking for industry leaders to share their thoughts about aloe vera, Mannatech’s Co-CEO and Chief Science Officer, Dr. Rob Sinnott, was invited to participate in the discussion. The resulting article, “Aloe veritas,” is a comprehensive look at aloe vera, with an emphasis on its economic impact, topical and oral effects, and regulatory issues.

The polysaccharide acemannan was frequently mentioned as the gel constituent critically important for product effects. Bill McAnalley, the inventor of Mannatech’s Ambrotose^® complex, first patented the extraction and applications of acemannan from aloe gel and named this compound. Today, the International Aloe Science Council (IASC) has a program that verifies whether or not products contain aloe vera gel based on a test for acemannan.

Dr. Sinnott expressed his concerns about numerous poor-quality aloe products in the marketplace: “Such products have typically been found to contain little (or no) aloe vera gel; they do not have the expected sugar profiles or are contaminated with aloe latex. Aloe latex, the bitter yellow sap from the outer skin of the leaf, contains hydroxyanthracene derivatives, including aloins, and is an OTC laxative drug. Numerous organizations that express concerns about the safety of aloe vera gel intake often err by including effects of whole-leaf products known to contain aloin.” A high-quality aloe gel product should contain less than 10 ppm aloin.

To validate product quality, Mannatech has submitted its aloe vera gel powders to an independent laboratory for detailed analyses and also conducts ingredient analyses in-house. Mannatech’s product suppliers are approved through a vendor-qualification process that includes supplier questionnaires, on-site audits, certificate of analysis verification of initial lots, and evaluation of subsequent lots upon receipt. An independent laboratory recently tested all Mannatech’s products that contain aloe gel powders to ensure they are aloin-free. This laboratory, which is able to detect aloin at levels as low as 0.6 ppm, was not able to detect it in any Mannatech product.

Recognizing the key role that its aloe vera gel powders play in product efficacy, Mannatech has been consistently expanding the aloe vera gel scientific literature. During the past decade, Mannatech scientists have published articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented posters about aloe vera gel at scientific meetings, particularly the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine’s Annual Natural Supplements Conference. These studies have described:

• Digestion of aloe gel by human fecal bacteria. Preliminary data from this research received first prize at the Scripps 4th Annual Conference’s
  pre-clinical research poster competition in 2007.
• Aloe gel chemical profiles (molecular weight [MW], total carbohydrates and other constituents) and carbohydrate composition (total sugars and free sugars), research conducted by carbohydrate chemistry experts at the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, Athens, Georgia.
• Digestion of aloe gel by specific GI-tract bacterial enzymes.
• Effects of processing techniques on aloe gel saccharide composition, MW and particle-size distributions.

More details about these studies can be found on the Publications page on this website.

---

 

Australian scientists present Ambrotose^® complex clinical study results at the 38th Australasian Experimental Psychology Conference in Auckland, New Zealand
May 18, 2011

Australian scientists recently presented the results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial which showed that, shortly after taking a single 4 gram serving of Ambrotose complex powder, healthy adults experienced improved memory and performed better on demanding cognitive tasks. The product had no effect on blood glucose levels.* ^† The trial was led by Dr. Talitha Best, post-doctoral research fellow at the Nutritional Physiology Research Centre (NPRC), University of South Australia, and the Brain Sciences Institute (BSI) Swinburne University of Technology. Study co-authors included Professor Peter Howe and Associate Professor Jon Buckley (NPRC); Dr. Janet Bryan, School of Psychology, University of South Australia; and Professor Andrew Scholey (BSI). The Australasian Society for Experimental Psychology was created to conduct an annual meeting for the presentation of research in experimental psychology. Dr. Best’s study was presented as part of a symposium Dr. Best convened and co-chaired with Professor Scholey, titled “Brains and food—detecting nutritional effects on cognition.”
 

* This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
† Mannatech, Incorporated provided partial funding for this study and provided the Ambrotose supplement and placebo used in this study.

