with

you can do things not humanly possible.

B I O N x

what is ?B I O N x

here is a story behind the creation of BIONX,the world’s first and only full-spectrum biological performance amplifier. James Autio

founded Elite Performance Technologies (EPT) in 1989 witha singular purpose: create the world’s most powerfulmicronutritional product. Starting with the best of all existing products on the market, EPT assembled a systemof products from multiple companies. The clientele consisted of discriminating world-class endurance athletesprimarily in triathlon and track cycling. Then, in 1993, six custom-engineered products replaced this unwieldy, complicated, and expensive system. The EPT productswere born and these six functional products—Vitamax,Rejuvenol, Cellular Damage Protection System, AerobicPower Amplifier, Muscle Repair Factors, and StrengthDevelopment System—were then replaced in 1995 by asingle, incredible creation: BIONX-1.

Since the inception of EPT, customers gravitated towardBIONX by word of mouth: there never was any advertising.Clientele have included or include: corporate executives,physicians, attorneys, financial planners, computer pro-grammers, winners of the Tour de France and HawaiianIronman Triathlon, major league baseball players, the NFL,Navy SEALs, two Supercross multiple-world champions,world record holders in men’s professional sprint cyclingand cycling's hour record, a world champion rodeo bull rider,professional women beach volleyball players, world-classhigh-altitude mountain climbers, a number-one ranked ATPdoubles tennis player and touring PGA golfers. BIONX—tenyears later—is now in its fifth generation and is focused onimproving the quality of life of the everyday business pro-fessional. BIONX is a unique product because of how it isconceived. It is not modeled after any existing product typesimply because there is nothing to compare it to. A compa-ny and product with a singular purpose: build the most powerful nutritional product in the world, a tool that elevates you to the next level, whether your quest is keepingup with your kids, qualifying for the Boston Marathon, work-ing ungodly hours behind a director’s chair, globe hoppingon an impossible business schedule, or winning the Tour deFrance. Your time and quality of life are vital: you need to be

free of morning joint stiffness, once and for all. You need to have the energy to get more out of life, to be at the topof your game, to reach your genetic potential. If this is what drives you, then BIONX is your only choice. Thereare best-of-breed products for automobiles, watches,mountaineering equipment, and musical instruments—have you ever given any thought to what is the finestmicronutritional product in the world? For ten years, wehave defined and refined that product:

BIONX. The world’s first and only full-spectrum biologicalperformance amplifier. The power to elevate you to the nextlevel, to do things not humanly possible, to achieve theupper registers of human performance—whatever your calling may be.

T

James Autio, PresidentBionetworth, Inc.

Concurrently with the development of BIONX, James Autioauthored two books: Confessions of the Human Genome:Revealing Nature’s Wisdom to Increase Your Physical &Mental Potential and The Digital Mantrap: An OperatingSystem for the Human Organism. Confessions of the HumanGenome completely redefines quality of life: what it is andhow to achieve it. The Digital Mantrap, the sequel toConfessions of the Human Genome, is a training program that provides a comprehensive and unified approach to dramatically enhance quality of life, achieve physical fitness,and cultivate a vibrant, dynamic lifestyle. Both books arebased on over 800 peer-reviewed references and seriouslyaddress what is required for you to enhance your quality oflife. Just like financial net worth you also have a biological networth, or bionetworth. EPT became Bionetworth in 2003 andBionetworth’s singular purpose is to improve your biologicalnet worth. BIONX is just one of the six components in An Operating System for the Human Organism, which isdepicted by Bionetworth’s logo on the cover. Please read theintroductory book Confessions of the Human Genome to gainan appreciation and understanding of this remarkable, multi-faceted approach to improving quality of life.

From a biological per-spective, prodigious qual-ity of life equates to anextraordinary capacity toadapt to stress and theability to perform at yourgenetic limits. BIONX is aunique tool that empowersa biological system to adaptand manage stress moreeffectively than any othermeans; BIONX functions as a full-spectrum biological performance amplifier. BIONX’s scope is extremely broad—BIONX incorporates vitamins, chelated minerals, trace min-erals, standardized botanical extracts, phytonutrients, phar-maceutical-grade free-form amino acids, essential fattyacids, connective tissue constituents, multiple classes ofanti-oxidant compounds, conditionally-essential nutrients,nutraceuticals, prebiotics and active, probiotic cultures in a

single product packaged in capsule form. BIONX’snutrient profile is designedto be fully scalablebetween applications rang-ing from metabolic mainte-nance to extreme physical,mental, and environmentaldemands. Scalability is elegantly achieved bymatching dose to biological

demand across a broad application range. The manufactur-ing standards for BIONX are the highest in the industry:BIONX meets or exceeds the quality standards establishedby the U.S. Pharmacopoeia XXVII. The manufacturing facility is routinely inspected by the FDA and meets interna-tional testing standards by being ISO 9001 and ISO 17025c e r t i f i e d . Fo r m o r e d e t a i l e d i n f o r m a t i o n , p lease v i s i t ou r webs i te a t b ione twor th . com .

