BIOSLIFE - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)

Can you specifically define the differences between BiosLife Complete and the BiosLife 2 products that we have been using for years?

The new Bioslife Complete contains everything that is in Bioslife 2, which lowered cholesterol with one mechanism but we have added three additional mechanisms. 1. Policosanol, which is a very effective inhibitor of cholesterol synthesis in the liver, 2. PhytoSterols are components from plants that look like cholesterol and fool our bodies into thinking it is dealing with new cholesterol, they keep the body busy working on the phytosterols that cannot be absorbed so that the real cholesterol will no longer be absorbed either. 3. Chrysanthemum, a flower that has a great track record for health promoting concerns, it effectively breaks down cholesterol in the body. BiosLife Complete is the only patented product that lowers cholesterol in four different ways.
What is the benefit of switching to the new BiosLife when BiosLife2 is working fine?

The benefit of taking the new BiosLife is that the cholesterol will be lowered even more effectively than with BiosLife2.
I recently heard that BiosLife2 is better for type 2 diabetes than the new BiosLife. Is this so?

No, that is not true. The new BiosLife has a slightly lower amount of fiber in it and that may be the source of the misinformation. BiosLife has an adequate amount of fiber in it to effectively control glucose levels in diabetics. Diabetics may take the new BiosLife three times a day to get the benefit of soluble fiber plus all the other nutraceuticals that lower cholesterol effectively, which is an additional problem that diabetics face. We are currently involved in three clinical trials with BiosLife in subjects with diabetes. We hope to be able to present the results to you during the New York Convention in August 2006.

BIOSLIFE AND LOWERING CHOLESTEROL FAQS

BiosLife™ Complete Usage

How long should you wait after taking BiosLife to take other supplements?

This is also the same for other medications. With 95% - 98% of ingredients we take into our bodies, there will be no interaction, but it slows down the system, so that the absorption will be slower but the total amount of vitamins, minerals and other medications absorbed will still be the same. With most vitamins there is still absorption from the fiber matrix into the blood. The fiber bonds with the minerals and increases the absorbability. For medications the box says 1 hour before and 4 hours after, because that is the law. If you should take your medications with a meal take it with BiosLife because BiosLife is a food. If you should take your medications on an empty stomach take them one hour before your breakfast and don’t take BiosLife until your lunch and dinner meals.
How long, after taking BiosLife, should you wait to take other supplements to get the desired results from supplements?

A lot of products can be taken with BiosLife. Don’t worry, BiosLife itself is a food. It will increase the fiber, but there is hardly any change in the benefit, some supplements might take a little longer to absorb because BiosLife slows down the movement in the intestinal tract, but total amount will be the same. Medications that need to be taken with a meal can be combined with BiosLife. If it should be taken on an empty stomach don’t take them with BiosLife. The box says take one hour before and 4 hrs after, because that is a law in the US when fiber is in a product. The Governing Agents who approved this are looking into the need for reformulation of this law. In fact minerals are better absorbed when combined with BiosLife.
What is the daily dose of BiosLife Complete? Is one packet a day, in the morning, sufficient to maintain already good cholesterol levels?

Two packets or servings of BiosLife works best when combined with a substantial meal, preferably at lunch or dinner. It is good to take it in the morning also as long as you take it at the heaviest meal of the day. The benefits of BiosLife are good for you, even if you have good cholesterol levels it is advised to take 2 packets a day. This helps to prevent you from going from good to bad levels of cholesterol as you grow older and cholesterol goes up. There are a lot of benefits on top of the cholesterol lowering effect. It will promote good immune levels and digestive tract effects of fiber.
When it is suggested that BiosLife is to be taken before a meal does the size of the meal matter?

Not that much only that when you have a bigger meal the more you eat the more cholesterol you will have in your system from the meal so that the BiosLife will have a bigger job to absorb that cholesterol.

BiosLife Complete has four different mechanism, two mechanisms do not have anything to do with the meal. The third mechanisms concerns Liver syntheses inhibition. Policosanol blocks the liver from synthesizing cholesterol, and the fourth mechanism is Chrysanthemum which promotes the break down of cholesterol in the blood and also has nothing to do with the meal. The first mechanism concerns blocking the re- absorption of cholesterol from the intestinal system to the blood, therefore the meal matters. You need to combine BiosLife with the meal to get the maximum effect, 10 minutes before the meal is the best time. If you eat a huge meal with a lot of fat you will have limited blocking effect of the Bioslife Complete, so if you eat more cholesterol in your diet you have less blocking ability than with a moderate amount.
Will BiosLife be as effective if mixed with a carbonated drink such as Diet Pepsi?