Best T, Howe P, Bryan J, Buckley J, Scholey A (2011) Plant polysaccharides, memory and cognition in middle-aged adults. Presented at the 38th Australasian Experimental Psychology Conference in Auckland, New Zealand, April 28–30, 2011.

---

 

Mannatech Establishes Nutrition and Health Education Collaborations with Texas Woman’s University
April 27, 2011

Mannatech and the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences at Texas Woman’s University (TWU*) are developing and implementing collaborative endeavors that will enhance the public’s knowledge about health and nutrition. On April 15, 2011, Professor Francesco Marotta**, MD, PhD, gave a Mannatech-sponsored lecture to TWU Nutrition and Food Sciences students titled “Clinical Options and Applications for Genetic Testing in Modern Nutritional Strategies.” Professor Marotta, an internationally recognized expert in probiotics and human health, is a physician in the Hepato-Gastroenterology Unit, S Giuseppe Hospital via S Vittore, Milano, Italy. His lecture covered recent developments in the rapidly growing field of science that is investigating the relationships between nutrients and the human genome. Such developments are beginning to optimize health by guiding consumers to customized nutrient intake based on their genomes. The day before speaking at TWU, Dr. Marotta also visited Mannatech’s corporate facility in Coppell, Texas, and gave a talk titled “Improvement of Microflora Balance and Gut Functionality by Probiotics.” In light of Mannatech’s recent launch of GI-ProBalance™ slimsticks, Dr. Marotta’s talk, which emphasized factors that can negatively impact gut flora—including aging, poor diet, prescription drugs, stress and illness—was of great interest to Mannatech’s Global Scientific Services and Marketing teams.

Dr. Marotta with Mannatech's R&D Team

Dr. Robert Sinnott, Mannatech’s Co-CEO and Chief Science Officer, also recently delivered a talk to TWU students about the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA). His lecture was recorded and will be available to students whose coursework requires them to know about this legislation. Finally, Mannatech and TWU are exploring the development of a certified course, specifically designed for Mannatech Associates, in nutrition and personal health coaching.
 

* About TWU
More than 14,000 students are enrolled at TWU, either online or at campuses located in Dallas, Houston and Denton, Texas. Led by department chair Professor Chandran Prasad, PhD, TWU’s Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences (Denton) offers programs in nutrition, culinary science, food science and food systems administration. BS, BAS, MS and PhD degrees are offered.

** About Professor Marotta
Professor Marotta is one of the world’s leading experts on probiotics and human health. After his graduation from Catania University with MD (cum laude) in 1981, he joined the University of Chicago as a Visiting Fellow in gastroenterology. Two years later, he was selected by the South African Education Ministry to serve as a registrar at the University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital. Dr. Marotta is the first Italian to obtain a PhD from the University of Hirosaki, Japan; the entire curriculum was taught in Japanese. He later received a Fellowship from the Japanese Science & Technology Ministry to continue his studies at the National Cancer Center in Tokyo. Upon returning to Italy, he was appointed as chief consultant in Gastroenterology at S. Anna Hospital, Como, Italy, and then as a Consultant at Hepato-GI Unit, S. Giuseppe Hospital, Milano, Italy. Dr. Marotta is also a Consulting Professor at the World Health Organization (WHO)-affiliated Center for Biotechnology and Traditional Medicine, Department of Anatomy, University of Milano; a Consulting Professor of BioGerontology, in the Urology Department, University of Pavia; and a Visiting Professor at many Japanese Institutions. Dr. Marotta also acts as international consultant to several Asian and Middle Eastern gastroenterological societies, and has chaired several international gastroenterology, bioscience and aging meetings. He has received more than 20 national and international awards for his research papers and university lectures. He is the leading author of several papers, more than 350 scientific communications and lectures, and many book sections dealing with experimental and clinical gastroenterology, oxidative stress and aging.