an operating system for the human organism

what makes unique?B I O N x

ver wonder why you wake up in the morning withstiff joints? Is it just “automatic” to have this problem by a certain age? What about skin care?Why do most people believe that skin care

products only come in the form of lotions, oils, or ointments? Inreality, the skin is just another type of connective tissue and isbest maintained by internal means via properly designed micronu-trition. The best product for your joints would also be the bestproduct for your skin and would also be the best product for yourhair and blood vessels: from the body’s perspective, they are alljust different forms of connective tissue. There is no need for aseparate product for your joints and another one for your skin andyet another one for your hair. With the exception of specially-designed vitamin E preparations for accelerated healing after plastic surgery and vitamin-A derived retinoid creams, only aminiscule amount of any externally applied nutrients will penetrateand be utilized by the metabolically-active, dermal layer of the skinbecause the skin is only semi-permeable to most external agents:the skin’s job is to protect us from foreign substances. The skin isthe body’s largest organ—just because it is the boundary that separates us from the environment is no reason it should be nourished any differently than any other organ: Skin nourishmentshould be from the inside out, not from the outside in. If you trulywant to protect the skin against aging, then minimize your exposure to the sun, apply a suitable SPF sun block product, anduse BIONX. BIONX is the only product in the world that comprehensively addresses the micronutritional requirements ofthe skin by internal means: BIONX is the most nourishing skin careproduct you can buy. So, what is proper micronutrition for the skinand other forms of connective tissue?

Proper micronutrition is crucial for maintenance of all connectivetissues: your connective tissue is not just your joints, skin, andhair, but is also composed of: cartilage, fascia, ligaments, tendons,nails, adipose, bones and blood vessels. Connective tissue, likemuscle tissue, is regulated by two opposing processes called anabolic and catabolic, depending upon stress and your internalnutritional environment. The anabolic process builds connectivetissue and the catabolic process tears it down. What is most oftenoverlooked is the relationship between the two processes, particularly the body’s means of protecting connective tissue frombeing broken down, or the anti-catabolic process.

A good analogy is a bucket of water. The water level symbolizesconnective tissue, a faucet adding water is the anabolic process,and holes in the bucket’s bottom represent the catabolic process.

Glucosamine and shark cartilage are connective tissue buildingblocks that promote the anabolic process. These compounds areuseful because they put water in the pail but remain relatively ineffective because of the holes in the pail’s bottom. This is especially true today because few people consume a diet principally composed of fruits and vegetables.

The most effective means to manage connective tissue homeostasis is to use an organismic approach and examine howall the processes work together when all the required nutrients arepresent simultaneously. First and foremost, you must introducenutrients that amplify both anabolic and anti-catabolic processes.An array of anabolic connective tissue nutrients should include glucosamine sulfate, shark cartilage and low-molecular weighthydrolyzed collagen compounds, such as ARTHRED™. The mosteffective anti-catabolic nutrients are called oligomeric proanthro-cyanidins, or OPCs. Excellent sources of OPCs include grape seedextract, standardized hawthorn, and standardized cat’s claw. OPCsinhibit collagenase and elastase, two catabolic enzymes thatdegrade collagen. Standardized Boswellia serrata, an ethnobotani-cal from India, is also a very powerful anti-catabolic agent for connective tissue. Boswellic acid, the major constituent ofBoswellia serrata, blocks the synthesis of pro-inflammatoryagents. This assists in the reduction of swelling and joint pain, but,unlike non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS), boswellic acidaccomplishes it without inhibiting the synthesis of connectivetissue. The essential fatty acids EPA/DHA, phosphatidylserine andSOD/CAT wheat sprouts also exhibit anti-inflammatory properties.

Summary

BIONX is the world’s most powerful means of managing morningstiffness using a non-pharmaceutical approach and is also theworld’s finest skin care product; it is a global collection of the bestforms and types of nutrients, nutraceuticals and medicinal-grade(standardized) botanicals that synergistically address joint stiffness, provide micronutritional support to retard skin aging, andpreserve every other form of connective tissue.

PRIMARY NUTRIENTS

low-molecular weight hydrolyzed collagen (Arthred™), shark cartilage,proteolytic enzymes bromelain, trypsin, and papain, essential fatty acidsEPA/DHA, phosphatidylserine, grape seed extract (Activin™), hawthorn(standardized), tumeric (standardized), Boswellia serrata (standardized),Cat’s claw (standardized), manganese Chelazome® amino acid chelate,calcium ascorbate Ester-C®, SOD/CAT wheat sprouts, methylsulfonyl-methane MSM®, potassium-based glucosamine sulfate

joint stiffness management and skin care

E

the role of in neurological performance

everal nutrients have been scientifically demonstrated in many different mammals—from mouse toman—to benefit neurological performance. Since all of thesestudies are single nutrient models that show strong evidenceof significant improvement of at least one important parameter, the only possible solution is that a normal diet issub-optimal in these nutrients and/or the body does not makeamounts to achieve optimal biological function. Further evidence of the importance of these nutrients is the inherentdifficulty for any single nutrient to demonstrate quantifiable differences at the organismic level.

Since no one knows what intelligence is, the best means tomeasure neurological performance is:

1 In isolation (in vitro) at the cellular (neuronal) level;

2 Using tools that measure metabolic activity at the organ (brain) level while the organism is performing cognitive activity; and

3 Behavioral studies at the organismic level.

The key nutrients to enhance neurological performance thathave demonstrated both efficacy and safety are acetyl-L-carnitine, the essential fatty acids DHA and EPA, standardizedGinkgo biloba, and the phospholipid phosphatidylserine. Inaddition to these nutrients, a broad spectrum of anti-oxidantsis essential to enhance long-term reliability, or biologicalpreservation (also called “anti-aging”). Oxidative stress is a sig-nificant contributor to neurological degenerative diseases, ordementia. The key antioxidants are superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase (CAT), alpha-lipoic acid, coenzyme Q10, vitaminE, oligomeric proanthocyanidins (optimal sources: grape seedextract and standardized hawthorn), and curcuminoids (optimalsource: Curcuma longa). From the principles of organismic biol-ogy, the optimal solution is a micronutritional profile thatincludes all of these nutrients and dozens of support and syn-ergistic nutrients so that they are all available simultaneously tothe organism. Notice that only one of these nutrients is foundin a multi-vitamin/mineral supplement and none of the keynutrients. If they are not in the modern diet, not in the highly touted multi-vitamin/mineral supplement, and not

optimally made by the body, then where are they? Don’t youthink that a lack of key brain and support nutrients overdecades will impair business productivity, affect aging, anddiminish quality of life?

