Our Research

Bio-Replenishment Science

i. Consume Whole Foods

All life, whether plant or animal, is composed of the same fundamental materials. For survival, we must continuously consume other life, which we refer to as food. From whole food, via the process of digestion, we obtain basic "building blocks" (ex. simple sugars, fatty acids, amino acids, and nucleic acids) and "energy" (adenosine triphospate / ATP). For optimum health, we must consume a wide variety of good quality foods in sufficient amounts.

ii. Digest & Process Whole Foods

We utilize these basic building blocks and energy to manufacture our body's own signature bio-molecules. As mentioned, all life is composed of the same fundamental materials. However, by eating chicken we don't become chicken; interestingly, by eating chicken that chicken does become us. These signature bio-molecules we self produce are species-specific, multi-functional and encoded into our DNA; these special bio-molecules are known as "Bio-Replenishments".

iii. Self Produce Bio-Replenishments

Bio-Replenishments are not simple vitamins, minerals or plant-extracts; they are complex bioactive proteins. We naturally make Bio-Replenishments inside our body. Everyday, we produce and expend them to support all body systems and vital functions. Examples of Bio-Replenishments include insulin (which regulates glucose metabolism) and lactoferrin (which is involved in host defense, boosting fertility, maintenance of the intestinal epithelia, and much more). Bio-Replenishments are essential for life.

iv. Maintain Bio-Replenishment Levels

Bio-Replenishments levels must be maintained in optimal range to support life. However, various factors can cause our Bio-Replenishment levels to drop, including poor diet (results in inadequate building blocks and energy to manufacture more), stressful lifestyle (which accelerates its consumption), and aging (we naturally produce less of it over time). Chronic deficiency can lead to disorders, disease or worse death. If Bio-Repenishment levels are low, it should be boosted by eating nutritious food and/or taking select food supplements.

v. Bio-Replenishment in Whole Foods

Certain foods contain higher concentration of Bio-Replenishments than others. Rich sources include Nature's "super foods" - specifcally seeds, eggs and milk. These three foods are unique by design. For example, only an egg and seed have the distinct mix of elements to create life. And all mammals, whether a tiger, whale or human, consume the same while liquid - milk - to support their growth and development. Therefore, bioQuad's research focuses on understanding these three super foods.

vi. Bio-Replenishment Supplementation

Bio-Replenishments must be extracted from food via a precise and protective process. Only bioQuad's proprietary extraction method preserves and activates their innate biological activity. Once islolated, Bio-Replenishments must be carefully complexed with the correct co-factors in the right ratios to maximize the final product health benefits. Only bioQuad's exclusive product line is based on this ground-breaking science; it's backed by scientific research, published clinical studies, and protected by multiple patents. Not all food supplements are created equal - check out The bioQuad Difference.

The 'Lactoferrin' Molecule

The term lactoferrin is derived from the Latin words lacto (milk) and ferrin (iron), highlighting its origin as an iron-binding compound found in milk. Beyond iron, lactoferrin also binds several other metals, including copper, zinc, manganese, and vanadium. It is an ~80-kDa metal-binding glycoprotein synthesized in all mammals, including humans. Lactoferrin is a single-gene product, often referred to as a "bio-replenishment," and is essential for life.

Lactoferrin is ubiquitously present in various body fluids, such as sperm, amniotic fluid, seminal fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, gastric fluids, saliva, tears, and vaginal secretions, all of which bathe and protect mucosal surfaces. It is also a key component of neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) and is localized in several tissues throughout the body. This widespread presence underscores lactoferrin’s pivotal role in numerous physiological pathways, including immune defense, regulation of inflammation, and maintenance of homeostasis. These functions highlight its importance in promoting overall health and well-being.

Lactoferrin Bio-Functionality

Physiological Turnover

Lactoferrin is naturally produced and utilized in the body to support various vital functions. It is present in various exocrine secretions such as saliva, tears, milk, etc. Normal daily turnover of lactoferrin in a healthy individual is 60mg per day. Lactoferrin is naturally expended via sebum and exudates in skin during inflammation; via seminal fluids in bone joints during exercise; via sperm and vaginal secretions during sex. Following the digestive process, any unabsorbed lactoferrin is excreted in the feces, whereas absorbed lactoferrin passes through the urine.