---

U.K. scientists publish Advanced Ambrotose powder serum
N-glycosylation study
January 12, 2011

A study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicated that intake of Advanced Ambrotose^® powder resulted in a significant shift towards increased sialylation in the N-glycosylation profile of the serum of healthy adults. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study which has shown that dietary changes can affect serum glycosylation profiles. The lead author was Dr. Azita Alavi, a Research Fellow at the Sir Joseph Hotung Centre for Musculoskeletal Disorders, Division of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, St. George’s University of London, U.K. Co–authors include St. George’s University researchers Professor John Axford, Dr Edward Tarelli and Dr Owen Fraser, and Professor Martin Bland, Department of Health Sciences, University of York, UK. This research was funded by a research grant from Mannatech, Incorporated.

---

BMC Nutrition Journal publishes immunomodulatory polysaccharide literature review
December 9, 2010

A large body of scientific literature suggests that certain polysaccharides impact immune system function. Scientists interested in their effects following oral intake, however, have been obliged to sift through a vast number of studies, many of questionable relevance—in vitro studies or studies in which polysaccharide products were injected or administered intravenously. For progress to be made in oral polysaccharide research, a topic of particular interest to dietary supplement companies, Mannatech scientists Jane Ramberg, Dr. Erika Nelson and Dr. Robert Sinnott recognized the need for a systematic review of the existing oral immunologic polysaccharide literature. Their findings, published in BMC Nutrition Journal, indicate that numerous dietary polysaccharides can elicit diverse immunomodulatory effects in humans who are healthy or have health conditions. Animal studies indicate that immunologic effects can be detected in the blood, GI tract and spleen. The authors hope that their comprehensive review will provide a foundation that can be used to guide future immunomodulatory polysaccharide research.

---

Nutrition Journal publishes double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study of Ambrotose AO^® capsules
November 11, 2010

A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled crossover trial investigating the antioxidant effects of Ambrotose AO capsules in healthy, exercise-trained and untrained men and women was published on November 1, 2010, in the Nutrition Journal.^† In this study, scientists from the University of Memphis showed that Ambrotose AO (4 capsules/day for 3 weeks) significantly increased two measures of antioxidant capacity—Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) and Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC)—in the blood of healthy men and women at rest.* Compared to placebo, Ambrotose AO capsules also caused a greater increase in blood ORAC at 30 minutes post exercise.* This study also supports the safety of Mannatech’s Ambrotose AO supplement at a daily dose of 4 capsules, through measurement of complete blood count, metabolic and lipid panel, and supports prior evidence for Ambrotose AO capsules to enhance blood antioxidant capacity in healthy individuals at rest and following exercise.* The trial was lead by Dr. Richard J. Bloomer, Associate Professor and Director of the Cardiorespiratory/Metabolic Laboratory in the Department of Health and Sport Sciences at the University of Memphis, Memphis Tennessee, and students Robert E. Canale, Megan M. Blankenship and Kelsey H. Fisher‐Wellman.
 

* This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
† Mannatech, Incorporated sponsored this study and provided the Ambrotose AO supplements used in this study.

---

Mannatech Scientists Attend Scientific Meetings Important to the Dietary Supplement Industry
October 28, 2010

Mannatech scientists Dr. Rolando Maddela (Manager, Global Clinical Research), Jeff Bates (Director, Quality Assurance) and Jane Ramberg (Director, Product Science) attended the Council for Responsible Nutrition’s (CRN)* Day of Science and Annual Conference, held September 28–October 2, 2010, in Bastrop, Texas. The Day of Science workshop, “Critical aspects of future dietary supplement research,” explored in depth recent developments in biomarker and nutrigenomics/nutrigenetics research. Eileen Kennedy, D.Sc., R.D., Dean of the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, delivered the keynote presentation entitled “Overfed and Undernutrified: A global perspective on the role of dietary supplements in dietary guidance.” Notable speakers at the Annual Conference—including Michelle Rusk, Senior Staff Attorney, Federal Trade Commission (FTC); Joshua M. Sharfstein, M.D., Principal Deputy Commissioner at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); and Mark Halperin, bestselling author and senior political analyst for TIME magazine—addressed topics of particular interest to the dietary supplement industry.

