Research supports the indication that many in the medical community have assumed for years,  that the vast majority of all health problems begin in the digestive tract. A healthy gut is essential in repenishing the body's nutritional needs, providing immunity and managing the immune system.  The gut is the largest exposed body surface with the most comprehensive number of immune cells in the body. The gut’s immune system must be active and the gut barrier functional in order to maintain a healthy state.  Interruption of immunity or deterioration of the gut barrier exposes the immune system to higher levels of factors which initiate the immune response.  Immune inefficiancies can cause diarrhea and gastrointestinal illnesses due to the increased risk of infection or lack of defense against the microflora, the microorganisms that live in the gut that help prevent growth of harmful, pathogenic bacteria.  Gut barrier dysfunction can lead to immune activation and inflammation. Stress, disease and aging are a few of the factors which affect immune efficiency and barrier function of the gut. 

Essential Proteins for a Healthy Immune System

Immunoglobulins are essential proteins for immunity. They are secreted into the gut and shoud be considered in the care of patients with immune deficiencies.  Colostrum and milk contain immunoglobulin in significant quantities because immunoglobulin is important to defending the immature digestive tract of a newborn. Immunoglobulin and other plasma proteins perform their known biological function in the gut.  Today's technologies now allow for the purification and concentration of selected proteins, mainly immunoglobulins, into protein concentrate for incorporation into therapeutic nutrition products such as Immunolin.  In performing their proven biological functions in the digestive tract, these valued proteins have great value.