Life Extension’s new probiotic formula, Florassist, was shown in a clinical trial to benefit immune function and promote comfortable nasal airflow, and one of its branded ingredients was reportedly discovered on accident.
 
EpiCor, a probiotic yeast fermentate and the active ingredient within Florassist, the new probiotic formula, was discovered by accident after it was observed that factory workers at a yeast fermentation plant had better attendance than their office counterparts. Multiple follow-up studies attributed this phenomenon to the fact that those on the factory floor had higher levels of secretory IgA and natural killer cells activity, which are essential parts of the body’s immune defense, compared to their cubicle-bound colleagues.
 
“We’re excited about our new formulation,” Dr. Michael Smith, Life Extension’s director of education, said. “It encourages the body’s healthy immune response, supports healthy nasal airflow, and healthy response to things in the environment, such as pollen.”
 
To date, over a dozen clinical trials have been run on EpiCor, a branded ingredient by Embria Health Sciences, providing evidence that this dried yeast fermentate has the potential to modulate inflammatory response through mechanisms involving the gut microbiota, support immune response, and increase antioxidant bioavailability.
 
In addition, Florassist contains the probiotic strain L. rhamnosus CRL 1505, which is isolated from goat’s milk in northwestern Argentina. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving hundreds of Argentinian school children, subjects who were administered a therapeutic dose of this probiotic strain five days a week for six months had nearly 50 percent fewer recorded instances of immune challenges when compared to the placebo group, Life Extension reports. The same study also showed that the L. rhamnosus group had 47% higher levels of secretory IgA.
 
Together, this formulation targets nasal airflow and improvements to immune response in a single gluten-free, non-GMO capsule.
 
“With Life Extension’s new Florassist Immune and Nasal Defense, serendipitous discovery has led to a real health benefit,” Smith said. “We are grateful that the discovery in a factory could yield an innovative new formula for us to add to our stay-well arsenal.”