Update 8/30/19. A friend asked me about Isotonix supplements and wanted to know my thoughts about them. Isotonix is a product line of phytonutrients (plant nutrients) called OPCs that are found naturally in fruits, vegetables, red wine, and other plants. OPC stands for oligomeric proanthocyanidins. So, do you need OPC supplements? Are Isotonix supplements better than other supplements? Let's see what we can discover.
What Are OPCs
OPCs can act as antioxidants and studies show that they seem to have many healthy effects. For example, some OPCs seem to reduce inflammation and expand blood vessels in the body. Other OPCs might boost immunity.
But, OPCs are not my main focus for this review. Rather, it’s the claim that Isotonix supplements are more “bio-available” (in other words, better able to be used by the body) than other supplements.
According to the people I’ve run into who sell Isotonix supplements, the enhanced bioavailability is one of the main reasons for choosing Isotonix over other products.
But, does “absorbed faster or better” mean “superior”? In other words:
- Is a supplement better because the body absorbs it faster?
- Will a faster-absorbed supplement be better at preventing cancer, heart disease or other health problems?
- Will a faster or better absorbed antioxidant work better at neutralizing free radicals than an antioxidant that is absorbed a little slower?
So, is there any research? Let's look at that next.
Isotonix Supplement Research
There are some studies on these supplements. Here's a quick review.
One investigation involved 10 “borderline healthy” young and middle-aged men and women. The classification of borderline healthy seems to be tied to their elevated oxidative stress. All persons were given 400 mg of the OPC3 supplement mixed with water. At another time, the people were given a tablet form of the same compounds.
Results showed oxidative stress was reduced within 10 minutes of taking the OPC-3 supplement. This result did not occur when a tablet form of OPC bioflavonoids was taken. Researchers also noted free radical levels in the blood remailed lower up to 4 hours after taking the supplement. This did not happen when the tablet product was taken.
In another study involving 25 people, researchers noted the OPC-3 supplement improved blood vessel function after people ate a high-fat meal. Blood vessel function improved by about 10% with the OPC-3 supplement vs. about 3% for the placebo.
Our Supplement Works Faster
One study does appear to show greater absorption of the OPC-3 supplement. This makes some sense since a liquid product would be expected to be absorbed faster than a solid product.
But, does works faster mean it's better? Sometimes maybe. Other times maybe not. The OPC3 supplements studies so far, are short-lasting. It would take a much longer study – several years- to determine if factor acting supplements are superior.
Who Makes Isotonix Supplements?
The company is called NutraMexrix (NutraMextrix.com). This is a division of another company called Market America. The company address is 1302 Pleasant Ridge Road, Greensboro, NC 27409.
Contact NutraMextrix: Call (336) 389-6710.
Are Antioxidants Good For Us?
The big claim of OPCs and many other supplements today is their antioxidant effects. The claim that something is an antioxidant is a huge selling point to a lot of people as you may have noticed from all the products (and foods) that mention the word “antioxidant” on their packaging.
As an aside I often wonder why I don’t see “antioxidant” listed on fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables (which are teeming with antioxidants). The food industry seems to be at least 20 years behind the supplement industry on this issue…Wake up food industry!!
Antioxidants are helpful to use. We even make our own antioxidant compounds like glutathione to deal with free radicals. The thing to know is sometimes too much of a good thing, can be bad. In the case of antioxidants, this is called pro-oxidation.
What Is Pro-Oxidation?
While antioxidants are obviously good for us, there is a darker side that is often not discussed. Any antioxidant can make free radicals (i.e. become “pro-oxidant”). A prooxidant is an antioxidant that has the ability to make free radicals. Any antioxidant has the capability to make free radicals under the wrong conditions.
Often antioxidants are marketed to people who exercise because exercise produces free radicals and the idea is that antioxidant supplements prevent free radical-induced cell damage. Maybe in some cases, they do but there is no proof that people who exercise regularly need more antioxidant supplements. This may be due to the fact that they tend to eat better and consume more fruits and vegetables.
Free Radicals: Always Bad?
Free radical production is tied to life on earth. None of us would be here without free radicals. Our immune system uses free radicals and they even seem to help cells communicate to each other. It's only when they get out of hand, do problems pop up.
Do Isotonix OPC Supplements Work?
Preliminary research appears to show the powdered OPC-3 supplement mixed in water is better absorbed than a tablet form of nutrients. The phytonutrients in Isotonix supplements may also help blood vessel function too. While this is intereseting remember there is more in foods than antioxidants. Food first. Supplements second.
Is there excessive sugar in Isotonix products? I am Type 2 and concerned how it would affect my sugars.
Hi Cherry, they have several different supplements.While I dont think most of them have a lot of sugars, the grams of sugar – if any – should be on the supplement facts label. you can always call the company – or ask a distributor about this also.
The fact that solid vitamin pills take 4 hours to absorb often means it is in the large colon before the body can begin to break it down. Most beneficial vitamin and mineral absorption is needed to be done in the beginning of the small intestine after the nutrients leave the stomach.
I have seen x-rays where the vitamin tablet is still intact in it’s original shape but enclosed within the very end section of the anal canal of the large intestine. Try throwing a tablet on a hard surface and then you will see what a difficult job the stomach has to churn and dilute it to an absorbable form.
The reason vitamin pills have such a higher amount of calcium than the Isotonic form is because the manufactures of them know full well that only a small percentage of the supplement will be absorbed. However with Isotonic supplement most of it is absorbed leaving it to be not just faster nutrient access for our bodies but also far superior absorption rate for needed nutrients for our bodies.
