If an individual should choose to use Transfer Factor™, their immune system may be supported in ways that it otherwise would not. Transfer factors work as instructors to the different members of the immune system. This instruction assists the function of the immune system in recognizing and fighting outside threats to your health. Transfer factors are immune modulators, which means that they are able to support healthy immune function by an Inducer Factor as well as a Suppressor Factor. In addition, an independent study showed that 4Life™'s Transfer Factor™ was shown to increase the Natural Killer cell (NK)activity by more than 100%. This is an important discovery in that NK cells carry the immune messaging cytokines, which direct battle with outside threats. When NK cell count is increased the immune system is working more effectively.

Transfer Factor Plus™ is different from Transfer Factor™ in that it has additional ingredients. These ingredients include thymic proteins, cordyceps, IP-6, maitake mushrooms, beta glucan, zinc, and shiitake mushrooms that help initiate a stronger stimulating immune response than that of Transfer Factor™. Transfer Factor Plus™ strengthens both the innate immune system (the immune information an individual is born with) and the adaptive immune system (the immune information an individual's immune system has obtained throughout life). For your individual condition, either or both of these products may be of benefit to you because of its supporting and strengthening. If you choose to use these products, please consult your physician to make sure there will be no complications or interactions associated with your current state of health. Greater information and detail is available through Dr. William J. Hennen's booklets entitled Natural Immune Booster: Transfer Factor and Enhanced Transfer Factor.

There have been no adverse responses reported while taking Transfer Factor during pregnancy. As with all supplements, consult a physician before use.

Yes, in preparing Transfer Factor™ the large molecular proteins are removed, including casein and antibodies. Milk allergies are caused by the large proteins in milk, primarily casein and to a lesser extent antibodies.

Gluten is another extracted protein and is predominately isolated from wheat, rye and barley. Because Transfer Factor XF is extracted from colostrum, gluten is not found in Transfer Factor™.

Transfer Factor Plus™ contains a component derived from baker's yeast called beta glucans. Transfer Factor Plus™ does not contain whole yeast however.

Yes, TF Kids™ contains 150 mg of Transfer Factor XF™ per tablet where Transfer Factor™ capsules contain 200mg each capsule. Because of the weight differential between adults and children, TF Kids™ contains less Transfer Factor XF™. Instructions concerning serving size may be found on the TF Kids™ labels.

Ideally Transfer Factor™ should be used daily to continually work to support the immune system. If you discontinue taking Transfer Factor™ your immune system will miss out on its daily support.

There is no known toxicity level associated with Transfer Factor™.

Generally, the effects are very similar no matter how transfer factors enter the body. Because transfer factors originate in the blood, the source of transfer factors is identical whether they reenter the body in concentrated form such as 4Life™ Transfer Factor™, or by injection.

In vitro, means "out of the body". This means that substances are tested on extracted cells that have been removed from the body. In vivo means that substances are placed into the body and the results are measured "in the body."

This process is how Dr. Lawrence discovered transfer factors. He took the white blood cells (leukocytes) from a previously infected tuberculosis patient, who has regained their health, and injected these white blood cells into a recently infected patient. The white blood cells from the "old" TB patient contain information on how the immune system fights against the disease and transferred this information to the "new" patient.

4Life has made available three booklets containing condensed information from the volumes and volumes of research available on Transfer Factor™ and the components that were brought together in Transfer Factor Plus™. The first booklet is Transfer Factor by William Hennen, Ph.D. the second is called Enhanced Transfer Factor, also by Dr. Hennen. A third booklet by a member of 4Life's Medical Advisory Board, Rita Elkins, MH, is also entitled Transfer Factor, and is written in layman's terms so the general population can gain additional knowledge. Each of these booklets contains hundreds of additional references.

4Life™ extracts Transfer Factor™ from cow colostrum because it is an immense and available source. Transfer factors are non-species specific, meaning they can be used in humans even if the original source is a different mammal.

Yes, Transfer Factor™ can be given to animals, including horses. TF Pets™ is available for canines and felines, but regular Transfer Factor™ can be taken by any animal. Remember when you are calculating serving size for animals that they have a much more "heroic" and responsive immune system. Animals, especially the grazers, are much more immunologically responsive and can get by with less Transfer Factor™ per pound. The immune system has a way of amplifying the signal. Serving sizes for larger animals do not always correspond to weight entirely, especially when you are dealing with grazers. Start your animal on a minimal amount and continue to increase the serving over time, if necessary.