As long as one does not mix BiosLife with warm water, it is ok. Carbonated water or soda pop does not interfere with the mechanisms. Should you heat the product, the phytonutrients present in the product may be destroyed and that will limit the effectiveness of the product.
It is recommended to take bios 5 to 10 min before meal time. However sometimes after taking, we have to delay the mealtime. What is longest time after taking BiosLife before mealtime when its efficacy drops for cholesterol lowering effect?

BiosLife is best taken in the window 30 - 10 minutes before the meal, so that the fiber has time to form its gel matrix in the digestive system. Our new product BiosLife Complete also has mechanisms that make it work at any time during the day, but it is still better to take it before any meal.

BIOSLIFE AND LOWERING CHOLESTEROL FAQS

BiosLife™ Complete and Health

Why does a person with a regular diet containing lots of fish and vegetables, without much seafood and fried food, have high cholesterol of 343mg/dl? Could it be a genetic problem?

Cholesterol comes from two main sources in the body. One is diet; the other is the body’s own production in the liver. That last portion accounts for 75% of the cholesterol pool. Diet is therefore important, but not as important as our own production.

People that have a genetic difference in cholesterol synthesis is called FH (familial hypercholesterolemia), and they have a higher cholesterol level regardless of their diet. So it is certainly possible to have a cholesterol level of 343 mg/dl.

BiosLife will be effective for this type of patient as well, since it combines four different mechanisms of lowering cholesterol.
Does BiosLife help if the person who is taking the product has genetic problems which caused the high cholesterol?

Yes, BiosLife works as well for those people. The 4 different mechanisms make sure that liver synthesis of cholesterol is reduced, and conversion of cholesterol into bile acids is promoted.
Will Unicity develop a product containing vitamin B6, folic acid, and vitamin B12 used for the treatment of hyperhomocystinemia? A cardiac risk factor, to compete with the over the counter product? Folbee? That is already available for this purpose?

We have that product, it is called BiosLife. The ingredients are in there and the study at the Cleveland Clinic has proved that it lowers Homocysteine.

BIOSLIFE AND LOWERING CHOLESTEROL FAQS

BiosLife™ Complete and non- Cholesterol Related Problems

Does BiosLife have any positive impact on gout, fibromyalgia, or lupus?

The product was not designed for these health concerns so we are not aware of any positive effects for these concerns while taking BiosLife. We encourage, however, to get reports from people about the positive effects that BiosLife may have had for them, in the cholesterol lowering, diabetes treatment, or other health concerns. Please submit your stories to science@unicity.net
What are your thoughts of BiosLife Complete for people with liver disease such as, Hepatitis B or Sclerosis of the liver?

I assume you mean not as an improvement to the liver but is it dangerous for people who have those diseases. Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver and Sclerosis is from alcohol consumption, BiosLife Complete will not improve those diseases but it is not dangerous for those diseases either so it will not have a bad effect.
BiosLife used to be promoted to aid in the assistance of weight loss. Why has that changed?

About ten years ago it was discovered that soluble fiber had greater benefits than just aiding in weight loss. It is also very beneficial in lowering cholesterol and thereby the risk of heart disease. Of course the weight loss effects of BiosLife are still present. The feeling of fullness results in a lower food consumption.
I'd like to know if the company has any results of BiosLife Complete in diabetics. Can we claim at least the same results that were described by the BiosLife 2 trial?

BiosLife Complete contains less fiber than BiosLife 2. About 67% of the content. Indeed, fiber is the important ingredient for sugar control in diabetes. My advice is to take BiosLife Complete three times a day when you have diabetes. In this way you will receive more fiber than twice BiosLife 2 a day, and get all the other benefits that BiosLife Complete offers on top of BiosLife 2. For diabetics this is even more important since they are at even higher risk for heart disease.

Also, we are currently studying the effects of BiosLife Complete in two diabetic populations. The results look promising and will be presented in due time.
Why did Unicity reduce the amount of fiber in the new BiosLife? Is Unicity going after the diabetic market or the heart market?

