NuCycle's Novel Plant-Based Iron Source Shown in Clinical Trial to be Very Effective and Well Tolerated in Treating Anemia.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

HILLSIDE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 11, 2002

Patients with mild anemia taking a common drug to regulate iron intake can reduce side effects by switching to a new plant-based product. The biotechnology company NuCycle Therapy announced today that their hydroponically grown plant-based iron supplement was just as effective as a popular prescription iron product, but at a 72 percent lower dosage. The results of a clinical study published in the abstracts of the American Society for Hematology meeting today in Philadelphia show that PhytoIron(TM), a unique, plant-source iron supplement is effective at low doses in treating mild anemia, while avoiding the unpleasant side effects usually associated with iron supplements.

In the United States, it's estimated that 20 percent of all women of childbearing age have iron-deficiency anemia, compared with only 2 percent of adult men. The principal cause of iron-deficiency anemia in premenopausal women is blood lost during menses. Eating inadequate amounts of iron-rich foods, a deficiency of Vitamin B-12, a deficiency of folic acid, or poor iron absorption by the body are other common causes of anemia. The double blind, placebo-controlled study of 40 women with mild sideropenic anemia was carried out over 60 days. One group received 18 mg per day of PhytoIron(TM) supplements made from iron-accumulating Brassica plants while a second group received 65 mg per day of a popular prescription iron supplement. At the end of the study period, the results showed that PhytoIron(TM) was just as effective in reducing mild anemia symptoms but at a 72 percent lower dose.

In addition, PhytoIron(TM) was much better tolerated than the conventional prescription iron supplements. Of the patients in the conventional iron group, 25 percent failed to complete the study, and 67 percent of those remaining complained of unpleasant side effects, including constipation, diarrhea, leg cramps, nausea and vomiting. In contrast, only 11 percent of the plant-based PhytoIron(TM) subjects failed to complete the study, with 30 percent reporting side effects. This is the same percentage reported by subjects taking a placebo product that contained no iron.

"We are extremely pleased that our patients were able to benefit from this new and effective iron source without suffering side effects," said study author, Dr. Fabijan Lulic of the Medical Diagnostic Center in Zagreb, Croatia. Seymor Flug, president of NuCycle Therapy, the study's sponsor, commented, "This clinical outcome extends and validates the results of our previous laboratory studies showing the superior performance of our plant-based mineral supplements." Jerry Kay, chairman of Integrated Health Technologies (IHTC), stated, "We worked with NuCycle to build and operate a commercial-scale manufacturing facility for their plant-based mineral supplements, and these positive results are rewarding that effort." IHTC has an exclusive license to manufacture the complete line of NuCycle's plant-based mineral supplements.

Rodger Rohde, president of Triarco Industries, the exclusive U.S. distributor of this product line, announced, "In addition to NuCycle's PhytoIron(TM), we offer their plant-based chromium, selenium, and zinc supplements, plus an eight-mineral MultiMins(TM) combination."

SOURCE: A Botanical Source Of Iron Is A Well Tolerated And Effective Oral Iron Supplementation Therapy In Females With Mild Sideropenic Anemia. Abstract #3463, 2002 ASH Annual Meeting. Fabijan Lulic, Burt Ensley, and Damir Jurinovic. Medical Diagnostic Center, Nemetova 2, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; NuCycle Therapy Inc., Hillside, N.J.