The transfer factors we received as infants are just purposeful as those available in Transfer Factor™. As infants, mother's colostrum gave immune information while our immune systems were not fully developed, but the transfer factors were absorbed into the bloodstream and eventually were used up to become part of the functioning immune system, consisting of lymphocytes, natural killer cells, macrophages, etc. The information provided at birth was to work against the specific threats experienced by your mother at that time; after years of life new threats to the immune system exist. By using oral transfer factor we are providing the same type of immune information we received at birth.

Unfortunately, 4Life™ is unable to prescribe specific supplements for identified conditions; we are only able to describe system function that may be supported through supplementation. Overall, Transfer Factor and Transfer Factor Plus are designed to support normal immune function. Additional information is available in Transfer Factor or Enhanced Transfer Factor by William Hennen, Ph.D., two booklets available through our Order Entry Department.

Yes, TF Renewall has been formulated for external application to support the body's first line of immune defense: the skin. Please consult with a physician for information on specific skin conditions.

Transfer Factor has been consumed for many years with no reported side effects. Studies have shown no toxicity. The recommended maintenance amount is 3 capsules a day.

Some individuals do use more for added immune support during short duration. The best and safest way to begin using Transfer Factor Plus™ is to use the recommended serving size as listed on the product label.

Long-term exposure to high temperatures can degrade potency and possibly neutralize Transfer Factor™ activity. Transfer Factor should be stored in a cool, dry environment.

Yes. The large proteins, such as lactose, are filtered out during the extraction process. Are transfer factors made of sugars, proteins or fats? Isolated transfer factors have been determined to be a chain of small peptides consisting of 44 amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.

The immune system is challenged during times of stress. Because of this, additional support through supplementation may promote a healthy immune system. When the immune system is working effectively, recovery occurs at an ideal pace. The use of Transfer Factor™ or Transfer Factor Plus™ is appropriate at anytime you feel your immune system has been compromised.

Transfer factor is good for everyone who needs an extra immune boost. The three groups who are most in need of immune strengthening are the young, the old, and anyone under stress. Almost all of us fall into one of these categories. We often talk of the baby-boom generation. Most of these people are at an age where already their immune systems are becoming lax. Transfer factor is a way to boost a lagging immune system.

I think that is exactly what we are seeing in many countries, notably China, Czechoslavakia, Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Japan. In the US, transfer factor has had an interesting history. The idea of transfer factor flies in the face of conventional immunology. In the 1950's, antibiotics were the golden child of medicine, followed in the 60's by steroids like cortisone for inflammation and the synthetic steroid hormones like ethinyl estrogen and progestin that were used to create the birth control pill. After an initial delay, transfer factor hit its heyday in the 70's and early 80's. Results, however, were inconsistent as researchers dove in sometimes with more enthusiasm than skill. The key feature that was missing in these investigations was a dependable assay technique for quality control of the product. The quality control issue was not resolved until the mid 1980's. Given that transfer factor is not a single entity, the pharmaceutical companies had fits trying to purify the material without losing efficacy. This attempted force-fit into the single-entity, single-function drug dogma was disastrous. The next issue that slowed transfer factor research is the age-old issue of funding. When AIDS hit the popular press, politicians shifted funding into AIDs research, but with focus on finding the cause and then finding a drug that would cure AIDs. The work of a few, dedicated, but under-funded researchers and the inability of the mainstream medical-pharmaceutical industry have combined to again focus attention on transfer factor as one of the few modalities that is effective against diseases of viral origin.

Yes, there are two doors that recently have opened that allow transfer factor to be effectively marketed now. The first door to open was the passage of the DSHEA (Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act) in 1994. The provision for structure-functions claims allows the story of transfer factor to be told without jeopardizing its status as a nutritional supplement. The second is technical. Transfer factor was definitely an idea way ahead of its time and it had to wait for technology to catch up. The processing methods that allow for large scale extraction of transfer factor have only recently been perfected, and a commercial product has only been available for the last three years.

Foods and dietary supplements are not approved per se by the FDA. Food supplements derived from milk would certainly fall under the category of Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS).

YES. Researchers have given huge doses of transfer factor to volunteers in an attempt to trigger some sort of adverse reaction. No negative side effects were observed, even with massive doses.

Colostral transfer factor was designed by nature for newborns. Removal of the milk allergens and lactose leaves the essence of the immunologic information in the form of transfer factor.