Mannatech scientist Dr. Gabriela Luta (Scientific Liaison) attended the 124^th AOAC (Association of Analytical Chemists)** International Annual Meeting and Exposition, September 27-30, 2010 in Orlando, Florida. At this meeting, leading international experts shared state-of-the-science information with attendees. Of particular interest to scientists associated with the dietary supplement industry were sessions exploring methods that can be used to authenticate botanicals and reference materials and detect allergens, contaminants, and toxins. Also addressed were issues associated with the validation of analytic methods, quality assurance and accreditation, and governmental regulation of dietary supplements.
 

*CRN is the leading U.S. trade association representing dietary supplement manufacturers and ingredient suppliers. Dr. Rob Sinnott, co-CEO and Chief Science Officer of Mannatech is the Chair of the CRN’s Senior Scientific Advisory Council.

**AOAC is a non-profit scientific association dedicated to the development and validation of analytical methods, improvement of quality assurance procedures and the professional development of scientists.

---

Skin Care Experts Report Human Clinical Safety and Efficacy Data for the New Mannatech LIFT™ Skin Care System
September 15, 2010

Stephens & Associates, a privately owned, worldwide research organization and a leading investigational site of clinical trials for cosmetic testing and dermatological and women’s health studies, performed a 12-week clinical usage study and a number of clinical safety studies on the new Mannatech LIFT skin care system. Clinical testing revealed dramatic improvements in skin tone, firmness, radiance, smoothness and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles after 8 and 12 weeks and demonstrated that all products were well-tolerated, non-comedogenic and they did not cause allergic contact dermatitis. Stephens investigators involved in the studies were Ronald L. Rizer, Ph.D., Senior Vice-President of Operations; and Monya L. Sigler, Ph.D., Vice-President of Operations; along with board-certified dermatologist Nathan S. Trookman, M.D. and board-certified ophthalmologist Lynn Ehrhardt, M.D. All studies were funded by Mannatech, Incorporated.

To read the Mannatech LIFT clinical efficacy and safety study reports, go to the Mannatech LIFT skin care system product page on this site.

---

University of Memphis Scientists present Ambrotose AO^® supplement clinical study results at the American College of Sports Medicine’s (ACSM) Annual Meeting
June 9, 2010

Over 5,000 scientists, thought leaders and students convened in Baltimore, Maryland last week to share scientific progress in the rapidly growing field of sports medicine at the ACSM’s 57^th Annual Meeting. At this meeting, University of Memphis scientists presented data from a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled crossover trial, which showed that Ambrotose AO capsules significantly increased two measures of antioxidant capacity—oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC)—in the blood of healthy men and women [1].*^† This third human clinical Ambrotose AO study further strengthens the evidence that 4 capsules/day of the product is safe and can improve the antioxidant capacity of human blood. The trial was lead by Dr. Richard J. Bloomer, Associate Professor and Director of the Cardiorespiratory/Metabolic Laboratory in the Department of Health and Sport Sciences at the University of Memphis, Memphis Tennessee and students Cameron G. McCarthy, Robert E. Canale and Kelsey H. Fisher‐Wellman. ACSM is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world, and ACSM members are the industry’s foremost health and fitness experts. The meeting was held June 1–5, 2010 in conjunction with the inaugural meeting of the World Congress on Exercise is Medicine™.
 

* This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
† Mannatech, Incorporated sponsored this study and provided the Ambrotose AO supplements used in this study.