Immune Reinforcement

Lactoferrin plays a vital role in the immune cascade, acting as a key regulator of several biochemical mediators involved in immunity. It interacts with specific receptors on immune cells, including neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and macrophages, enhancing their functionality and coordination. Lactoferrin is a natural component of the secondary granules in neutrophils, where it supports the body’s innate defense mechanisms. By modulating the activity of immune cells and signaling pathways, lactoferrin helps maintain a balanced immune response.

Metal Transport

Lactoferrin is a bi-lobed protein, and each lobe has the ability to bind and transport iron. However, lactoferrin can also bind to other transition metals including copper, zinc, manganese, and vanadium. In the body, lactoferrin simultaneously exists in three physical states based on its iron (or other metal)-binding status - namely - ‘apo’ (iron-free), ‘holo’ (iron-saturated) or partially iron-saturated forms. All three forms are inter-convertible and associated with specific physiological functions based on the REDOX conditions in its biological environment.

Gastro-Intestinal (GI) Support

Approximately 70% of the immune system is located in the lining of the digestive tract, which is comprised of cells, proteins, tissues and organs. The lining of the gut serves multiple functions including - participating in the digestive process, absorbing essential nutrients from foods, blocking toxins by serving as a protective barrier, etc. Lactoferrin has been shown to help rejuvenate intestinal epithelial mucosa - which promotes healthy digestion, optimizes nutrient absorption and reinforces immune protection.

Prebiotic Activity

Most prebiotic compounds are insoluble sugars or fibers (e.g. inulin, fructooligosaccharides, etc.) that stimulate the growth of bacteria; they are non-selective and feed both harmful bacteria and beneficial bacteria (i.e. probiotics such as such as lactobacilli and bifidobacteria). Most pathogenic bacteria depend on iron for their energy metabolism whereas probiotics do not. Lactoferrin binds to iron and can selectively promote stimulation of probiotic flora only, which is a selective and unique prebiotic activity.

Antioxidant Effect

Antioxidants are substances that protect cells from excessive free radical damage. Free radicals are reactive molecules that the body produces in response to environmental stressors (e.g. stress, toxins, etc.) as well as during the host defense (e.g. within immune cells). The most commonly known antioxidants are plant sourced; their antioxidant activity is instantaneous and short-lived (lasts minutes). In contrast, lactoferrin is an endogenously produced protein that has demonstrated prolonged antioxidant activity (lasts hours).

Commercial Applications of Lactoferrin

Due its numerous health benefits, lactoferrin is widely used as an active ingredient in infant formulae (especially South-East Asian countries), food safety, diagnostics, cosmetics, and nutritional supplements for human and veterinary markets.

Lactoferrin is considered safe and is an accepted health ingredient by various government/ regulatory agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (JMHLW) and many more.

Future of Lactoferrin

With external stresses and natural aging, levels of bioactive compounds (like lactoferrin) and essential nutrients decline and it becomes important to replenish the body’s reserves. This helps to keep the body healthy and energized. Simply gathering “helpful” ingredients and throwing them into a capsule is not enough - most bioactive compounds have multi-functional properties and must be extracted, isolated and activated in order to optimally perform their desired function.

As demand for lactoferrin increases, need for efficient and effective lactoferrin procurement becomes a key. Lactoferrin is largely harvested from cow milk; however, different protein isolation techniques, as well as quality of the raw material result in variance in lactoferrin biological activity. Nonetheless, global production of lactoferrin is currently estimated at 1,000 metric tons/year, and this figure is continuously growing. Recent advances in lactoferrin research elucidate structure-function relationships, anti-microbial/ anti-inflammatory/ anti-oxidant/ immuno-modulatory properties and cost-effective systems for large-scale protein isolation; which has opened up unlimited opportunities for this bio-replenishment to be used in health industry.