With food being picked before it ripens and artificially gassed so it looks the ripe colour a lot of vitamins are missing as most of the vitamins are produced in plant food in the last stages of ripening on the bush, tree or vine.
Also the pesticides sprayed on plants and antibiotics put in stock feed reduce the healthy outcome of produce all so there is more food produced (quantity at the cost of quality). It stands to reason if food is picked early it is not soft so it can travel further and birds are less likely to peak at it if it’s not juicy and tasty looking.
The pesticides keep the small pests away from the food like insects. So the food is made uneatable to insects and picked before birds are interested and then presented to us humans. YUM! YUM! It seems we are so lost as people that we think this is tolerable.
It’s worth the extra for organic food and it’s so worth the extra for Isotonic supplications. Finally a water soluble healthy supplement which is absorbed readily into our cells in the next best form to that of a doctors IV needle straight into the blood stream.
Thank you who ever did the hard yards to supply what we all need. I grow my own tomatoes which actually taste delicious and I buy organic when ever I can. I just hope that organic vegetables are not gassed and picked early too. At least they are pesticide free.
Joe,
I have a couple of questions and a comment:
1) Why do many of the vitamin supplement bottles (pill form) have (many times) much greater quantities of a specific vitamin (My daily intake of Calcium should be 2500 mg. Isotnoixs Calcium Plus only supplies 375 mg. per serving.)?
2) Recently, Scientists have found that Glucosamine has no effect on treating joint health,or, addressing Arthritis? Why is it still being used in the product? Has Isotonix done any studies on MSM? (Okay, I asked a few more than two questions…..)
I started reading your “conversation” from the earliest question. I find it interesting that, in your earliest responses, your tone is of a consumer who’s done research on this product line. The farther I read, the more your vocabulary changed.
It is now clear that you are a rep. for Isotonix. The responses you offered to some of the readers are WORD FOR WORD the responses I’ve gotten from someone I know who sells this product!
I feel you were deceptive in how you represented yourself in the beginning. Was it your intent to do this? If not, why did the vocabulary in your response change so subtly?
Heidi, wow! I think you are the FIRST person to accuse me of secretly working for a supplement company! I say this because mostly people accuse me of working for pharmaceutical companies. I can assure you that neither of which is true. I do not work for Isotonix. I am not a distributor for Isotonix or any other supplement.
I’m not sure what statements gave you that impression but I hope that clears things up. For the record, I don’t believe isotonix supplements are needed. I don’t use them and I’d prefer you ate a salad or made a fruit and veggie smoothie. For those who don’t like these foods then I can see how they might something like isotonix might be something to consider but only if it got people thinking about what else they could do to be healthy -and by healthy I mean exercising more and eating more fruits and vegetables.
Now for your other questions,
1. I think supplement companies add in ingredients that people think they need. For example, many weight loss products still contain chromium – even though a LOT of studies show it does not help people lose weight. The marketing was so good that people still believe it to this day. Here is my review of chromium weight loss research studies.
Likewise I see products (esp energy drinks) adding in a LOT of vitamin B12. this is likely because people think it gives them more energy. For most people, it doesn’t.
When it comes to calcium, I think many supplements don’t have a lot of it because calcium is a big molecule. To load up with calcium might make the pill/capsule too big to swallow comfortably.
When it comes to glucosamine, I feel the evidence is strongest for glucosamine sulfate. There are 3 different types in supplements but when I look at the research, I feel its strongest for glucosamine sulfate. Here’s a review of glucosamine I wrote that may help. That said, not all the evidence is positive. If it doesnt work after 8-12 weeks, I’m not sure it will work.
As for MSM, it has some studies. I’m not prepared to rule it out entirely but its not to the level that I’d like to see it yet. I am not aware of any MSM studies funded by Isotonix or on Isotonix MSM supplements.
I hope that clears things up Heidi. Any other questions, just ask.
First off, I must say that I do appreciate the collegiality that is maintained on this blog.
I have recently begun carrying these isotonix products in my office and have, of course, used them myself. I have schooling and experience in chemistry as well as nutrition and the novelty of the delivery method appeals to me, not to mention the business plan that is unique to Market America (M.A.), the parent company for these products.
To the point of OPC-3, a booklet entitled “Live Better, Longer” by Passwater, PhD, gives a pretty good account of the studies done on the isolated nutrients that comprise OPC-3. Also, claims about antioxidant synergy are given in the booklet. Nevertheless, I can’t recall mention of a study that used OPC-3, itself, to substantiate it’s use or effectiveness.
M.A. does report it’s absorption rate and also acknowledge that a comparable product in pill form takes as long as 4 hours for absorption of it’s components to catch up to OPC-3.
I find the whole discourse fascinating, really. I do PRESUME that if the contents of OPC-3 are, in fact, in my blood more quickly, then they PROBABLY have a better shot of being of use to me to a greater extent than the myriad digestion processes that the pill form must endure over its 4-hour trek.
However, if I don’t care for the taste of OPC-3 (after all, it comes in only one flavor…), I might elect for a comparable pill product, allowing that swallowing pills is not a problem for me. To THAT point, M.A. reports having a lock on the most-researched component of the OPC-3 mixture: pycnogenol. It comes from French maritime pine trees, as the story goes, and is apparently a proprietary entity of M.A. Thus, I probably won’t be able to find pycnogenol in any pill formulation in the competitor’s pills.
I welcome any feedback to these points as I haven’t really posed a specific question. I simply found this forum inviting enough to warrant making some notes on the subject for your consideration.
Thanks!
Job, thanks for sharing. I didn’t know that market America had all the distribution rights on pycnogenol.