Summary

BIONX incorporates an array of nutrients scientifically provento enhance and preserve neurological performance along with the required support nutrients. None of these key nutrients arefound in common multivitamin/mineral products and they areonly found in sub-optimal concentrations in any practical diet.

PRIMARY NUTRIENTS

Essential fatty acids EPA/DHA, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidyl-

choline, acetyl-L-carnitine, Ginkgo biloba (standardized), grape seed

extract (Activin™), hawthorn (standardized), Curcuma longa

(standardized), SOD/CAT wheat sprouts, CoQ10, alpha-lipoic acid,

magnesium Chelazome® amino acid chelate, calcium ascorbate

Ester-C®, d-alpha-tocopherol succinate (vitamin E)

B I O N x

proper micronutritional profile affects three aspects of the circulatory system: the pump (heart), the vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries), and oxygen transport(one of the blood’s principle functions). We want to increasethe maximal capacity of the pump and use the least amount ofenergy in the process—just the opposite of the sedentarylifestyle witnessed today. Oxygen transport performancerefers to the blood’s capacity to carry oxygen to not only themuscles—including the heart muscle itself—and internalorgans, but to every cell in the body.

Cardiovascular performance is measured by cardiac output in liters per minute, which is equal to the volume of bloodejected from the heart (stroke volume) multiplied by heart ratemeasured in beats per minute. To the business professional,for biological preservation reasons, optimizing and then maintaining overall cardiovascular performance is crucial. If cardiovascular performance is crippled by a sedentary lifestyleand modern (40% fat, low fruit and vegetable content) diet,then the risk of a heart attack by the age of 50 or 60 isextraordinarily high. For example, there is a traumatic cardiovascular event every 29 seconds in the United Statestoday in contrast to almost nil at the dawn of the twentieth century.

The circulatory system—just like any other organ system—must be modeled intact as a functioning whole using an organismic perspective. From a scientific perspective in carefully controlled studies, single nutrients have improvedproperties like contractility (muscular force of contraction ofthe heart), stroke volume, cardiac efficiency, blood pressure,vascular resistance, and oxygen carrying capacity. Granted,many of these properties are interrelated—of course, youwould expect them to be interrelated simply because organisms adapt in unpredictable ways oblivious to scientifically imposed, artificial boundaries. For example, the mineral iron, since 1832, has been the classic “magic bullet” solution to solving various anemia scenarios, but, in addition toiron, mammals require the essential nutrients copper, zinc, pyridoxine, cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), tocopherol (vitamin E), and some other trace minerals—all while synchronized to proper exercise in order tomaximize oxygen transport.

Humans respond to stress (exercise) by triggering genetic programs that produce adaptations using micro- andmacronutrients from the environment (your food) and frominternal origin (from stored or recycled sources).

Summary

You need dozens of micronutrients coupled with proper exercise to successfully impact cardiovascular performanceand decrease your risk of heart disease. BIONX is the world’smost comprehensive product designed to support the optimal function of all facets of the cardiovascular system.

PRIMARY NUTRIENTS

Hawthorn (standardized), Ginkgo biloba (standardized), Panax ginseng

(standardized), sodium phosphate, L-carnitine, coenzyme Q10,

alpha-lipoic acid, d-alpha-tocopherol succinate (vitamin E), essential

fatty acids EPA and DHA, iron Ferochel® amino acid chelate, copper

Chelazome® amino acid chelate, zinc Chelazome® amino acid

chelate, calcium ascorbate Ester-C®, pyridoxine (vitamin B6),

cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12), folic acid, trace mineral complex

and the cardiovascular systemB I O N x

About Dosage

A critical misunderstanding about micronutrition is the erroneous belief that a 90-pound girl has the same micronutritional requirement as a 320-pound NFL lineman: “onetablet per day for everybody” is not even remotely realistic. This hasbeen a clever marketing ploy that everyone has assumed to be truth-ful. In reality, a better assessment is a scalable [uniform] dose as afunction of bodyweight. An even better approximation is a scalabledose as a function of both fat-free (not gross) bodyweight and ofmetabolic demand. In other words, an active, low bodyfat runnerwith a stressful job has a greater micronutritional demand than anobese, sedentary person of the same gross bodyweight. For this reason, BIONX, because of its unique, scalable-dose design, has adaily intake schedule that accommodates this concept from theground up. For example, a 200-pound, active person with a stressfuljob would take a minimum of 24 capsules daily whereas a 120-poundinactive person only interested in maintenance would take 12 capsules daily.