---

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine publishes Ambrotose AO^® supplement clinical study
April 30, 2010

A study published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine demonstrated that Ambrotose AO capsules significantly increased serum oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) in healthy adults by 36.6% [1].* ^† The five-week combined Phase 1 and 2 open label, forced titration dose response study provides additional evidence that Ambrotose AO^® capsules appear to be safe and are most effective at 4 capsules/day. The study was led by Professor Stephen Myers, PhD, BMed, ND, Director of the Australian Centre for Complementary Medicine Education and Research (ACCMER), a unique joint venture of the University of Queensland and Southern Cross University (SCU) and the NatMed-Research Unit, Research Cluster for Health and Wellbeing (NRU-RCHW), SCU, Lismore, AU. Co-authors included Dr. Lesley Stevenson (ACCM and the New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Aukland, NZ); Drs. Phillip A. Cheras and Joan O’Connor (ACCM, NRU-RCHW); Dr. Lyndon Brooks (NRU-RCHW and Graduate Research College [GRC], SCU); Margaret Rolfe (GRC, SCU); Paul Connelan (ACCM, and the Centre for Phytochemistry and Pharmacology [CPP], SCU); and Dr. Carol Morris (CPP).
 

* This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
† Mannatech, Incorporated sponsored this study and provided the Ambrotose AO supplements used in this study.

---

A new Ambrotose ^® products study conducted by scientists from Ghent, Belgium, is published
April 7, 2010

Using state-of-the-art human gastrointestinal tract simulations and microbiological analyses, scientists from Ghent University and ProDigest (a company that specializes in gastrointestinal research) demonstrated that Ambrotose^® complex and Advanced Ambrotose^® powder exerted positive prebiotic effects (1).* ^† Both products exhibited good selective fermentability throughout the entire colon and positive and selective bifidogenic effects. They also demonstrated the possibility of enhancing species belonging to Bacteroidetes, a phylum recently associated with body weight management.* These findings by Drs. Massimo Marzorati and Sam Possemiers (U. of Ghent and ProDigest), A. Verhelst (ProDigest), Profs. Willy Verstraete and T. Van de Wiele (U. of Ghent) and Drs. Robert Sinnott and Gabriela Luta (Mannatech Incorporated) were electronically published online ahead of print in the peer‐reviewed International Journal of Food Microbiology
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2010.02.030].
 

† Mannatech, Incorporated funded this study and donated the Ambrotose products used in this study.
* This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

---

Clinical study of Mannatech’s creatine-free EM•PACT^® sports drink published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition
March 29, 2010

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial investigating the effect of creatine-free EM•PACT sports drink on the aerobic performance of 29 healthy college students was published this week in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition [1] (http://www.jissn.com/content/7/1/12). In this study, funded by Mannatech, Dr. Allyn Byars and his colleagues showed that a single serving of creatine-free EM•PACT sports drink significantly improved subjects’ maximal oxygen consumption (VO2_max), time to exhaustion and percentage estimated non-protein fat substrate utilization. This study provides confirmation that the creatine-free EM•PACT product, which meets the compliance standards of various athletic organizations that regulate the use of nutritional supplements, provides benefits comparable to the original EM•PACT product with creatine [2],[3]. Dr. Byars is an Associate Professor of Kinesiology at Angelo State University in San Angelo, TX. Drs. Susan Keith and Warren Simpson (Angelo State University), Andy Mooneyhan (Arkansas State University in State University, Arkansas) and Dr. Mike Greenwood (Baylor University in Waco, Texas) were co-authors.

---

Mannatech Science Team Presents Poster at the 7^th Annual Scripps Natural Supplements Conference, January 21-24, 2010
January 30, 2010

The Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine‘s Annual Natural Supplements Conference brings together clinicians and experts in the field of integrative medicine to share the latest science about dietary supplementation and its impact on human health. For the sixth year in a row, Mannatech R&D scientists had a poster accepted for presentation at this prestigious event. The poster, “Immunomodulatory Polysaccharides: A Review of Human Oral Studies”, was presented by Dr. Erika Nelson, Research Scientist II, and Dr. Rolando Maddela, Global Clinical Research Manager at Mannatech.

Faculty this year included Dr. Wayne Jonas, President and CEO of the Samueli Institute, who delivered the keynote presentation: Meaning, Context and the Placebo Response. Other notable speakers included Dr. Mary Hardy, Medical Director at the Simms/Mann-UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology; Dr. Craig Hopp, Program Officer at the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at NIH; and Mark Blumenthal, Founder and Executive Director of the American Botanical Council.

