“Currently, there are not these types of regulations in the U.S. As European regulations raise the bar in the probiotic industry world wide, U.S. consumers are still faced with a confusing array of immune system supplements, ingredients and health benefits claims,” said Russian-trained microbiologist Dr. Liubov Shynkarenko, a veteran of Soviet Cold War-era bio-chemical warfare research that led to the development of modern probiotics as immune system supplements. “From moderate health imbalances to serious illnesses, different strains and combinations of probiotics will produce different results with liver, heart and other body systems affected by toxicity.”

Now Vice President of Research for the Del-Immune V® probiotic product line, Dr. Shynkarenko recommends the following tips for consumers looking to achieve the most effective results from immune system supplements:

• There are varieties of probiotic strains that can have different effects on each individual. Schedule a micro flora profile with your family health physician or health professional to identify the best kind of probiotic to take based on the specific kinds of bacteria that differ in everyone’s body. These strains and combinations efficacy and specificity are what the European Union will be regulating through clinical trials.

• To ensure that the product you are taking includes live cultures, look at the ingredients. The most popular strains of probiotics today belong to Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium families. Often, they are only identified on the label by their first initial such as L. or B. Your doctor can help you identify the correct strain for your body and condition.

• Confirm that it is a legitimate company with a credible website, backed up with extensive research and scientific articles on the products as well as testimonials from customers and healthcare providers.

“With Europe and eventually the U.S. conducting trials and regulating the probiotics industry, better products will be developed, and consumers will have access to more information,” said Dr. Shynkarenko. “This will lead to better understanding, and give doctors the knowledge they need to advise patients on the proper strains and combinations of probiotic supplements, which will vary between individuals.”

About Del-Immune
Del-Immune V®, manufactured by Lyoferm Inc. in Indiana and distributed by Boulder-based Pure Research Products LLC (PRP), is a probiotic-derived nutritional supplement that provides immediate immune system support. Del-Immune represents the culmination of 30 years of research originated by Cold War-era Soviet Bloc scientists and Russian military bio-warfare troop protection programs. PRP obtained exclusive rights to manufacture, distribute and market the unique Lactobacillus rhamnosus (DV strain) from its Russian partners in 2002. Del-Immune V is used by thousands and recommended by doctors around the world. For more information on how Del-Immune V works, click here.

Del-Immune V®, a nutritional supplement evolving from a half-century of research in Bulgaria, Russia, the Ukraine and the United States, has been shown to help people obtain substantially enhanced results from their immune system. Thousands of people in the U.S. and a dozen other countries use the product, and many doctors recommend Del-Immune V to their patients. Extensive research indicates that Del-Immune V can jump-start the body’s natural protective defense capabilities against various types of foreign invaders.

In 1999, the probiotic technology behind Del-Immune V was brought from Russia to America by a retired Boulder, Colorado pharmacist. The pharmacist formed a company called Pure Research Products, LLC to produce and market Del-Immune V. In 2003, product manufacturing was moved from St. Petersburg, Russia to Vivolac Laboratories located in Indianapolis, Indiana.

In February 2004, the pharmacist met with representatives from a company called Allergy Research Group, Inc. (ARG), a Florida corporation which does business under the name Nutricology. ARG began promoting Del-Immune V and purchased it from Pure Research Products for sale to ARG’s customers and the general public under the brand name Delta Immune, as authorized by Pure Research Products.

In November 2004, Pure Research Products, realizing they disagreed with ARG’s business practices, stopped selling Del-Immune V to ARG and informed ARG they were no longer authorized to use the names Del-Immune V or Delta Immune. In a short period of no more than four months, ARG found a substitute product source in Vietnam. ARG then began marketing the product under the name Russian Choice Immune with the words “formerly Delta Immune.” Marketing materials for Russian Choice Immune contained nearly verbatim language as ARG’s advertising for Delta Immune, effectively implying that Delta Immune, Russian Choice Immune and Del-Immune V were identical.

Pure Research Products objected and brought a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado (civil action No. 06-cv-00381-RPM) claiming unfair competition under a federal statute called the Lanham Act. The jury in the case found in favor of Pure Research Products, agreeing that ARG violated the Lanham Act by falsely designating the origin of Russian Choice Immune and by falsely advertising the product.