We were able to reduce the amount of fiber in the product because of the addition of three more great mechanisms to lower cholesterol. The overall effectiveness of the product has been greatly improved; we were recently awarded a patent on the combination, so that means that those 4 ingredients combined did not exist in any product before.

BiosLife is firstly designed to be a cholesterol lowering product. The fiber content of the product, however, is also controlling glucose imbalances in the blood, and that is specifically important for diabetics. Our advice is if you have diabetes is to use the product three times daily before every meal. You will get more fiber than with BiosLife 2, and you have the additional benefits of lowering cholesterol. For diabetics this is even more important, since the advised LDL and TC levels are even lower for persons that have additional risk factors for heart disease, such as diabetics. BiosLife Complete is the only natural side-effect free clinically proven product to lower cholesterol with effects that are better than statin medication, and certainly safer.
I am a type 1 diabetic and I am on an insulin pump. I have noticed that I have better blood sugar control with BiosLife Complete than I did with BiosLife 2. Does BiosLife Complete have more stuff in it to help stabilize blood sugar?

BiosLife Complete contains BiosLife 2, only with less fiber content; both are very efficient in controlling diabetes. If you have diabetes, take BiosLife Complete three times a day instead of two to get the fiber. Fiber stabilizes the glucose levels in the blood. BiosLife balances the carbohydrate absorption from your food. BiosLife Complete has a lot more ingredients on top of the ingredients in BiosLife 2. Bioslife Complete is equally as good for type1 diabetics as it is for type 2.

BIOSLIFE AND LOWERING CHOLESTEROL FAQS

BiosLife™ Complete and Teenagers/ Children

What can a 15 year old do to maintain clean arteries? Can they take BiosLife? How much? At what age can children start taking BiosLife?

BiosLife can be safely taken by 15 years old; it can be taken by children as early as 12 years of age. It is advisable to start with one packet a day, to have the intestinal system get used to the increased fiber intake.
Can children take BiosLife?

Fiber is good for any age group. It regulates cholesterol and the digestive system. More kids have a problem with cholesterol now than in the past. Children, starting from 12 years of age can take BiosLife. Begin with only once a day until the system adjusts.
Is it helpful to recommend BiosLife 2 for a boy (15years) suffering from Diabetes mell. Type 1 (starts at the age of 12)? Can BiosLife degree the amount of parental insulin and how often should he take it per day?

BiosLife is good for type one diabetics as well. It regulates sugar levels in the blood, and this will reduce the amount of insulin needed over time. It will also reduce HbA1c. Therefore it is important to monitor this closely. I suggest taking the product three times daily to reach maximum benefit.

BIOSLIFE AND LOWERING CHOLESTEROL FAQS

Effects on the Body

From a Cardiologist, it sounds like BiosLife Complete has a form of H&G collate similar inhibitors that are the basis of statins. Does Unicity research show potential liver effects in patients that are already using statin medications?

Policosanol in BiosLife Complete works in a similar way as statins but it is not the same thing. Statins bind in the cavity of the enzyme to prevent it from working and policosanol binds on the outside to prevent in a different way, so the side effects are not present with policosanol . With statins after 12 weeks certain proteins are being made by the liver that indicates the damage that is occurring. Unicity checked liver parameters in a study in Guam, we looked at base line liver parameters and after 6-12 weeks nothing showed that the liver was affected in any way.
What is the potassium level in BiosLife? Is this product safe to use for patients with a kidney problem?

The amount of potassium is from the naturally occurring whole food product and therefore should be very nominal levels, below the 2% daily value. We do not add potassium to the blend.
Is the BiosLife with policosanol safe to use for someone who has confirmed statin problems including elevated liver enzymes and muscle problems?

The policosanol in BiosLife lowers cholesterol in a similar way as statin medications. A number of studies indicate that the policosanol had no effect on liver enzymes or other metabolic panel parameters after 12 weeks use. However there is no reason to believe that one can not take BiosLife forever. The ingredients have all been used for decades in people, and are part of normal diets around the world.
Are there any known side effects, to the kidneys, liver, etc., in taking BiosLife?

None. Our studies included complete liver metabolic panels which showed no changes in the standard parameters that would indicate damage to these organs.