To read more about Mannatech’s science, including posters presented at the Natural Supplements Conference, go to the Publications section of this site.

---

The Ambrotose ^® complex study conducted by scientists from Flinders University and the University of South Australia is published
December 31, 2009

In a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial,^† healthy middle-aged adults who took Ambrotose^® complex performed significantly better on memory tasks and were overall more positive in their mood*(1). Dr. Talitha Best and Dr. Eva Kemps (School of Psychology, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia) and Dr. Janet Bryan (School of Psychology, University of South Australia, Adelaide) published their findings in the January 2010 issue of Developmental Neuropsychology, a prestigious, peer-reviewed scientific journal.
 

† Mannatech, Incorporated donated the Ambrotose complex and placebo.
* This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

---

Mannatech’s Educational Web site, MannatechScience.org, Receives a Web Health Merit Award
November 11, 2009

Surveys indicate that a majority of adults in the U.S. routinely search the Internet for health information.(1) It has been estimated that 80% of physicians get most health information from their colleagues, books and journals—those who try to access information online are typically not successful.

The Web Health Awards* (www.healthawards.com) is a program that recognizes the best web-based health-related content for consumers and professionals. The program, held twice a year, reviews web sites and bestows a seal of quality for those that provide reliable health information.

Mannatech’s educational web site, MannatechScience.org, has received a merit Web health award. The site provides peer-reviewed studies, product ingredient identity and safety information, product technical handouts, information about Mannatech’s Global Scientific Services department, and nutrition and supplementation information.

This seal of quality should remind consumers that a panel of international health information and Internet experts have reviewed the site and approved it for accuracy, success in reaching its targeted audience and overall quality.
 

*The Web Health Awards program is organized by the Health Information Resource Center (HIRC), a national clearinghouse for consumer health information programs and materials. This web-based health awards program is an extension of the HIRC's 16-year old National Health Information Awards (NHIA), the largest program of its kind in the United States. There were nearly 1,000 entries in last year's National Health Information Awards from hundreds of organizations.

---

Mannatech Presents Science at Glycobiology and Medicine Symposium
October 8, 2009

Two posters about Mannatech’s Ambrotose^® technology were presented at the 9th Annual Jenner Glycobiology and Medicine Symposium, held in Brussels, Belgium, September 13‒15, 2009. The first poster, presented by Dr. Robert A. Sinnott, Mannatech’s Chief Science Officer, presented preclinical data indicating that orally administered Advanced Ambrotose^® powder has a beneficial effect on gene expression in the colon of healthy mice. The animal study was conducted by Eurofins/Product Safety Laboratories in New Jersey, and the gene expression analysis was conducted by scientists at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. Mannatech’s R&D group funded and managed the project and compiled the data.

Researchers at St. George's University of London presented the second poster, an open-label human study which showed that Advanced Ambrotose^® powder supplementation affects the N-glycosylation profile in blood*.

Over 100 participants— from major research groups in the area of glycobiology and medicine, from Europe, Asia and the United States—were in attendance. The meeting was organized by the Royal Society of Medicine (U.K.) in association with the Rega Institute for Medical Research at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium.

*study was funded by an academic research grant from Mannatech, Incorporated

---

BounceBack™ capsules study conducted by scientists from Medicus Research LLC and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is published
June 5, 2009

BounceBack™ capsules were able to significantly reduce standardized measures of pain and tenderness at several post-eccentric exercise time points in comparison to placebo (1). Jay Udani, MD (Medicus Research LLC, Northridge, California and UCLA Geffen School of Medicine), and Drs. Betsy Singh and Vijay Singh (Medicus Research LLC) published the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition.

