Health Enhancement Products, Inc. Announces Results From Recent Study

| Source: Health Enhancement Products, Inc. Health Enhancement Products, Inc.

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI--(Marketwire - Sep 26, 2012) - The board of directors of Arizona-based algae producer Health Enhancement Products (OTCBB: HEPI) has accepted the draft report issued by a research laboratory and directed management to release those findings. Columbus, Ohio based contract research organization Battelle has concluded the first three phases of several planned studies to isolate, identify and validate the bioactivity of proprietary natural bioactive compounds which have previously exhibited beneficial effects on healthy cholesterol balance in prior studies conducted by other researchers.

The research program commenced in May of 2011, and a select few of the preliminary results were presented at the annual shareholders meeting held in Detroit, Michigan on July 18, 2012. The draft report covers a yearlong experimentation with various isolation techniques, research tool development and validation processes that were necessary in order to advance the work of identifying and refining the bioactive compounds isolated from the Company's proprietary algal cultures.

The report will remain confidential in order to protect the Company's core intellectual property and to shield such information until appropriate patent applications can be filed or amended. The blood lipid results which can be announced at this time are as follows:

  • The expected increase in HDL cholesterol levels across most of the experimental groups has been confirmed
  • The expected decrease in LDL cholesterol levels across most of the experimental groups has trended in a manner similar to previous studies but did not meet statistical significance
  • The expected stability of triglyceride levels across most of the experimental groups has been confirmed
  • The expected stability of TCL cholesterol levels across most of the experimental groups was not fully evident and further study is required

Further, gene expression testing was migrated to the TaqMan™ PCR platform, which necessitated new gene sequencing for the study, and subsequently custom-designed primers, amplicons and DNA probes. This resulted in a necessary 5-month expansion to the study schedule. Researchers devoted a considerable amount of time to develop these custom research tools, which are now the property of Health Enhancements and part of its core intellectual property portfolio. Extensive testing and validation were conducted to insure the accuracy and repeatability of PCR tests for ApoA1 expression and CETP inhibition, and developers feel that they have achieved a satisfactory level of performance. Thus, the samples from the study were used to validate these tests and refine the process going forward. Additional work is planned to develop an alternate reference gene PCR test, as well as PCR tests for SRB1 and ABCA1 gene expression, both involved in cholesterol regulation.

On a related front, Company managers are expected to provide new information regarding the chemical composition of the bioactive compounds that were the subject of the Battelle research program. Technical issues have delayed progress for several more weeks and the Company has authorized additional resources to be focused on separating the target compounds from the salts used to isolate them from a sample fraction previously shown to have bioactivity. This has been an ongoing challenge over the past year. As can be expected in life sciences R&D, and particularly with natural product elucidation, unforeseen obstacles can and do create delays in the process of commercializing the Company's core intellectual property, although management has expressed confidence in achieving the hoped for results and announcing forward progress in the weeks to come.

About Health Enhancement Products, Inc.

Health Enhancement Products, Inc. (OTCBB: HEPI) is a health & wellness company engaged in the development of natural products derived from algae cultures for use as dietary supplements and food ingredients. These natural products are extracted from living algae grown in purified water.

Safe Harbor Statement

Except for any historical information, the matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ from those indicated in the forward-looking statements, including the timing of completion of a trial, actual future clinical trial results being different than the results the company has obtained to date, and the company's ability to secure funding. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Readers are cautioned that such statements are not guarantees of future performance and those actual results or developments may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or otherwise.