Nutraceuticals

Nutraceuticals are natural, bioactive compounds that promote healthand have medicinal properties. Nutraceuticals include phytochemi-cals, standardized botanical extracts, functional foods, and nutrientsof sufficient concentration to elicit specific biologic effects. BIONXuses an extraordinarily broad spectrum of nutraceuticals in combination with vitamins and minerals and other nutrients in orderto create the most powerful micronutritional product in the worldtoday. In typical multi-vitamin/mineral products it is rare to see anynutraceuticals due to their cost relative to vitamins and minerals. Infact, virtually all of the most comprehensive multivitamin/mineralproducts that claim to have all the essential nutrients leave out twoof the most vital nutrients: the essential fatty acids DHA and EPA.There are three reasons for their absence: shelf life, extreme cost,and the nonexistence of a minimum daily requirement in the UnitedStates.

In order to imitate the BIONX formula you would have to purchasewell over 20 separate bottles and even then it would not equal theoverall BIONX formulation due to overlap of ingredients, differentdose amounts, different forms of the individual nutrients, and lack ofuniform quality control standards. The cost would be well over double. In addition, such a cupboard full of bottles would not have a scalable dose design; by definition, scalability is only possible ifeach capsule provides an exact proportion of the overall formula’singredient profile.

essential fatty acids EPA and DHA

An essential fatty acid is a kind of fatty acid that cannot be made bythe body and must be consumed in the diet. The two families ofessential fatty acids are headed by linoleic acid and alpha-linolenicacid. Linoleic acid, through a metabolic pathway, becomes GLA, anomega-6 fatty acid, and alpha-linolenic acid becomes EPA and DHA,omega-3 fatty acids. Fats are normally thought of as sources of ener-gy, but EPA and DHA have two important functions: structural lipidformation and prostaglandin formation. The majority of body tissues,especially the brain, the retina of the eye, muscle, bone marrow, andcell membranes, have compositions that include structural fats. Theprincipal structural fatty acid of the gray matter of the cerebral cortexand the retina of the eye is DHA. The relationship of omega-3 fattyacids to cardiovascular health is profound because of their role inblood pressure regulation and platelet aggregation.

SOD/CAT wheat sprouts

SOD/CAT wheat sprouts are not to be confused with “wheatsprouts:” they are biodynamically grown using selective-induced natural adaptation. This growing method maximizes the sprout’s natural production of the primary antioxidant enzymes superoxidedismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). SOD and CAT are the mostpowerful antioxidants in the body and are so critical that you woulddie very quickly in their absence.

proteolytic enzymes bromelain, trypsin, and papain

Although proteolytic enzymes can function as digestive enzymereplacements, the primary use is for nutritional support of joint andmusculoskeletal conditions (rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, tendonitis, strains, sprains, fractures, muscle pulls). Prevention isideal; if the normal inflammatory event cascade is bypassed, up to a50% reduction in healing time can be achieved.

sodium phosphate

Phosphate is the most important mineral constituent required for cellular function because of its interaction with so many metabolicintermediates and energy compounds. Research results with sodiumphosphate indicated increased myocardial ejection fraction, oxidativecapacity, and anaerobic threshold.

a global collection of best-of-breed

nutritional and botanical ingredientsB I O N x

acetyl-L-carnitine

Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) has been shown to maximize energy production, help maintain the stability of the cellular membrane, andserves as a precursor for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, the primary neurotransmitter for memory and thought. In theInternational Journal of Developmental Neuroscience in 1992,researchers found that acetyl-L-carnitine provided a significantincrease in the survival time of adult rat sensory neurons maintainedin cultures up to 40 days. In 1992, research on the effect of ALCARon aging in rat heart mitochondria showed a reversal of the cardiolipinlevels in the mitochondrial membranes. Cardiolipin, a phospholipidcompound that serves an important role in mitochondrial membranestructure (also called diphosphatidylglycerol, very closely related tophosphatidylserine and phosphatidylcholine), has a role in controllingthe passage of molecules through the inner mitochondrial membraneand impacts the activity of cytochrome oxidase (energy productionvia electron transport chain). Cardiolipin concentration significantlydeclines with age. ALCAR was able to restore cardiolipin levels backto the levels of young rats and functionally improved phosphate transport and uptake back to the levels of young rats.

At the organismic level, ALCAR given to old and young rats marked-ly improved ambulatory activity in older rats and also improved activity, but to a lesser degree, in younger rats. The ALCAR older ratsalmost became as active as the non-ALCAR younger rats. This indicates a profound impact on energy production at the molecularlevel that was significant enough to impact behavior at the organismlevel. ALCAR should not be confused with L-carnitine.

L-carnitine

L-carnitine functions as a shuttle molecule, transporting fatty acidsinto the mitochondria for beta-oxidation resulting in energy. Skeletalmuscle and cardiac muscle cells depend on this process for metabol-ic energy. L-carnitine also is a buffer between acetyl-coenzyme A andfree coenzyme A, a very important function for increasing aerobicpower. L-carnitine is a conditionally-essential nutrient that is produced by a biosynthetic pathway requiring the amino acids lysineand methionine and the cofactors ascorbic acid, niacin, pyridoxine,and iron.

coenzyme Q10

CoQ10 must be present in sufficient concentration in every cell in thebody to produce energy. The body can produce CoQ10, but its cre-ation is a complex process with 15 separate steps that require manyvitamins, minerals, trace minerals, enzymes, and coenzymes. Forthis reason, some experts consider it an essential nutrient. CoQ10 isa coenzyme with the dual role of enabling 3 of the 4 main enzymesin the electron transport chain, which yield energy in the form of ATPand also as an antioxidant. CoQ10 has been used extensively in cardiology research because of the requirement for high concentra-tion of CoQ10 in cardiac muscle to be able to produce the energyrequired to forcefully contract the heart.

