What Are the Benefits of EpiCor for Rheumatoid Arthritis?

According to the National Institutes of Health, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, an estimated 1.3 million people suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder, caused when the body's immune system reacts and attacks its own tissues. EpiCor is a supplement that aids the immune system to keep it healthy.

History

• EpiCor is a yeast-based supplement that was accidentally discovered to be helpful to humans after insurance adjusters for Diamond V, a large animal production facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, discovered that workers exposed to fermented yeast culture suffered fewer sick days per year than their office counterparts. Upon completion of research on the workers in the animal feed production line, it was discovered they had a better balance of immune CD8 suppressor cells (cells that tell the body to stop fighting itself) and immune CD4 cells (cells that signal the body to produce antibodies for attack).

Significance

• According to an article written by Chris D. Meletis, ND, former Chief Medical Officer and Dean of Naturopathic Medicine for the National College of Natural Medicine, researchers analyzed EpiCor's make-up and found it had a great composition of mono-unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, with only a small percent of saturated fat. It also was shown to have all of the essential minerals and vitamins, and contained elements known to kick-start, free-radical-fighting cells. "It was determined that EpiCor affects the activity of Nuclear Factor Kappa B, which plays an important role in inflammation, immunity and autoimmune responses," says Dr. Meletis.

Abnormal Function of the Immune System

• Rheumatoid arthritis tends to affect the body's smallest joints first and typically begins in the ankles, hands, feet and wrists. Symptoms typically appear symmetrically, meaning that both hands or feet would be in pain at the same time, and may not be constant but rather come and go over time. RA happens when the immune system's CD4 cells attack membrane linings that surround and support the joints for no discernible reason. The resulting inflammation thickens the linings, then invades and destroys cartilage and bone.

Time Frame

• No one knows why RA begins, as it is not caused by genes. Genetics do play a part in making some people susceptible to environmental causes including viral or bacterial infections that could trigger RA, according to Embria Health. EpiCor does not treat RA specifically, but works within the body to balance the good and bad immune cells. When taken daily as a supplement, EpiCor helps the immune system to work efficiently when it responds to a perceived threat to the body's cells.

Safety

• EpiCor, manufactured and sold by Embria Health Sciences, has been rated as GRAS, or generally recognized as safe for sale as a dietary supplement. The recommended dose is 500 mg daily, taken with or without food. Studies conducted by Embria indicate that EpiCor will not interact negatively with any known prescription or over-the-counter drugs. The yeast in EpiCor, saccharomyces cerevisiae, is not related to human yeast infections and does not cause human yeast infections. No EpiCor studies have been carried out on children who suffer from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, but the drug's manufacturer states no reason why it wouldn't work for children as long as a pediatrician is consulted before beginning treatment.