Reactonz
Science

1. How vitamin C support our health?

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is necessary for the growth, development and repair of all body tissues. It's involved in many body functions, including formation of collagen, absorption of iron, the proper functioning of the immune system, wound healing, and the maintenance of cartilage, bones, and teeth.

Vitamin C is one of many antioxidants that can protect against damage caused by harmful molecules called free radicals, as well as toxic chemicals and pollutants like cigarette smoke. Free radicals can build up and contribute to the development of health conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and arthritis.

 

Vitamin C Role in Health

 

Powerful Antioxidant: The health benefits of the Vitamin C is underlying in the powerful antioxidant properties of Vitamin C 

Support Immune System: Boost immune system and enhance blood cells function

Repair Tissues: Essential for growth and repair of tissues

General Health: Vitamin C deficiency is associated with many stress related disease. It is the first nutrient to be depleted in alcoholics, smokers, and obese individuals.

Common Cold: Vitamin C plays important function to support immunity and cold complications

Skin Aging: Protect our skin from aging and wrinkles.

Cartilage Health: Vitamin C promotes the health of cartilage and soft tissues in human body

Enhance absorption of minerals: Enhance Iron, Calcium and Magnesium absorption in body

 

How to get Vitamin C

2. Why zinc important for optimal function of our body?

Zinc is a trace element essential for the optimal function of a variety of biochemical and physiological processes. 

Zinc is a component of various enzymes that help maintain structural integrity of proteins and regulate gene expression.. The biological function of zinc can be catalytic, structural or regulatory. More than 85% of total body zinc is found in skeletal muscle and bone.

 

Zinc Role in Health

 

Zinc is important for many of the body’s functions.

Immune System: The body needs zinc to fight off infection. People who don’t have enough zinc in their body may be at greater risk of pneumonia and other infections.

Wound Healing: Zinc supports the skin. Zinc deficiency can lead to skin changes that initially look like eczema.

The Common Cold: Taking zinc can make cold symptoms less severe and last for less time, especially if you take them in the first 24 hours.

Alleviating Osteoarthritis Symptoms and Progression: Zinc exerts anti-inflammatory effect through reducing the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, which can alleviate osteoarthritis inflammation and pain

Health of Hair and Skin: Healthy people who don’t have enough zinc in their diet may experience hair loss and skin problems.

 

Zinc deficiency a global concern

 

It is estimated that up to 17% of the global population is at risk for inadequate zinc intake, while in South Asia, up to 30% of the population may be deficient. Worldwide trends and prevalence of zinc deficiency have largely been stable; however, notable reductions have been seen exemplified by countries like China with a decrease of prevalence from 17% to 8% recorded in 2005 [1].

Mild zinc deficiency can result in impaired growth velocity, suboptimal pregnancy outcomes and impaired immune responses. Severe deficiency can result not only in growth impairment but also alopecia, diarrhoea, delayed sexual development and impotency, eye and skin lesions and impaired appetite.

 

How to get enough zinc?

 

Zinc is widely distributed in foods. Meats, fish and poultry are the major contributors to the diet but cereals and dairy foods also contribute substantial amounts. The presence of zinc in foods as a complex rather than as free ions affects its bioavailability. The environment within the gastrointestinal tract, which can be affected by other dietary constituents, markedly influences the solubility and absorptive efficiency of zinc. The amount of protein in the diet is a factor contributing to the efficiency of zinc absorption as zinc binds to protein. Small changes in protein digestion may produce significant changes in zinc absorption. In general, zinc absorption from a diet high in animal protein will be greater than from a diet rich in plant derived proteins.

The requirement for dietary zinc may be as much as 50% greater for vegetarians, particularly strict vegetarians whose major staples are grains and legumes.

Some people may need more zinc than they can get from food alone. Zinc can be found in zinc supplements or multi-vitamin supplements and cold remedies that contain zinc.

REACTONZ products are using Zinc Salts in form of Gluconate which has showed in different clinical trials poses superior absorption in healthy human blood circulation comparing to other form other Zinc salts [2].

