Proliant: Providing Proteins For Health

Proliant, Ames, IA, is a biotechnology company fast-becoming a global leader in functional protein ingredients and their application. The company manufactures and markets protein products for the food, nutrition, human health, nutraceutical, diagnostic, life science research, biopharmaceutical and veterinary vaccine industries through its four divisions, each focusing on specific market segments. The Proliant Meat Ingredients division serves the food industry, including the meat, savory, prepared foods, and snack markets; Proliant Health serves the health and nutrition industry, including the dietary supplement, clinical nutrition, consumer health and functional food markets;Proliant Biologicals serves the diagnostic, life science research, biopharmaceutical and veterinary markets and Proliant Dairy Ingredients serves the food and nutrition industry, including the nutrition, dairy, bakery, confection, snack, meat and savory food markets.

Proliant became fully involved in the nutraceuticals industry in 1998 when it debuted ImmunoLin®, which is its immunoglobulin ingredient promoted for immunity, digestive health and sports nutrition. Upon completion of its new plant in late 2000, the company began to heavily promote the ingredient to potential customers the following year.

According to the company, ImmunoLin is a natural, concentrated source of immunoglobulin and other immuno-proteins that are derived from cattle specifically raised for food. ImmunoLin is prepared from bovine source material, collected under rigid USDA inspection and manufactured in a GMP plant under FDA guidelines. Such food animals produce specific humoral immunity against a broad range of organisms because they are routinely exposed to common environmental pathogens to a much greater degree than humans. ImmunoLin is particularly rich in the immunoglobulins IgG, IgM and IgA. and also contains transferrin, endotoxin-binding proteins and other acute phase proteins that can provide additional immune support benefits. ImmunoLin’s function is primarily in the gastrointestinal tract but its effects are seen throughout the body. ImmunoLin also contains very low levels of saturated fat and no lactose. It is also free of milk proteins, casein and b-lactoglobulin, which are not well tolerated by all people.

Included in the ImmunoLin line up are ImmunoLin-WP and ImmunoLin-HD. ImmunoLin-WP is a purified immunoglobulin that is manufactured in the U.S. and contains a minimum of 18% IgG. It comes as an agglomerated, cream colored powder with neutral flavor and odor and is designed for enhanced dispersion and dissolution in water when used alone or in combination with other proteins in powdered drink mixes. ImmunoLin-HD is manufactured in the U.S. and contains a minimum of 40% IgG. It is prepared as a spray-dried, cream colored powder with a natural flavor and odor.

Also in the company’s product portfolio is NutraGammax and VitaHeme, an organic heme iron supplement. NutraGammax, the company claims, has unique sports nutrition applications. It contains a minimum IgG concentration of 45%, supplies essential amino acids, contains three times more bioactive proteins than colostrum and has been proven to increase lean tissue mass during exercise. VitaHeme on the other hand, is Proliant’s superior source of iron with fewer side effects than inorganic or other dietary sources. This product, according to the company, offers the nutritional supplement industry an opportunity to deliver a better-tolerated and more effective alternative to inorganic iron. It has a 15-40% absorption rate, which can reduce dosage and side effects, and women who consume calcium with VitaHeme can maintain high rates of iron absorption.

Currently, Proliant is concentrating on the supplement segment of the industry but it claims functional foods may be a part of its future. Holding the company back from going into foods is the fact that while the starting material for ImmunoLin is generally recognized as safe (GRAS), the fraction for ImmunoLin does not have GRAS status as of yet. —R.M.


Proliant Inc.
2325 North Loop Drive
Ames, IA 50010
Telephone: 515-296-7110
Fax: 515-296-7110
E-mail: health@proliantinc.com
Website: www.proliantinc.com