STEVENSON, Wash., Aug. 11, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Total Nutraceutical Solutions, Inc. (OTCBB:TNUS) announced today that it has acquired additional technology rights from the Penn State Research Foundation relating to its method of rapid generation of Vitamin D from mushrooms and fungi using pulsed, ultraviolet light. TNS has executed an addendum to its fully executed, exclusive license agreement covering non-Agaricus bisporus mushrooms that clarifies its rights to commercialize all ingestible and non-ingestible applications for such mushrooms on a global basis. In a separate agreement, TNS has also executed an exclusive license agreement for the Canadian patent rights using this technology for Agaricus bisporus mushrooms.
Vitamin D is essential for life and is believed to play an important role in maintaining blood levels of phosphorus and calcium, promoting bone mineralization and calcium absorption, maintaining a healthy immune system, and regulating cell differentiation and growth. Deficiency in this essential vitamin has been linked to a variety of serious medical conditions including cancer, chronic heart disease, anemia, inflammatory bowel disease, MS, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.
Recent demographic studies have revealed that significant numbers of people in different countries are not getting enough Vitamin D. In Canada, for example, it has been estimated that Vitamin D deficiency may affect more than 85% of the population and researchers project that increasing the mean serum level of Vitamin D above normal could potentially reduce annual deaths in Canada by 16.1% and decrease health care costs by 6.9% or $14.4 billion dollars (W.B. Grant et al, Mol.Nutr.Food Res.2010,54,1-10). The approximate 150 million pounds of mushrooms consumed each year in Canada could become a significant new source of Vitamin D using the TNS/Penn State technology.
The relationship with Penn State, which was originally announced on June 9, 2010, covers Penn State's invention entitled "Methods and Compositions for Improving the Nutritional Content of Mushrooms and Fungi" (United States Patent Application No. 12/386,810, filed on April 23, 2009 and also derived from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/047,268, filed on April 23, 2008, by Robert Beelman and Michael Kalaras co-inventors). The invention uses pulsed UV light to safely increase the amount of natural Vitamin D contained in mushrooms by as much as 1000% in less than 30 seconds. The mushrooms can then be sold at grocery stores or used as an ingredient in other foods, dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics.
"Almost everyone has heard that Vitamin D is naturally produced in animals and plants in response to UV exposure from sunlight," stated Marvin S. Hausman MD, CEO, TNS. "What people do not normally hear is that the Vitamin D they typically see in stores has been chemically extracted from sheep skin or yeast. UV enriched mushrooms are the best organic whole food sources of this essential compound and this basic food also contains other important bionutrients that a healthy body needs."
Over the past 12-18 months, TNS has conducted nutritional studies using well-known biologic models for oxidative stress and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease. TNS nutritional food products contain unique antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients that people cannot manufacture but require for normal health, such as L-Ergothioneine, Vitamin D2, polyphenols, Beta-glucans, and organic selenium. Biologic model study results have shown resolution of chronic gum disease, improvement of red and white blood cell numbers, increased biologic survival, control of oxidative stress, as well as control of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a transgenic AD mutant. TNS has used its proprietary biotech processes and biologic studies to create an ingredient called Ergo-D2™, which was showcased at the 2011 IFT New Products & Technologies Conference. TNS intends to enrich foods, beverages and cosmetics with Ergo-D2™ to enhance their health-promoting benefits. The research data and clinical studies to date suggest that Ergo-D2 may represent a breakthrough natural and cost effective approach to taking control of chronic inflammation.
About Total Nutraceutical Solutions, Inc.:
TNS is a global leader in whole food biotechnology that identifies, scientifically validates, and commercializes functional ingredients and other products that address multi-billion dollar markets for organic health, beauty and agriculture. The company's growing portfolio of intellectual property includes extraction, enhancement, and uses for some of the most powerful anti-oxidants and bionutrients occurring in nature. For more information on the company please visit www.totalnutraceutical.com.
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Any statements contained in this press release that relate to future plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risks associated with the transaction described in this press release, and other risks identified in the filings by Total Nutraceutical Solutions (TNS), Inc., with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Further information on risks faced by TNS are detailed in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, and in its subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. These filings are or will become available on a website maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov/" target="_top" rel="nofollow">http://www.sec.gov. The information contained in this press release is accurate as of the date indicated. Actual results, events or performance may differ materially. TNS does not undertake any obligation to publicly release the result of any revision to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
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