 

REACTONZ contains;

Immunity Plus: 5 mg Zinc/Tablet

Women’s Daily: 8 mg Zinc/Tablet

Men’s Daily: 10 mg Zinc/Tablet

Move Daily: 10 mg Zinc/Tablet

 

Reference:

[1] Maxifield L.et.al., Zinc deficiency, Stat Pearl Int., 2022.

[2] Wegmüller R. et.al, Zinc absorption by young adults from supplemental zinc citrate is comparable with that from zinc gluconate and higher than from zinc oxide, Journal of Nutrition,2014.

3. Manuka Honey the richest antioxidant honey in the world

Honey is a sweet and flavourful natural product, which is consumed for its high nutritive value and for its effects on human health, with antioxidant, bacteriostatic, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It is has been suggested that many of the medicinal properties of plants can be transmitted through honey, so that honey could be used as a vehicle for transporting plant medicinal properties.

The composition of honey is rather variable and depends primarily on its floral source; seasonal and environmental factors can also influence its composition and its biological effects.

Manuka honey, has greatly attracted the attention of the international scientific community for its biological properties, especially for its antimicrobial and antioxidant capacities. This honey is derived from the manuka tree, Leptospermum scoparium, of the Myrtaceae family, which grows as a shrub or a small tree throughout New Zealand and eastern Australia.

Manuka honey contains high amount of phenolic compounds, as well as other active compounds that have been identified with a potent capacity to reduce free radicals, providing a relevant antioxidant capacity. Manuka honey, in fact, exhibits the highest value in terms of phenolic content and antioxidant capacity comparing to other types of honey in various studies [1-4].

 

Manuka Honey Role in Health

 

Rich in Antioxidants: Manuka Honey is the source of powerful antioxidants.

Supports Body Against Oxidative Damage: Improve natural oxidative defence of body system

Tissue Regeneration: Promote tissue healing and regeneration

Relieved Sooth Sore Throat: Studies showed Manuka Honey Spray helps sore throat

 

How to get the benefits of Manuka Honey?

 

Manuka honey can be purchased in sealed containers from the market. However, honey is a complex mixtures of nutrition and active enzymes, and to get the benefits of honey, proper processing, storing and transportation is required. Fresh Manuka Honey is sensitive to oxidation and temperature and shall keep immediately after cultivation in airtight containers at cold and dry place. Because moisture, oxygen and temperature exerts significant influence on the bioactive materials, enzymes and the polyphenoils in the honey there is a high chance that the nutrition’s merits of Manuka Honey available on the supermarkets shelves will vary drastically from freshly cultivated products.

To preserve nutritional value of the honey, various techniques including freeze drying is developed. Freeze drying, also known as lyophilization, is a low temperature (less than -20°C) dehydration process that involves freezing the product and lowering pressure and convert the liquid materials inform of solid. This technology increase the stability of honey, remove water content, preserve the enzymatic activity and nutritional values of freshly cultivated honey without any thermal degradation.

REACTONZ Immunity plus, used freeze dried Manuka Honey to deliver valuable nutritions of freshly cultivated honey.

REACTONZ Immunity Plus Contains: 20 mg Manuka Honey/Tablet

 

References:

[1] Fardous F.et.al., Manuka honey, a unique mono-floral honey. A comprehensive review of its bioactives, metabolism, action mechanisms, and therapeutic merits, Food Bioscience, 2021.

[2] Schneider, M. et.al, Anti-microbial activity and composition of manuka and portobello honey. Phytotherapy Research 2013.

[3] Moniruzzaman, M. et.al, Evaluation of physicochemical and antioxidant properties of sourwood and other Malaysian honeys: A comparison with manuka honey, Chemistry Central Journal, 2013.

[4]Khalil, M.I. et.al., Phenolic acid composition and antioxidant properties of Malaysian honeys. Journal of Food Science. 2011.

4. How Propolis extract can contribute to our immunity?

In addition to honey, bees also produce a compound called propolis from the sap on needle-leaved trees or evergreens. When they combine the sap with their own enzymes and beeswax, they create a sticky, greenish-brown product used as a coating to build their hives. This sticky resinous materials is called propolis.

Propolis is in no way a new discovery. The use of propolis goes back to ancient times, at least to 300 BC, and it has been used as a medicine in local and popular medicine in many parts of the world, both internally and externally. Egyptians, Greeks and Romans reported the use of propolis for its general healing qualities and for the cure of some lesions of the skin. Propolis has always been reputed as an anti-inflammatory agent and to heal sores and ulcers.