alpha-lipoic acid

Alpha-lipoic acid was originally classified as a vitamin, but it was laterdiscovered to be synthesized in humans but the complete pathwayhad not been defined as of 1995. Alpha-lipoic acid has integralresponsibility in the rate-limiting process of the conversion of foodinto energy but its synthesis drops off radically by the age of 70 inhumans. Due to its unique nature of being both water and fat soluble, alpha-lipoic acid is called a universal antioxidant because itfunctions in both cell membranes and aqueous cellular environments.

methylsulfonylmethane MSM®

Methylsulfonylmethane is a source of biologically-available sulfur, acritical mineral overlooked in most supplements. Sulfur is incorporat-ed into connective tissue, cell membranes, insulin, heparin, coen-zyme A, biotin, hemoglobin, and muscle proteins.

phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine

Phospholipid compounds assist in delaying cognitive decay associat-ed with aging. Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a structural component ofevery cell membrane and is responsible for entry of nutrients and exitof cellular waste products, movements of ions in and out of the cell,passage of molecular messengers through the cell, and cell-to-cellcommunication. PS is also needed for the repair and regeneration ofnerve cells.

PS is sparse in common foods and while the body does synthesizePS, PS is created through an inefficient series of reactions. Whenconsumed as a supplement, PS is absorbed rapidly into the blood-stream and readily crosses the blood-brain barrier to reach neurons inthe brain. Phosphatidylcholine, in clinical studies, enhanced membrane regeneration and repair of liver cells after toxic insult. PCis recognized as the most efficient means of increasing blood levelsof choline and acetylcholine. In one study in Germany withAlzheimer’s patients, the researchers used positron emission tomography (PET) to measure the effects of PS on glucose metabolism. Since glucose is the preferred fuel for brain function, anincrease in glucose metabolism indicates increased brain activity. Thestudy showed an increase of global metabolic rate of 14.8% following 3 weeks of PS administration.

low-molecular weight hydrolyzed collagen(ARTHRED™) and potassium-based glucosamine sulfate www.arthred.com

Glucosamine and Arthred are connective tissue and cartilage buildingblocks. They are constituents in the formation of nails, tendons, fas-cia, skin, hair, bones, eyes, heart valves, and ligaments. The basis ofArthred is hydrolyzed collagen, a protein consisting of a series of 19different amino acids joined by peptide bonds in a short-chained,triple-helix structure. Due to the extremely low molecular weight,appropriate amounts of Arthred can be ingested without stomachupset—a result that cannot be achieved with conventional hydrolyzedcollagen products because of their higher molecular weight. Arthredhelps the body to build up cartilage by providing collagen. Because ofits excellent digestibility, Arthred is well absorbed through the intes-tines and works to increase the serum levels of the amino acids thatform collagen. Once these amino acids have reached the joints viathe cardiovascular system, they act as raw materials for the metabol-ically active cartilage cells. In this way, they contribute to healthy jointstructure and function.

Potassium-based glucosamine sulfate provides biologically availablesulfur, which is key to connective tissue maintenance and repair andalso provides potassium instead of sodium. Sulfated and potassium-based forms are preferred to the cheaper HCl and sodium-basedforms found in typical joint formulas because they are more specificto connective tissue maintenance and healing in general.

shark cartilage

Shark cartilage contains glucosamine, chondroitin, trace minerals,anti-inflammatory compounds, immune-support factors and otherprotein compounds required for connective tissue repair and mainte-nance. However, unlike glucosamine-type products from bovine

sources, shark cartilage focuses on the beneficial action of shark cartilage protein, not on glucosamine. The process of making bovine-sourced glucosamine denatures the active cartilage protein leavinglittle active cartilage protein. For optimal results of connective tissuemaintenance, the implementation of both strategies—glucosaminederivatives and cartilage protein, along with other nutrient classes—is mandatory.

calcium ascorbate (Ester-C®) www.intercal.com

The principal function of vitamin C is the activation of the enzymescritical for the modification of collagen chains—the underlyingprocess of connective tissue repair and maintenance. An importantantioxidant and also recycles vitamin E as an antioxidant. Criticalnutrient required for carnitine synthesis. Critical immune supportnutrient. Essential for bone tissue and teeth, aids in blood clotting,nerve transmission, membrane transport functions, and cardiacrhythm. There are three main types of vitamin C: ascorbic acid, whichcan cause gastrointestinal distress; buffered vitamin C, which is simply ascorbic acid in a salt form; and Ester-C®, a powerfully different, natural form of vitamin C containing the mineral calciumand metabolites that help your cells efficiently absorb vitamin C.

Metabolites are the key to enhancing blood levels and tissue concen-tration of vitamin C. Threonate, which is the dominant metabolite inthe Ester-C® complex, is a supporting nutrient totally void in nearlyall multi-vitamin products on the market today. Studies to compareabsorption, retention, and cellular uptake of ascorbate levels after 24hours have shown significantly greater serum levels and white bloodcell (WBC) levels using Ester-C® compared to ascorbic acid. WBCs,a critical component of the immune system, are known to requirehigh vitamin C levels for optimal function thus providing a higherdegree of cellular uptake and retention.

fructooligosaccharides (FOS) (NutraFlora®)www.nutraflora.comL-ramnosus, L-bifidus, L-acidophilus DDS® bacterial colonies www.uaslabs.com

The proper function of the human colon, or large intestines, is criticalto our health in at least three capacities: cancer prevention, bloodsugar regulation, and immune response. There is a distinct differencebetween the cultivation of a healthy colon and any other organ sys-tem: the colon is dependent on an internal ecological niche com-posed of trillions of organisms that are not part of the human organ-ism—bacteria. How do the bacteria grow within us?