---

Mannatech’s Chief Science Officer to serve as vice chairman of the Council for Responsible Nutrition’s Senior Scientific Advisory Council (SSAC)
April 27, 2009

The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), a Washington, D.C.-based trade association that represents dietary supplement manufacturers and ingredient suppliers, has selected Dr. Robert Sinnott, Mannatech, Incorporated’s Chief Science Officer, to serve as vice chairman of their Senior Scientific Advisory Council (SSAC). The SSAC is made up of the highest ranking science officers of member companies who have volunteered to advise the CRN staff and the association's board of directors on major scientific issues.

"It's an honor to be selected by the CRN board chairman, and I look forward to working with the SSAC and other industry leaders as we continue to take a proactive approach toward advancing the wellness industry," said Dr. Sinnott. "Serving in this role is a good opportunity to further influence industry issues, such as validating safety, quality and beneficial effects of dietary supplements and functional foods. Active members of the SSAC represent many decades of scientific knowledge. It will be a great privilege to work with them and the scientific leadership of the CRN to address scientific and economic issues facing us at a national level."

In addition to complying with a host of federal and state regulations governing dietary supplements, CRN members also agree to adhere to CRN's Code of Ethics and to voluntary guidelines for product manufacturing and marketing. Dr. Sinnott also represents Mannatech on CRN's board of directors. Mannatech has been a member of CRN since 2002.

---

Scientists from Howard University publish Ambrotose^® complex study in the journal Perceptual & Motor Skills
April 16, 2009

Drs. Atiya N. Stancil and Leslie H. Hicks, both of Howard University in Washington, D.C., published a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigating the impact of Ambrotose complex on the brain function of 62 healthy young adults. The study showed that a single, one-tablespoon serving of Ambrotose complex significantly improved visual discrimination and working memory. Mannatech, Incorporated donated the product used in this study, which was funded by Kraft Foods, Inc. (1).

Previous double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials have demonstrated that ingestion of Ambrotose complex can enhance brain waves associated with attention or alertness (2), enhance concentration and improve mental reaction time (3), and improve memory (4).

---

NSF E-News Supplement Features Mannatech Products’ Case Study
April 1, 2009

Unlike other supplement certification programs, NSF International conducts annual audits and periodically retests each dietary supplement product to ensure continued compliance against the toughest testing standard in existence today. Mannatech, which has eight NSF Certified products, was featured in NSF’s April 2009 E-News Supplement.
 

To read the case study:
http://www.nsf.org/business/newsroom/articles/0903_n3_MannatechCaseStudy.asp

To read the April 2009 NSF E-News Supplement:
http://www.nsf.org/media/enews/n3_0903.html

For more information about the NSF Certification program:
http://www.nsf.org/business/newsroom/pdf/DS-prod_cert.pdf

---

Mannatech’s OsoLean™ powder study published in the Open Nutraceuticals Journal
March 16, 2009

A clinical study of OsoLean powder funded by Mannatech was published this week in the Open Nutraceuticals Journal. This preliminary, open-label, 8-week study of 112 overweight adults demonstrated that daily intake of OsoLean powder appeared to reduce appetite, support weight loss and reduce waist circumference. The study was conducted by Mannatech scientists in collaboration with researchers at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, TX. In a related 12-week double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in 2008, consumption of the same peptide blend in OsoLean powder in a flavored, sweetened beverage, in conjunction with a 500-calorie reduced diet, helped to enhance fat loss and retain lean muscle mass when compared to control subjects consuming a placebo in addition to dieting. To read more about Mannatech’s science, including these studies, go to the Publications section of this site.

Sinnott RA, Maddela RL, Nelson ED, Bae S, Singh KP, Anderson JA. The modifying effects of a calcium-rich whey protein supplement (OsoLean™ Powder) on weight loss and waist circumference in overweight subjects: a preliminary study. Open Nutraceuticals J 2009; 2:36-41.

Frestedt JL, Zenk JL, Kuskowski MA, Ward LS, Bastian ED. A whey-protein supplement increases fat loss and spares lean muscle in obese subjects: a randomized human clinical study. Nutr Metab (Lond) 2008; 5:8.

---

Mannatech Science Team Attends N