The active components of propolis that have been identified so far include polyphenols and flavonoids. These compounds are supporting heart and blood vessels’ health and exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions in human body [1]

 

Propolis Extract Role in Health

 

Antioxidant: The flavonoids in propolis are powerful antioxidants, capable of scavenging free radicals and thereby protecting the cell membrane against oxidative damage

Anti-inflammatory: Propolis extract can reduce the inflammation response in body

Natural source of bioactive ingredients: propolis composed of vitamins, essential oils and other bioactive ingredients.

Contribute to general heath: Studies showed the health benefits of propolis extract on blood vessel health, sugar metabolism, protection of liver from toxins and skin health.

 

How to get the benefits of Propolis?

 

Raw propolis can easily find in various products such as gum, toothpaste and skin creams in the market. The process of cultivation of propolis from hives always contains contaminants such as wax, woods and dead bees. Therefore, the cultivated propolis shall be carefully decontaminated before using in the products.

Another way to deliver the merits of propolis, is extracting the bioactive ingredients from the cleaned powdered raw propolis. Choosing right solvent for extraction is required to extract the bioactive ingredients intact while avoiding the cross contamination from raw materials. A proper extraction process may take up to 4 weeks to provide bioactive propolis extract.

REACTONZ products use propolis extract which is extracted by water and ethanol solvent. In order to preserve the stability of the propolis extract, the obtained extract is dehydrated to remove all moisture and converted to powder. The obtained powder is grinded and tested for elemental impurities and microbial contaminations as per pharmaceutical industry standards.

REACTONZ Immunity Plus Contains: 10 mg propolis extract (equivalent of 40 mg propolis) / Tablet

 

References:

[1] Sforcin J.M., Propolis and the immune system: review, Journal of Ethno-pharmacology, 2007.

[2] Mujica V. et.al., The Role of Propolis in Oxidative Stress and Lipid Metabolism: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine, 2017.

5. Rosehip extract, natural source of Vitamin C

Rosehip is part of the fruit that grows on the blossom of a wild rose called Rosa centifolia. This rose grows mostly in Europe and parts of Africa and Asia.

Rosehip is natural source of vitamin C, and exert its antioxidant properties due to high content of vitamin C and polyphenols in the form dried fruit or extracts.  Rosehip was shown to have strong antioxidant capacity compared with other dietary plants. Researchers who studied the antioxidant capacity of various dietary plants found that rosehip being the most powerful antioxidant in compare with different fruits, vegetables and berries [1]. Rosehips are packed full of vitamin C, E and B and contains various substances such as zinc, magnesium and copper that decrease inflammation.

Rosehip has been used traditionally to treat a range of conditions including diarrhoea, bladder infections and diabetes.

 

Rosehip Extract Role in Health

 

Strong Antioxidant: The high phenolic and flavonoid content of rosehips has been observed to correlate with antioxidant activity

Natural source of Vitamin C: Rosehip is packed with vitamin C

Reduce pain and inflammation in joints and cartilage: Supplementation of powdered rosehip resulted in decrease of pain and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis patients. 

 

How to get the benefits of Rosehip?

 

Fresh rosehips contain a lot of vitamin C, so they share many uses with vitamin C including preventing and treating colds, flu, and vitamin C deficiencies. However, much of the vitamin C in rose hips is destroyed during drying and processing and also declines rapidly during storage. Therefore, various technologies have been developed to preserve the Vitamin C content of rosehip to enable using this herbal ingredients in commercial products.

The most common method is extraction from rosehips and dehydration process to preserve the nutritional value and active ingredients and Vitamin C content.

REACTONZ products use dry extract of rosehips, which are tested for vitamin C content at standardized level to ensure the quality of extracts before application.

REACTONZ Immunity Plus Contains: 6.9 mg rosehip extract (equivalent of 27.6 mg rosehip) / Tablet

 

Reference:

[1] Willich S.N. et.al, Rosehip herbal remedy inpatients with rheumatoid arthritis-a randomised controlled trial, Phytomedicine, 2010.