The host organism [human] and the bacterial colonies are an ecolog-ical relationship called mutual symbiosis, an interdependence thatresults in mutual benefit. The host's responsibility to the bacteria isto provide suitable food so that bacteria beneficial to the host flour-ish. This "bacteria food" is in the form of dietary fiber, which is long-chain carbohydrate indigestible to the digestive tract, and also spe-cial sugars called fructooligosaccharides (FOS). The optimal dietaryfiber for humans is plant matter derived from raw fruit and vegeta-bles. Fruit and vegetables contain the plant components FOS, cellu-lose, hemicellulose, lignin, and pectin. Why "indigestible" carbohy-drate? If the carbohydrate is digestible, like carbohydrate from refinedsugar or grain sources, then the host uses the carbohydrate prior tothe large intestines thus leaving nothing for the bacterial colonies inthe colon. If the host fails to provide fruit and vegetables, then notonly do the beneficial bacteria perish but also the ecological niche isusually repopulated with different bacterial strains that potentiallycause harm to the host.

What do the beneficial bacteria do for the host? Given a diet principally composed of fruit and vegetables, there are an estimated100-trillion beneficial bacteria in the human colon. Through a processcalled bacterial fermentation, the bacteria convert the dietary fiberand FOS into short chain fatty acids (SCFA) like acetate andbutyrate. Most of the acetate is converted to the amino acids glutamine and glutamate, organic acids, and sugars. In fact, a properly functioning colon produces so much SCFA that SCFA shouldreally be a fourth macronutrient: carbohydrate, protein, fat, and SCFA.In humans, SCFA can result in anywhere from 6 to 15% of total calories. SCFA calories are not counted as ingested calories like normal food but, instead, are produced by bacterial fermentation.

What do SCFA do? Perhaps the most important function of SCFA iscancer prevention, particularly colon cancer. Most human cancers arecaused by mutations to tumor suppressor genes, particularly genep53. Gene p53 is responsible for stopping a potential cancer cell fromreproducing and also to help repair damaged DNA. Similarly, butyrateis involved with stopping potential cancer cells from reproducing andalso repairing DNA. Butyrate can be viewed as a backup system forgene p53 that most Americans lack due to their diets. SCFA influenceblood sugar regulation in very important ways. SCFA are regulatoryon blood sugar's effect on insulin release from the pancreas. SCFAdecrease triglycerides and are regulatory on cholesterol production.The colonic bacteria also strongly influence host immunity. Not onlyis glutamine used for fuel by the immune system's white blood cells,but also the bacteria influence the production of antibodies, affectinterferon, and the function of lymph nodes. For more information onthe effects of bacteria on human health, please read Chapter 8 in TheDigital Mantrap (see bionetworth.com).

Albion Laboratories patented chelated mineralswww.albionlabs.com

Minerals are a critical and overlooked aspect of human micronutri-tion; BIONX features the most efficacious mineral compounds in theworld today—Albion Laboratories metal amino acid chelates. A truechelate is formed when one part metal ion is fully reacted with oneto three parts of amino acids forming a coordinate covalent bond in asingle molecule with no ionic charge. The resulting chelate hasgreater bioavailability for several reasons. Metal amino acid chelatesare absorbed (actually “smuggled”) by enzyme systems in the smallintestines that specialize in the active transport of di- and tripeptideamino acids. In other words, chelates are absorbed like short-chainproteins, not passively absorbed like metal ions in aqueous solution.Chelates have lower toxicity, have zero dietary absorption interfer-ence from fiber, phytates, and other minerals, and are electrochemi-cally neutral so they do not degrade other formulation ingredients.Products that state “chelate” or “colloidal” are actually just salts,which mean they have an ionic charge—thus competing with eachother through an inferior passive transport process.

A common trick that many product manufacturers use is to disguisethe amount of Albion Labs mineral by lumping it together with verycheap mineral forms. For example, a label could say 50 mg of ele-mental zinc and then list the forms as [Albion] zinc Chelazome® andzinc sulfate. The actual amount of elemental zinc from zincChelazome® might be 2 mg and 48 mg of elemental zinc from zincsulfate. This practice is totally legal but is deceptive to the unwaryconsumer—all zinc is not created equal. BIONX uses seven AlbionLabs minerals and only two are less than 100% Albion chelates andthis is by design. The elemental calcium in BIONX is composed of350 mg derived from Albion Labs and 50 mg from calcium ascorbateEster-C® (the vitamin C is buffered by calcium). The elemental mag-nesium is composed of 90 mg derived from Albion Labs and 50 mg

from magnesium aspartate. Due to the increased bioavailability ofAlbion chelated minerals, less is required than from conventional mineral forms but because the Albion compounds use volume-extensive amino acids as mineral transporters, more capsules for agiven mineral concentration are required. This fact explains why youneed so many “extra” capsules to deliver a given BIONX dose.

magnesium Chelazome® amino acid chelate

Cofactor or essential for over 300 enzymatic reaction including regulation of cellular metabolism, amino acid metabolism and proteinsynthesis, activation of hormone receptors, maintenance of bones,arteries, heart, nerves, and teeth. Magnesium Chelazome® is up to52% better absorbed than other forms of magnesium.

iron Ferochel® amino acid chelate

An essential component or cofactor in hundreds of proteins andenzymes. Required for synthesis of hemoglobin and myoglobin, promotes protein synthesis, aids in stress and disease resistance.Iron deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency in the worldtoday. Ferrochel® has 3.7 times the bioavailability of the next bestform of iron (ferrous fumerate) and is much less likely to cause constipation due to its high relative absorption.