BIOSLIFE AND LOWERING CHOLESTEROL FAQS

Clinical Studies

Is there any evidence that four scoops or packets of BiosLife Complete per day can cause a faster and more substantial change in LDL and HDL levels?

Yes, we know that more is better. When you take more fiber you will better stabilize your cholesterol. With our studies we followed the package directions to get the published results, so following directions you should expect to get those same results, using more is good it will give better results.
There is very little new peer reviewed science on BiosLife. I have been using the product for about ten years. Certainly there is the ability to come up with more data points?

In the last two years we have published a number of informational studies on Bioslife. We went to the American Heart Association proving the effect of BiosLife 2 in a group of type 2 diabetics. We have just been involved with three clinical studies that are being written up now, two will be presented to the American Heart Association in Denver in April and the third will be completed in a few months. We have started a fourth study and will be doing two more studies this year. We will continually be doing more clinical studies.
When are the clinical studies for BiosLife expected to be finished and/or published?

We are in the middle of publishing the clinical studies. We will have that information available soon. This issue already lists the results of the studies in abstract form.

BIOSLIFE AND LOWERING CHOLESTEROL FAQS

Technical/ Medical Questions

If the policosanol in BiosLife lowers cholesterol in a similar way to statin drugs, does that mean that it will inhibit the Co-A Reductase enzyme thereby suppressing the production of cholesterol? That being the case, then could it give rise to liver damage and Muscular Myopathy?

The fact that statin drugs suppress that enzyme is not the reason they cause damage to the liver. It is probably the cleanup of the statins by the liver that causes these problems. Policosanol works the same, but does not exert the damage to the liver as statins do, as proven by a number of studies, including our own with BiosLife.
Please explain what you mean by up regulation of liver enzymes and how it compares to statins. How does it cause liver damage?

Does polycosanols have similar effects as statins? No, polycosanols work different than statins. They are a similar mechanism, but not exactly the same. Statins bind to an enzyme that is responsible for synthesizing an intermediate molecule into the cholesterol pathway. Polycosinols work in a very different way and does not have the side effects that statins have. With statins, the liver starts to synthesize certain enzymes that indicate liver damage, with policosinols that is not the case.
A nurse practitioner just questioned me about the use of sucralose in BiosLife Complete, claiming a "very bad reputation" for sucralose. She asked about the company's position on this matter. Any feedback?

We believe sucralose is a good non-caloric sweetener for products like BiosLife Complete. Many products, the whole world over, use this sweetener. Sweeteners like sugar or fructose are unacceptable for many of our clients. However, we will soon have a non-sweetened, non-flavored form of BiosLife available in the U.S. market that you can mix with any drink, such as juice, to make your personal favorite drink.
What products impact a high celiac reactive protein problem?

We have approached this in our studies in Guam. Celiac reactive protein is a protein that circulates in your system and is a factor in heart disease. On average, BiosLife Complete reduces celiac reactive protein. We need to do some additional studies on this.
What is the percent or mg amount of policosanol and what is the breakdown of the phytosterols in BiosLife?

BiosLife contains 6 mg of policosanol and 1 gram of phytosterols (including beta sitosterol, stigmasterol, and campesterol) per serving.
How much chromium is in BiosLife and how much is considered toxic?

According to the Council for Responsible Nutrition, the maximum level for chromium is 1000 mcg. There is 55 mcg per serving in BiosLife.
Why in BiosLife Complete is there 2 mg of cholesterol listed on the facts label? Which ingredient does this come from?

BiosLife is a food, so by law, it has to have Nutrition Facts label. Phytosterols, an oily component, has a small amount of cholesterol in it. This is only 2% of amount of cholesterol in a normal diet, which is very, very low. So, don’t worry, the amount is so small that it will not have any effect on total cholesterol levels. Besides, other ingredients in BiosLife Complete will counteract your high cholesterol levels. Ingredients in BiosLife Complete overwhelm this. Most people get about 300 - 600 mg of cholesterol daily in their diets.
Is niacin or niacinamide used in BiosLife?

BiosLife contains niacinamide. However both forms are labeled identically, according to US food law.
What is the glycemic index of BiosLife?

This has never been measured, but since the glycemic index (GI) determines the effect a product has on the glucose levels in the blood, we can safely assume that the GI for BiosLife is very low, if not zero. Fibers are the only carbohydrates in the product, but they are not digested or absorbed into the blood stream.