calcium Chelazome® amino acid chelate

Essential for bone tissue and teeth, aids in blood clotting, nervetransmission, membrane transport functions, and cardiac rhythm.Calcium Chelazome® is over 60% better absorbed than calcium frommilk or calcium citrate.

manganese Chelazome® amino acid chelate

Specifically activates enzymes responsible for collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis, activates the powerful antioxidantmanganese-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), and aids in theremoval of ammonia. Manganese Chelazome® is up to 300% betterabsorbed and retained 61% longer than other manganese forms.

zinc Chelazome® amino acid chelate

Activates over 120 zinc metalloenzymes, stabilizes membranes, pro-vides immunity by activating thymic hormones, involved in DNA andRNA synthesis, cell growth, and all aspects of wound healing.

chromium Chelavite® amino acid chelate

An essential ultratrace element that is required to activate the hor-mone insulin, which is responsible for the transport of plasma glu-cose across the membrane into the cell (regulation of plasma glucoseconcentration). Chromium Chelavite® is over 90% more absorbablethan chromium picolinate.

copper Chelazome® amino acid chelate

An essential ultratrace element that is essential for the function ofthe energy producing enzyme cytochrome c oxidase, required to activate the cellular antioxidant enzyme copper-superoxide dismutase (Cu-SOD) and for hemoglobin synthesis. An active component of enzymes that cross-link collagen and elastin and forskeletal mineralization. Assists in the production of brain and somatic neurotransmitters.

trace mineral complex

There are over 60 trace minerals and modern agricultural practiceshave all but eliminated many trace minerals from the food supply. The vast majority of multi-vitamin/mineral supplements are void oftrace minerals—a critical and essential component of human nutrition. BIONX eliminates the need to take a separate trace mineral supplement.

standardized medicinal-grade botanicals

Herbal approaches to health and wellness are of ancient origin; ofparticular note are South American rainforest Shamans, IndianAyurvedic medicine and Chinese herbology. Many of these botani-cals have been adopted by Western science and made into a scien-tific discipline, such as the Monographs of the German CommissionE for Human Medicine, Section of Phytotherapy. The foundation of ascientific approach to botanical applications is standardization.Standardization provides the means to assure consistency of a bio-logical effect of a given botanical. In other words, standardization isthe basis for a botanical extract becoming a true nutraceutical. Forexample, the Indian botanical Boswellia serrata is standardized to65% boswellic acids and is derived from its gum. Crataegus oxycan-tha is standardized to 2% vitexin-2”-rhamnoside and is derived fromthe fruit. Without standardization there is no means to know with anydegree of certainty what you are purchasing. The vast majority ofherbal supplements on the market are non-standardized prepara-tions. Of course, there is a big difference in cost between a non-stan-dardized botanical and a standardized one of medicinal-grade due toprocessing and quality control costs. BIONX contains eight veryimportant botanicals sourced from all over the world, all of which arestandardized and of the highest grade possible. The botanical compo-nent of BIONX represents a very significant proportion of its overallcost and also much of its overall benefit.

hawthorn (Crataegus oxycantha) (fruit, standardized to 2% vitexin-2”-rhamnoside)

Hawthorn is the most important herbal for cardiovascular function.Hawthorn increases the blood supply to the heart by dilating thecoronary vessels, improves the metabolic processes of the heartresulting in an increased force of contraction, and is beneficial forreducing blood pressure. In addition, like Vitas vinifera (grape seedextract), hawthorn’s flavonoid components possess significant collagen-stabilizing action and capillary protectant capability.

Boswellia serrata (gum, standardized to 65% boswellicacids)

Boswellia serrata is an Ayurvedic herbal possessing very powerfulanti-inflammatory actions. In clinical applications, Boswellia serratahas been used in the management of osteoarthritis, rheumatoidarthritis, and soft tissue rheumatism.

cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa) (root, standardized to 3% alkoloids and 15% polyphenols)

The most powerful immune-enhancing ethnobotanical of all theindigenous herbs of the Peruvian Amazon. Cat’s Claw targets theimmune system, the digestive system, and the cardiovascular system. Cat’s Claw contains quinovic acid glycosides, triterpenes,and proanthocyanidins. Cat’s Claw contains three glycosides found tohave anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties that are not found inany other plant.

Ginkgo biloba (leaf, standardized to 24% ginkgo flavoneglycosides)

Standardized Ginkgo biloba is noted for its ability to enhance oxygenation of the brain by dilation of capillaries in the brain.

tumeric (Curcuma longa) (root, standardized to 95%curcuminoids)

Tumeric contains curcuminoids, which have powerful antioxidant,anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-thrombotic activity.

beta 1,3 glucan

Beta 1,3 glucan is a unique polysaccharide derived from the cell wallsof yeast. Beta 1,3 glucan is an immunomodulator that has beenshown to support immune system function.

long pepper (Piper longum) (Bioperine®) www.sabinsa.com

Sabinsa Bioperine®, an extract from the fruit of black pepper, increases the blood levels of nearly all nutrient classes. For example,a 5 mg dose of Bioperine® increases the blood level of orally co-administered CoQ10 by 30%, vitamin C by 39%, vitamin B6 by250%, serum selenium (from selenomethionine) by 30%, beta-carotene by 60%, and curcuminoids by 2000%.

grape seed extract (Activin®) www.activin.com

Rich source of proanthocyanidins (known as oligomeric proantho-cyanidin complexes, or OPC). OPCs have a wide range of effectsincluding an ability to increase intracellular levels of vitamin C,decrease capillary fragility, scavenge free radicals, and inhibit break-down of collagen. OPCs play an important supporting role in thearrest of morning stiffness. The antioxidant activity of OPCs is 50times greater than vitamin E and 20 times greater than vitamin C.Activin® is the world’s premiere source of OPC due to Dry CreekNutrition’s patented ActiPure extraction process which is free ofharmful chemicals used by other grape seed extract manufacturers.

OTHER KEY NUTRIENTS

d-alpha-tocopherol succinate (vitamin E)

Vitamin E, a fat-soluble vitamin like D and K, differs from all other vitamins in that it does not have a specific function where it activatesa larger molecular structure; instead its task is to scavenge free radicals in all tissue types. This scavenging capability is essential forthe stabilization of cellular membranes because of the massive freeradical threat on the vulnerable free radical targets present in membrane structure—namely phospholipid complexes and polyunsaturated fatty acids.

cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12)

Responsible for DNA synthesis and prevention of anemia and neuropathy.

folic acid

Responsible for DNA synthesis and blood cell formation. Folate deficiency has been associated with increased plasma homocysteinelevels—a risk factor in atherosclerosis.

SELECTED PEER-REVIEWED REFERENCES

Amenta, F., Ferrante, F., Lucreziotti, R., Ricci, A. and Ramacci, M.T., Reducedlipofuscin accumulation in senescent rat brain by long-term acetyl-L-carnitinetreatment, Arch. Gerontol. Geriatr., 9, 147, 1989

Bagchi, D., Garg, A., Krohn, R., Bagchi, M., Tran, M. and Stohs, S., Oxygen FreeRadical Scavenging Abilities of Vitamins C and E, and a Grape Seed Proantho-cyanidin Extract In Vitro, Res. Comm. Molec. Path. Pharm., 95, 179, 1997

Baker, H., Frank, O., DeAngelis, B., Baker, E.R., Absorption and excretion of L-carnitine during single or multiple dosings in humans, Inter. J. Vit. Res., 63,22, 1993

Caffarra, P. and Santamaria, V., The Effects of phosphatidylserine in subjects withmild cognitive decline. An open trial, Clin. Trials J., 24, 109, 1987

Cenacchi, B., Bertoldin, T., Farina, C., Fiori, M.G. and Crepaldi, G., Cognitivedecline in the elderly: A double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study onthe efficacy of phosphatidylserine administration, Aging Clin. Exp. Research, 5,123, 1993

Crook, T.H., Tinklenberg, J., Yesavage, J., Petrie, W., Nunzi, M.G. and Massari,D.C., Effects of phosphatidylserine in age-associated memory impairment,Neuro., 41, 644, 1991

Delwaide, P.J. Gyselynck-Mambourg, A.M., Hurlet, A. and Ylieff, M., Double-blind randomized controlled study of phosphatidylserine in senile dementedpatients, Acta Neurol. Scand., 73, 136, 1986

Duprè, S., Spoto, G., Matarese, R.M., Orlando, M. and Cavallini, D.,Biosynsthesis of lipoic acid in the rat: incorporation of 35S- and 14C-labeledprecursors, Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 202(2), 361, 1980

Formenti, A., Arrigoni, E., Sansone, V., Martelli, E. and Mancia, M., Effects ofacetyl-L-carnitine on the survival of adult rat sensory neurons in primary cul-tures, Int. J. Dev. Neurosci., 10(3), 207, 1992

Greenaway, F.T. and O’Gara, C.Y., Copper and Connective Tissue: TheMechanism of Lysyl Oxidase, in The Biology of Copper Complexes, Sorenson,J.R.J., Ed., Humana Press, Clifton, New Jersey, 1987, pp. 67-80

Hagen, T.M., Ingersoll, R.T., Wehr, C.M., Lykkesfeld, J., Vinarsky, V.,Bartholomew, J.C., Song, M. and Ames, B.N., Acetyl-L-carnitine fed to old ratspartially restores mitochondiral function and ambulatory activity, Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA, 95, 9562, 1998

Klinkhammer, P., Szelies, B. and Heiss, W.D., Effect of phosphatidylserine oncerebral glucose metabolism in Alzheimer’s disease, Dementia, 1, 197, 1990

Packer, L., Witt, E.H. and Tritschler, H.J., a-lipoic acid as a biological antioxidant,Free Rad. Biol. Med., 19(2), 227, 1995

Paradies, G., Ruggiero, F.M., Gadaleta, M.N. and Quagliariello, E., The effect ofaging and acetyl-L-carnitine on the activity of the phosphate carrier and on thephospholipid composition in rat heart mitochondria, Biochim. Biophys. Acta,1103, 324, 1992

Prudden, J.F. and Balassa, L.L., The biological activity of bovine cartilage prepa-rations, Seminars Arth. Rheum., 3(4), 287, 1974

Rebouche, C.J., Is carnitine an essential nutrient for humans?, J. Nutr., 116(4),704, 1986

Singh, H.P.P. and Bowman, R.H., Effect of DL-a-lipoic acid on the citrate concen-tration and phosphofructokinase activity of perfused hearts from normal and dia-betic rats, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm., 41(3), 555, 1970

NOTE: For more peer-reviewed references and detailed information about BIONXdesign principles, please refer to “Chapter 7: Micronutrition” in the book The Digital Mantrap, which can be ordered at bionetworth.com.

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